i!;a?^^;!:;i^i.H;t;;^? 


■-piS^iui^rX^ 


^«--J-^;;-'v^Sl!ti: 


TTFiE; 


BIOGRAPHICAL)   RECORD 


t^ENKY     COUrMTV, 


LLINOIS. 


^A^TPED. 


A  fcoplc  that  take  no  pride  in  the  noble  achievements  of  remote  ancestors  zvi/l  never  achieve 
anything  worthy  to  be  remembered  ivit/i  pride  by  remote  generations.'' — Macaulay. 


CHICAGO: 

The  S.  J.  Clarkk  Pihlishing  Comi'anv. 

1901. 


INDEIX. 


PAGE 

Allcrtoii.  Samuel  W 602 

Allison.  William  0 543 

Anderson,  A.  J 26 

Anderson.    David 485 

Anderson,  Eric   697 

Anderson,  John  0 170 

Anderson,  Joseph   II 626 

Anderson,  L.  D 58S 

Anderson,  Nels  F 722 

Anderson.  V.  L 466 

Andrews.   Wallace  W 65 

Armstrong,    Hugh    701 

Arnett.   George    703 

.^rnold,  George  R.  W 3,?9 

Arnquist,   Andrew    559 

Ayres,  Buenos   668 

Bachus,   T.   1 125 

Baker,  Eugene  G 477 

Barber,    Charles    447 

Barge.  David  B 421 

Barker.   Starks  N 716 

Barnhart.   Jacob    263 

Becker,  Nicholas 225 

■Bennison,  Samuel  214 

Bennison,   Thomas 28 

Benson,    Lars    igo 

Biebinger.  Jesse   E 659 

Blair,    Albert    W 269 

.  Blair,  James  314 

•Ulish.  James  K 22 

.  Blish,    M.    B 410 

Bollenstern,    Theodore    189 

Boomer,    Henry    555 

"othwell.    Leonard    R 129 

Jrad' .    joim    1'     342 

rady,  Thomas   347 

cBrodd,  John  A 137 

vBrown,    Mattie    E 632 

-[  Brown,   Oliver  W 287 

Buck,    Edmund 507 

Buck,  George  W 205 

Burns,  J.  Sanford 500 

Burrows,   S.   Henry 122 

Burston,    Joseph 687 

Butler,    Arthur   C 417 

Calhoun,  Hugh  A 458 

Calkins,  Mrs,  Hulda  G 578 


PACE 

Calkins,  John  C 521 

Callaway.   Samuel   H 98 

Carlson,   Charles  A 79 

Carlson,    John    C 619 

Carsc,    John 451 

Cavanaugh,   James 363 

Charles.   William   S 600 

Charlet,   -August    27 

Charlet.   Julius    396 

Chase,   Charles  E 220 

Chesley.   Theron   H 304 

Chisnall.    John    30 

Clay.    William    L 532 

Clementz.  Xaver  674 

Clough.    V.    W 226 

Cole.    Festus   C 571 

Combs,   Horace  J 356 

Cosncr,   William   H 46 

Cowden.  Thomas  C 556 

Cromien,    James 510 

Cronau,   John    365 

Cox,  Joseph  F 563 

Davis,   John    M 309 

Dewey,    John    C 454 

DeWitt,    Henry    66 

Dickinson,  Dr.  J.  D 464 

Donaldson,    William    32.5 

Dow.  L.  F 650 

Dunbar,  Washington   322 

Dunham,   Mrs.   Julia    E .190 

Dun  lap.  Adam  307 

Durniann.    William    198 

Durrnian.    Frank   W 163 

Dyal.    .Vmos    .\ 152 

Katon.    Dr.    Matilda    115 

Edwards.    Frank    H 643 

Edwards.    Herbert    R 520 

Ekiund.   Henry    292 

Emery,    Michael    N 54 

Erickson,    Erick    361 

Er.son,  Mats  208 

Evans,    Willis    F 397 

Eyer,    Henry    56 

Farnam,  John   S 667 

Ferguson,   George   W 381 

Fcsler,    George    476 


PAGE 

Finch,   John   T 413 

Fischer,    John    243 

Fischer,  Oswald   58 

Fisher,    Hendrick    V 699 

Fitch,  Elmer  E 470 

Fleet,    Isaac    M 359 

Fleming,  Jacob  J 432 

Foley,  Rev.  M.   F 296 

Forgy,    William    644 

Fors,   John    A 207 

Fragd,  Andrew  P 164 

Frank,  Jacob    258 

Freeman,    Pliny    158 

Frels,    George    T 335 

Fronk,  Levi    312 

Fulper,  John  H 366 

Funk,    George 661 

Gamble,  J.  R 17 

Gilbert,  Dr.  Elon  B 223 

Gilbert,   N.  C 3,?2 

Gilbraith,    James    (x) 

Gierhart,  Christian  f)82 

Gillespie,   William   C 554 

Glenn.  William  N 19O 

Goembel,   Henry   19 

Goembel,   Samuel    319 

(ioembel.    W.    Sidney 35 

Goodrich,    William    R.          ...  334 

Gould,  Nathaniel   B 15 

(iranquist,    Ncls    594 

(iraves,   Emery   C 245 

C;riffin.    Henry    G 86 

Gutschlag.    Carl    721 

TJad^all.  James  S 386 

liailni.     \ndii'\\     257 

Hamilton,   James   S ,303 

Hanson,    Erick 311 

Hannon.  Thomas  T 376 

Hatch,  John  M 232 

Haxby,   William 469 

Hay,  Robert  475 

Hayes,  Cornelius 247 

Hayes,    Eugenie    K 422 

Hedbloom,    Eric    194 

Heller,    Louis    576 

Heller,   Simeon    326 

Henderson,  John    560 


09490 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Herdien.    Peter    40 

Hillmrg,   John    0 595 

Hill,   John   D 524 

lliinnan.   Reginald   H 174 

I  lohmann.   Dr.   William   D.   .  358 

Hoit.  Otis  W 368 

Hough.    Frank    L 538 

Houghton,  Henry  E 636 

Houghton,  Lucy  E 601 

Hudson,  Thomas    649 

Huffman,    George    585 

Hughes,   Thomas   J 255 

Hull,  John   L 102 

Hunt,  John  M 193 

Hunt,  Lewis  656 

Hurd.    Caroline    W 264 

Hurlbutt,  Frederick  A 686 

Hyer,   Peter    367 

acobson,   Jacob    708 

aquet,   John    575 

ennings,  John  L 620 

ohnson.  .-Xndrew  P 173 

ohnson,   Charles  A .,  511 

ohnson,   Frank  J 78 

ohnson,   George  H 723 

ohnson,    Henry    194 

ohnson,  J.  William   295 

nhnson,   Paul  L 612 

(ihnston,   Joseph    400 

ohnston,   Thomas   H 180 

ones,  William  D 114 

Keeler,    Philip    B 90 

Keleher,    Daniel    L 139 

Kellogg,   Charles  A 346 

Kelsey.  Ira  E 566 

Kcmerling,   Elbert  P 403 

Kewish,   John    512 

Kiene,    William     539 

Kincaid,   George  W 80 

Kirchner,  Carl   34t 

Kirkland,  Dr.   J.   A 84 

Kirkpatrick,    William    L.     ...  237 

Knowles,    William   H 138 

Krause,  Herman  S49 

Lager,   O.   W 648 

Lamb,    William    712 

Landwehr,    William    ..,.:...  617 

Larson.  .Andrew  J 145 

Larson,    Carl   J 109 

Larson,   Francis  W 75 

Larson,  John  A 116 

Lavery,   Daniel    44 

Lembke,    William    76 

Lester,    Sivilian    221 

Lewin,    John    59 

Lewis,  .'\bram  J 666 

Lewis,  John   240 

Lewis,    Perry   T 6S4 

Lewis,  William  J 707 

Lievens,  Jacob  562 

Liken,  Clyde  T 294 

Liken,  Thoma,s  P 293 

Lincoln,    .Andrew 150 

Linn,    John    131 


PAGE 

Linn,   Taylor    517 

Lippincott,  John   H 200 

Litten,  Ezra   530 

Little,   Charles   E 411 

Loomis,  Orin  H 401 

Lory,    Charles    R 642 

Lowrv   Brothers    279 

Loy,  'D.    O 637 

Luther,   Martin    698 

McCarthy,    Daniel    337 

McClure,   Thomas    238 

IMcCorkle,    George    J 587 

McGovern,  John   H 103 

McMeekin,    William    434 

McNeeley,  John    250 

McRell,  James  712 

McRell,    Robert    433 

Machesney,  James   534 

Mackey,  .Amos  A 572 

Maloney,    Daniel     648 

Martin,   David   M 384 

Martin,   Mrs.   Elizabeth    416 

Martin,   Hugh    A 426 

Martin.    John    S 676 

Mascall.  Daniel  S 197 

Mascall.  James   199 

Mathews,   ."Kmbrose    330 

Matteson,   L.   F 34 

JNIavity,    John    M 124 

Melvin,    Frank    S 430 

^lerriman,    William     47 

Milan   R.   W 569 

Miller.   F.    A 448 

Morton,  George  .'\ 300 

Munson,  Albert  S 519 

Murchison,    Capt,    Alex 224 

Murchison.    D.    C 468 

Murphy.   John   H 291 

Mussey.    Henry    522 

Mussey,  AVilliam  A 564 

Myers,    Jacob    583 

Nash.    M.    Maury    212 

Nelson,  Nels  M 182 

Nelson.  William   33 

Neville.  P.  H 383 

Neville,   Robert   G 100 

Neville,   William   A .'.  3.38 

Newman,   James   H 586 

Norell.    .Andrew    P 211 

Norling,   Peter  0 437 

Nowers,   Thomas    610 

Oberg,    Louis    458 

O'Day.    Patrick    372 

Odeman.   John   E 025 

Oliver,   William    290 

Olson,   Olof    548 

Olson,   Swan  T 540 

Ostran,   P.   E i55_ 

Ott.    Casper    662 

Ours,  William   364 

Paine.   Judson    P 49S 

Palmer,  Aaron 280 

Pappendick,   William    565 


PAGE 

Parker.  James   717 

Payne,    Richard    420 

Peart,  George    452 

Peterson,    Albert    157 

Peterson,   Andrew    108 

Peterson,   E.   N 325 

Peterson,    Olof    480 

Peterson,   Olof   L 404 

Peterson,  Peter  A 480 

Peterson,   Peter  A 720 

I'ierce,   Thomas   P.    ..' 435 

Pierson,  James  C 543 

Porter,   William 694 

Pritchard,    Hugh    W 449 

Puree.   Rev.    W.   M 187 

Purviance.  David  L 362 

Quinn,    Henry 7a 

Ramsej',    James    276 

Rapp.   Aaron    414 

Reardon,  John  642 

Redus,  John  373 

Reherd,  Harry  A 35c 

Reherd.   Jacob   K 353 

Remington.   William  A 230 

Resser,  Moses  W 30 

Rickle.  Jeremiah   H 486 

Riley.   James    533 

Ringel,    Henry   J 702 

Ringle,   William    92 

Rink,  Joseph  H 310 

Rishel,    Sherman    L 428 

Roberts,   William    467 

Robertson.    Thomas    M 148 

Ronstrum.    Nels   M ;  340 

Roos.    Charles    P 529 

Roos,    Martin    282 

Rowe,   George   W 343 

Rngh,   Charles  H 561 

Rule,  John  H 360 

Runquist,   Nels 407 

Russell,   Samuel    327 

Rydman,  Rev.  J.  M 249 

Salzmann.    Ernest    700 

Saniuelson,   Charles  M 123 

Saniuelson,   John    181 

Sand,    Casper    31 

Schoonover,  Rosseter  F 455 

Schroeder,   John   H 409 

Sears,   Frank   S 682 

Selman,    John 459 

Seiner,    Daniel    38.5 

Setterdahl,    Rev.    Victor    170 

Shaner,    Phil.ip     377 

Shearer,   Lewis    688 

Shearer,    Norman     684 

Shellhammer,   D.   D 262 

Shetler.   John    W 631 

Shinn,   Mrs.   Paulina  H 522 

Shult,  Hons   104 

Sieben,   Leonard    286 

Slauson,    Lewis    W 599 

Smiley.   Dr.  J.    C 38 

Smith,    .Andrew    718 

Smith,    George   J 151 


INDEX. 


Sniitli,  Jared  II 

,. ,   no 

Smith.   John   H 

...     i8 

Sohdav.    Andrew   J 

...  63a 

Spifgel.  Angust  F 

••■398 

Spiegel.    F.    Charles    

...  48.-, 

Stacy.  J.E 

...    28q 

Stearns,   John    W 

...    140 

Steele.    Robert    F 

...    34: 

Stevens.   William   W 

...    313 

Stewart.   Dr.  11.  } 

...399 

Stewart.    Peter   C 

...    132 

Stewart.    Samuel    

...    126 

Stickncv.  William  C 

...    550 

Stinison.    Liberty    

...    301 

Stitl.    .\larv  J 

...   638 

Stoncbcrg.  John  E 

...     6.? 

Storev.   Elijah    

...   .39^ 

Stongbton.    Cvrus    F.     .  . . 

...    506 

St. .well.    Wilbur    F 

...   713 

Streed.    Frank   H 

...   494 

Streed.  John   V 

. ■ ■   49" 

Strcod,   Malkcr   F 

■  ■  ■   493 

Streed,    Swan    P 

...49c 

Sturtz,  Charles  F 

. .  .      21 

Svenss.Mi,   Xels   J 

...   256 

Swanson,  John  V 

. . .    140 

PAGE 

Swanson.    Swan    596 

Swedish    Evangelical    Church   164 
Swedish    Evangelical    Luther- 
an   Church    of    Kcwanee...   248 

Tay>.-r     A     r 3..  I 

Taylor,    JetlEerson    W 355 

Taylor.  John    O95 

Taylor,   Thomas    348 

Thorp,    Isaac    378 

Thorp,    James    0 479 

Thorp,    John 380 

Tomlinson,  David  C 172 

Trickle.    Milton    608 

Turner.  Judge  CM 70 

Urick,    Lewis    329 

\'aw  ter.   Dr.   G.   A 306 

Waite,    (leorge    E 590 

Walker.  Thomas 37J 

Walline.   Olof    loi 

Walters.    August    39c 

Warnock.    Peter  W 544 

Warren.    James    .^62 


PAGE 

Washburn.    Chauncey    E.    ...  176 

Wayne.    William    429 

Weaver,  John  J 706 

Weidlein,   .Andrew    271 

Weinrich,    F^rederick    W.     ...  44 

Wells.   J.jseph    660 

Wehon.   F.  G 508 

Weiton.   Lester  C 572 

Wenke.    John    357 

Wenke,    John    H 451 

West.   George   W 273 

Westerlund.  Jonas   394 

Westcrlund,   Peter    171 

Weston.   George  325 

W  hifl'en.    Frank    !  50 

White.     Hugh     562 

Whitmore.    David    60 

Wilber.   R.   Porter    528 

Wiley.    Daniel    L 67 

Wiley.  William  L 460 

Wilkinson,  Lyman  J 48 

Wilson,  Charles  C 465 

Winter,   William    R 655 

Wintz,   Philip  J 44C 

Wolcver,    Calvin    F 685 

Wrisfbt,    W.    Pitt    121 


PRKFACK. 


f^IIE  greatest  of  English  historians,  Macaulay,  and  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  writers  of  the  present  century,  has  said  :  "The  history  of  a 
lountry  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the  lives  of  its  people."  In  con- 
tormity  with  this  idea,  the  Biogiiapiiicai,  Record  has  been  prepared. 
Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and  taking  therefrom  dry  statistical 
matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few,  our  corps  of  writers  have 
j:one  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their  enterprise 
md  industry,  brought  this  county  to  a  rank  second  to  none  among 
tlio«e  (.otiipri^mg  thw  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles.  No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelligent 
public.  In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the  imitation 
of  coming  generations.  It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty,  by  industry  and 
economy  have  accumulated  wealth.  It  tells  how  others,  with  limited  advantages  for  securing 
an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an  influence  extending  throughout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  It  tells  of  men  who  have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of 
life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have  become  famous.  It  tells  of  those  in 
every  walk  in  life  wlio  have  striven  to  succeed,  and  records  how  that  success  has  usually 
crowned  their  efforts.  It  tells  also  of  many,  very  many,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the 
world,  have  pursued  the  "  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content  to  have  it  said  of  them,  as  Christ 
said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — "They  nave  done  what  they  could."  It 
tells  how  many,  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood,  left  the  plow  and  the  anvil,  the 
lawyer's  otiice  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  "  to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was 
restored  and  peace  once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every 
woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not  be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from 
the  fact  that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  public  records,  and  which 
would  otherwise  be  inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work, 
and  every  opportunity  possible  given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has 
been  written  ;  and  the  publishers  flatter  themselves  that  they  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with 
few  errors  of  consequence.  In  addition  to  biographical  sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of 
representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume. 
For  this  the  publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some 
refused  to  give  the  information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent. 
Occasionally  some  member  of  the  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such 
opposition  the  support  of  the  interested  one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men 
never  could  be  found,  though  repeated  calls  were  made  at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

March,  1901.  The  S.  J.  Clarke  Plblishing  Co. 


^ 


Biography  is  tl~ie  only  true  i^istory."— Emerson. 


^ 


UNIVERSIlr  OF  ILLINOIS 
URBANA 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


OLLD.  XATllAXIEL  BART- 
1-ETT.  Honored  and  respected 
1)V  all,  there  is  no  man  in  Cam- 
bridge who  occupies  a  more  en- 
viable position  in  business  circles  than 
Nathaniel  B.  Gould,  not  alone  on  account 
of  the  success  he  has  achieved,  but  also  on 
account  of  the  honorable,  straightforward 
business  policy  he  has  ever  followed.  He 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  public 
affairs,  and  is  now  serving  as  president  of 
the  board  of  trustees  of  Cambridge  and 
treasurer  of  the  Old  Settlers  Association. 

Mr.  Gould  was  born  in  Pierniont,  Graf- 
ton county,  New  Hampshire,  March  31, 
1828,  but  in  early  life  removed  with  the  fam- 
ily to  Canaan,  in  the  same  county.  He 
traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Zaccheus  Gould, 
who  was  born  in  England  about  1589,  and 
came  to  America  about  1638,  lucating  finally 
at  Topsfield,  Massachusetts,  where  he  died  in 
1670.  His. wife,  Phebe  Gould,  passed  away 
in  1663,  leaving  one  son  and  five  daughters, 
all  of  whom  married  and  had  families. 
Their  descendants  in  this  country  are  now 
quite  numerous,  and  are  represented  in  the 
various  branches  of  industry  and  the  learned 
professions. 

Amos  Gould,  St.,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 


war,  and  at  the  close  of  tiiat  struggle  moved 
from  Salem,  ^lassachusctts,  to  Canaan, 
New  Hampshire.  He  was  at  West  Point 
when  Arnold's  treason  was  discovered. 
He  was  born  at  Boxford,  New  Hampshire, 
December  12,  1761,  and  died  at  Piermont, 
that  state,  December  28,  1853.  On  the 
141I1  of  June,  1786,  he  married  Rebecca 
Perley,  and  to  them  were  born  thirteen 
children. 

Amos  Gould,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1790, 
and  there  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Harris 
Bartlett,  a  native  of  Canaan,  that  state,  and 
a  descendant  of  one  of  the  early  Massachu- 
setts colonists.  Her  father,  Nathaniel  Bart- 
lett, fought  seven  years  for  American  in- 
dependence as  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Amos  Gould,  Jr.,  came  west  in  1856, 
and  settled  in  Moline,  Rock  Island  count}'. 
Illinois.  His  death  occurred  in  Moline,  in 
1864,  and  his  wife,  who  was  a  devoted 
Christian,  died  in  1884,  st  the  age  of 
eighty-eight  years.  Unto  them  were  born 
nine  children,  six  sons  and  three  daughters, 
namely:  John  M.,  a  resident  of  Moline; 
Amos,  Lyfe  Y.,  Nathaniel  B.  and  Mrs. 
Nancy  J.  Dean,  who  are  all  living  in  Cam- 
bridge; Daniel  \\'..  who  makes  his  home  in 
IMoline;  George  D.,  who  was  born  !March 


i6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


26,  1S35,  died  in  1882;  Susannah,  widow  of 
B.  H.  Burrows  and  a  resident  of  Andover 
township,  Henry  county;  and  Lora  H..  whu 
was  born  October  5,  1838,  married  J.  H- 
Dean,  and  died  in  1865. 

The  early  life  of  Nathaniel  B.  Gould 
was  spent  on  a  farm  in  his  native  state,  and 
his  eilucation  was  acquired  in  its  common 
schools.  Coming  west  in  April,  1851,  he 
located  in  ]Moline,  Illinois,  and  from  1852 
until  1856  was  employed  as  a  traveling  sales- 
man by  John  Deere.  In  the  latter  year  he 
came  to  Cambridge,  where  he  conducted  a 
hotel  and  livery  stable  in  partnership  with 
his  brother  Amos  until  1861,  when  he  moveil 
to  a  farm,  and  for  three  years  successfully 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  has. 
however,  been  interested  in  farming  since 
that  time,  but  not  as  a  resident  farmer.  Re- 
turning to  Cambridge,  he  and  his  lirother 
Amos,  luider  the  fimi  name  of  A.  S:  X.  B. 
Gould,  laid  out  the  Gould  addition  to  that 
village.  He  has  since  been  interested  in  va- 
rious business  enterprises,  and  on  the  ist  of 
July,  l88r,  assisted  in  organizing  the  First 
National  Bank,  of  which  he  has  since  been 
president.  The  bank  was  organized  with  a 
paid-up  capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  and 
has  a  surplus  of  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  safe,  conservative  policy  which 
he  inaugurated  commends  itself  to  the  judg- 
ment of  all. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1859,  Mr. 
Gould  was  united  in  marriage  with  ^liss 
Mary  J.  Jennings,  who  was  born  in  Elm- 
wood,  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  and  completed 
her  education  at  Lombard  College,  Gales- 
burg.  Her  parents  were  Levi  and  Susan  H. 
(Shephard)  Jennings,  of  Cambridge  town- 
ship, this  county,  where  the  father  was  e.x- 
tensiveh'  and  successfully  engaged  in  stock 
raising,  his  specialty  being  sheep.     He  died 


December  29,  1859,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven 
years,  and  his  wife  departed  this  life  at 
Cambridge  February  4.  1888.  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five.  Levi  Jennings  was  lx>rn  in 
Salem.  Ohio,  of  Quaker  stock.  March  10. 
1795.  and  there  lived  until  about  thirty  years 
of  age,  when  he  married  !Miss  Susan  H. 
Shepherd,  \yho  was  born  August  20.  1813. 
the  day  her  father,  John  Shepherd,  returned 
from  the  war  of  1812.  In  1835  Levi  Jen- 
nings removed  with  his  family  to  Peoria 
county,  Illinois,  having  previously  visited 
the  country  and  purchasing  a  large  tract  of 
land.  His  land  purchases  were  quite  ex- 
tensive in  Peoria,  Knox  and  Henry  counties, 
Illinois,  and  prior  to  his  death  had  accumu- 
lated a  handsome  fortune.  In  1849  '^^  ^'^' 
catedin  Cambridge  township,  where  he  built 
one  of  the  first  really  good  houses  in  the 
township,  which  is  yet  standing.  The 
children  of  Levi  and  Susan  H.  Jennings 
were  :  Ann,  wife  of  James  Bush,  a  farmer  of 
Adair  county,  Iowa:  Marv  _].,  wife  of  our 
subject;  and  John  L,  To  ;Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gould  were  born  two  daughters :  Nellie  L. 
and  Katie  M.  The  latter  is  now  the  wife  of 
W.  F.  Hays,  of  Seattle.  Washington,  by 
whom  she  has  one  child,  Catherine  (iLmkl 
Hays.  Nellie  L.,  1x)rn  October  jo.  i8()3. 
died  February  23.  1879,  '''i^l  her  death  was  a 
hea\y  blow,  not  only  to  her  family,  but  to  a 
large  circle  of  friends.  She  was  a  most  ami- 
able young  lady,  of  more  than  ortlinary 
promise,  and  a  bright  scholar  who  was  pre- 
paring to  enter  \"assar  College. 

Politically  Mr.  Gould  has  been  an  ardent 
Republican  since  the  formation  of  that  party. 
He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  town  and  county,  and  has  \xei\ 
honored  with  several  important  official  po- 
sitions.  He  was  chairman  of  the  building 
committee  which  had  charge  of  the  construe- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


17 


iii,in  of  the  court  house,  completed  in  1880, 
at  a  cost  of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars. 
every  cent  of  which  had  hcen  paid  at  that 
time.  It  is  an  excellent  and  suhstantial  tire- 
proof  huilding,  and  stands  as  a  nidnumeiit 
to  those  who  had  it  in  char,ye.  Mr,  (ic>ul<l 
has  been  an  imiinrtanl  factor  in  edncatinnal 
atlairs ;  was  a  member  of  the  school  board 
for  the  long  period  of  seventeen  years,  and 
it  is  safe  to  say  tliat  no  man  in  Cambridge 
has  devoted  more  time  lo  educational  and 
other  matters  of  general  benefit,  he  lieing- 
one  of  the  most  progressive  and  ])ublic-spir- 
iteil  men  of  Henry  county.  He  served  as 
supervisor  of  Cambridge  township  tor  twen- 
ty-six years,  ami  has  been  ([uile  an  acti\e 
member  of  the  agricultural  board.  In  181)3 
he  was  elected  president  of  the  \-illage  board 
which  position  he  still  holds.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  the  board  and  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee at  the  time  the  water  works  were  put 
in,  in  1896.  The  financial  trouble  then  pre- 
vailing prevented  the  village  from  selling  it^i 
bonds,  and  it  was  only  by  Mr.  Gould's  public 
spirit  in  giving  the  village  the  benefit  of  his 
credit  that  the  water  works  were  completed 
that  season.  Mr.  Gould  organized  the  .\r- 
mory  Hall  Comi)an_\'.  and  has  since  been  its 
])resident.  It  built  the  large  building  known 
as  the  armory  hall,  which  is  occupied  bv  the 
bank  and  a  general  store  on  the  ground 
tloor,  the  hall  above  being  50x90.  In  the 
erection  of  store  buildings  Mr.  Gould  has 
done  much  for  the  village.  He  and  his 
brother  Ames  built  and  are  the  present 
owners  of  the  Gould  block,  and  he  has  as- 
-^isted  many  others  to  build. 

As  a  citizen  ]\Ir.  Gould  has  always  been 
ri.ady  to  discharge  any  duty  devolving  upon 
him,  and  the  best  years  of  his  life  have  been 
given  to  the  building  up  aiul  ad\ancement 
of  his  adopted  village  and  county.    Few  men 


are  better  known  throughout  this  section  of 
the  state  than  N.  B.  Gould,  who  is  honored 
lor  his  sterling  worth  and  many  excellencies 
of  character. 


J.  R.  GAMBLE. 

Among  the  highly  respected  and  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  Kevvanee  is  numbered  J. 
R.  Gamble,  whose  home  is  at  No.  loi  North 
Burr  street.  He  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Philadelphia, 
.September  23,  1832.  His  parents,  George 
X.  and  Susanah  G.  (Guth ridge)  Gamble, 
were  born,  reared  and  married  in  England, 
where  the  father  was  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business  until  his  emigration  to  Amer- 
ica in  1831.  After  nine  months  spent  in 
this  country  he  returned  to  his  native  land, 
but  at  the  end  of  another  nine  months  he 
again  crossed  the  ocean  and  located  per- 
manently in  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  morocco. 
riierc  he  died  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years, 
aiul  his  wife  who  was  a  faithful  member 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  died  in  the  same 
city  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  In  their 
family  were  thirteen  children,  of  wdiom  our 
subject  was  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  His 
sister  and  brother,  Susanah  and  Frank  B  , 
are  still  residents  of  Philadelphia. 

In  that  city  J.  R.  Gamble  was  reared 
and  educated,  and  on  starting  out  in  life  for 
himself  worked  in  a  ship  chandler's  or  naval 
supply  store  for  two  years.  Subseiiuently 
he  served  a  four  years"  apprenticeship  at 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  lia\ing  thorough- 
ly mastered  the  business,  he  came  to  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  in  1855  and  located  in  Ke- 
wanee,  making  his  home  ever  since  on  the 
corner  where  he  now-  resides.     On  locating: 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


here  the  village  contained  a  population  of 
not  more  than  one  thousand,  and  with  its 
growth  and  progress  he  has  since  been 
prominently  identified.  As  a  carpenter  and 
contractor  he  has  done  an  extensi\e  busi- 
ness and  has  erected  many  buildings  in  the 
town  and  surrounding  countrj-,  including 
the  factory  buildings  of  the  firm  of  Pierce 
&  Haxtun. 

Mr.  Gamble  was  married  in  Philadel- 
phia, October  30,  1855,  to  iliss  Maria  P. 
W'oolley,  also  a  native  of  that  city  and  a 
daughter  of  William  H.  and  Eliza  \\'oolley, 
who  were  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  are 
now  deceased.  In  their  family  were  ten 
children,  namely :  William,  a  resident  of 
Philadelphia;  Anna,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Charles  Corkhill  and  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-one  years;  ilaria  P.,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject; Jane,  wife  of  John  Kliss,  of  Phila- 
delphia; Harriet,  wife  of  ^Ir.  Redford,  of 
Oregon;  Susan,  who  died  young;  Ruth, 
wife  of  Dickinson  Woodruff,  of  Trenton, 
New  Jersey;  and  Lydia,  who  married  E. 
L.  Miner  and  'died  at  the  age  of  forty-five 
years. 

To  ^Ir.  and  ]Mrs.  Gamble  ha\e  been 
born  the  following  children :  Florence  X., 
wife  of  Charles  Payne,  of  Kewanee;  Kate 
B.,  who  is  the  widow  of  A.  O.  Warner  and 
has  one  child,  Louise  ^^^ ;  George  H., 
pastor  of  the  Tabernacle  Baptist  Church 
of  Minneapolis,  ilinnesota,  who  married 
Margaret  Hawthorne  and  has  four  children, 
George,  \\'illiam,  Ross  and  Paul;  Joseph 
'N.,  a  resident  of  Kewanee,  who  married 
Fanny  Tunnicliff  and  has  four  children, 
Ruth,  !Margerie,  Don  and  Catherine;  Su- 
sanah,  wife  of  Rev.  Ellis  AI.  Jones,  a  Bap- 
tist minister  of  Nebraska  City,  Nebraska, 
by  wdiom  she  has  two  children,  Aliriam  and 
Esther;   Fred  B.,   a  resident  of  Kewanee, 


who  married  Eleanor  Cramb  and  has  two 
children,  Frederick  and  Florence;  and  Ross 
W.  and  Louise  ^I.,  both  at  home.  The 
parents  are  active  and  consistent  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in  politics  ilr. 
Gamble  is  a  Republican.  He  is  widely  and 
favorably  known,  and  has  man}"  warm 
friends  in  the  community  where  he  has  so 
lone  made  his  home. 


JOHX  H.  SMITH. 

John  H.  Smith,  deceased,  was  one  of 
the  highly  respected  and  honored  citizens 
of  Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  farming  for  some 
years,  but  had  laid  aside  business  cares  and 
was  living  a  retired  life  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany, 
November  17,  1818,  and  was  seventeen 
years  of  age  when  he  bade  good-by  to 
friends  and  native  land  and  came  to  the 
L'nited  States,  landing  in  New  York.  He 
first  located  near  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  engaged  in  teaming  between  that 
city  and  Cumberland  for  some  years. 

In  Somerset  county,  Penns3-lvania,  Mr. 
Smith  married  iliss  Ann  Messe,  a  native 
of  that  count)",  and  a  daughter  of  Christian 
and  Ann  (Feidler)  ^lesse,  also  natives  of 
the  Keystone  state.  Throughout  life  the 
father  followed  the  miller's  trade  and  died 
at  his  home  in  Somerset  county,  at  the  age 
of  sixty  years,  his  wife  surviving  him  idhr 
years.  Seven  children  were  born  to  ilr.  and 
ilrs.  Smith,  of  whom  one  son  and  three 
daughters  are  still  living,  namelj":  Eliza- 
beth is  the  wife  of  Aaron  Ott,  a  druggist 
of  Marion,  Kansas,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, A'ida,  ^lamie,  ]Milford  and  Roy. 
]\Iary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  J.  \\'.  J.  Kerr. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


19 


of  Ciirsicana,  Texas.  Xaiicv,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Geneseo,  is  tlie  widow  of  Peter 
Drunim,  who  was  engaged  in  fanning  in 
Geneseo  township,  and  they  have  liad  three 
cliildren;  Vena  and  Jessie,  both  Hving,  and 
Howard,  deceased.  Jolm.  a  prominent 
farmer,  who  is  now  operating  tlie  old  home 
])lace,  married  MoUie,  daughter  of  Henry 
Goembel,  of  Geneseo,  and  they  have  one 
child,   Xeva. 

On  leaving  Pennsylvania,  in  1851,  Mr. 
Smith  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and 
purchased  a  farm  in  Edford  township,  on 
which  he  lived  for  some  years,  but  about 
i860  removed  to  Geneseo  township,  locat- 
ing just  north  of  the  city,  where  he  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stuck  raising  until 
1 89 1.  That  year  he  purchased  a  home  on 
North  State  street,  Geneseo,  where  he  lived 
retired  until  called  from  this  life  on  the  nth 
of  April,  1900.  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine 
years,  his  remains  being  interred  in  Oak- 
wood  cemetery,  Geneseo.  He  was  always 
a  public-spirited  man,  advocating  all  meas- 
ueres  that  tended  to  impro\-e  the  welfare 
of  the  ciimnumity  in  which  he  li\eil,  and 
he  was  therefore  recognized  as  one  of  its 
most  useful  and  valued  citizens.  He  was  a 
faithful  luember  of  the  Evangelical  Church 
and  a  constant  attendant  upon  its  services. 
In  his  home  he  was  a  most  exemplary  hus- 
band and  father,  and  in  both  business  and 
pri\-ate  life  made  many  friends  and  no  en- 
emies. His  death  was  deeply  mourned  in  the 
C'lnmuinity  where  so  large  a  part  of  his  life 
was  spent. 


HEXRY  GOEMBEL. 

Henry  Goembel.  deceased,  was  for  over 
a  third  of  a  century  an  honored  resident  of 
Henry  countv.     He  was  ever  faithful  to  bis 


duties  of  citizenship,  and  by  the  successful 
conduct  of  his  business  interests  not  only 
promoted  his  individual  success  but  also 
advanced  the  general  prosperity.  In  his  life 
span  of  seventy-eight  years  he  accomplished 
much,  and  left  behind  an  honorable  record 
well  worthy  of  perpetuation. 

Mr.  Goembel  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Nederaula,  Hesse,  Germany,  June  14,  1822, 
on  the  river  Fulda,  a  trilnitary  to  the  Rhine, 
and  was  the  oldest  son  of  Sebastian  and 
Anna  Goembel,  both  of  Hessian  birth.  His 
parental  grandfather  was  one  of  the  Hes- 
sian soldiers  who  were  hired  by  the  Eng- 
lish government  to  aid  the  British  in  the 
American  Revolution,  being  literally  sold 
1)\-  the  German  ruler,  as  that  nation  holds 
the  ownership  of  its  subjects  until  a  certain 
amount  of  military  iluty  is  performed. 
L'nder  such  circumstances  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica, and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Xew  York 
by  the  Continental  troops.  After  his  re- 
lease he  became  a  loyal  adherent  of  the 
colonial  government,  and  engaged  in  clerk- 
ing until  peace  was  restored,  when  he  re- 
turned to  bis  native  land.  In  1834  his  son, 
Sebastian,  accomjjanied  by  his  wife  and 
eight  children,  came  to  the  I'nited  States, 
taking  passage  at  Bremen  on  the  Ernest 
Gustav,  a  German  sailing  vessel,  and  land- 
ing in  Xew  Orleans  after  a  long,  and  tedi- 
ous voyage  of  sixty-nine  days.  After  two 
weeks  silent  in  the  Crescent  City  they  pro- 
ceeded to  St.  Louis,  and  from  there  went 
to  Havana,  Illinois,  where  they  remained 
one  month.  At  the  end  of  that  time  they 
went  to  Peoria,  then  known  as  Fort  Clark. 
They  finally  located  on  Farm  creek,  in 
Tazewell  county,  where  the  father  of  our 
subject  purchased  a  claim  when  the  land 
came  into  market.  .\t  that  time  a  log  house 
constituted   the  only  improvement    on    the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


place,  but  it  was  not  many  years  before  the 
land  was  under  excellent  cultivation  and 
adorned  with  good  and  substantial  build- 
ings, it  being  the  home  of  the  family  for 
several  years.  The  parents  spent  their  last 
days  in  Washington,  Tazewell  county. 

Henry  Goembel  was  only  twelve  years 
of  age  on  the  emigration  of  the  family  to 
the  new  world,  and  in  Tazewell  county,  Illi- 
r.ois,  he  grew  to  manhood,  remaining  under 
the  parental  roof  until  1849,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  timber  land  a  mile  and  a 
half  from  the  old  homestead  and  built  there- 
on a  frame  house.  Being  a  natural  me- 
chanic and  familiar  with  the  use  of  tools, 
he  did  most  of  the  work  on  this  building 
himself.  He  resided  there  until  1864,  and 
in  the  meantime  placed  about  half  of  the 
two  hundred  acres  under  cultivation.  In 
October  of  that  3'ear  he  came  to  Henry 
county  and  purchased  a  partially  improved 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Alba  town- 
ship, to  the  further  development  and  culti- 
vation of  which  he  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention for  some  years.  He  prospered  in 
his  new  home  and  became  the  owner  of 
se\'en  hundred  acres  of  very  valuable  and 
productive  land.  He  also  had  two  good 
farms  in  Phenix  township,  and  forty  acres 
near  Geneseo,  to  which  city  he  and  his  fam- 
ily removed  in  1872.  There  he  practically 
led  a  retired  life,  having  acquired  a  hand- 
some competence  which  enabled  him  to  lay 
aside  all  active  labor  and  spend  his  last 
years  in  ease  and  cpiiet,  surrounded  by  all 
the  comforts  of  life. 

In  1849  ^Ir.  Goembel  married  Miss 
Catherine  Fey,  also  a  native  of  the  province 
of  Hesse,  Germany,  and  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  Fey,  who  brought 
their  family  to  America  when  she  was 
about  twenty  years  of  age  and  settled  near 


Peoria,  where  they  resided  and  then  moved 
to  Chatswnrth,  Livingston  county.  Illinois, 
but  both  died  when  well  advanced  in  life 
in  Hooppole,  Illinois.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Goembel  were  born  eight  children,  four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  namely:  (i)  Zacha- 
riah  T.  was  for  some  years  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Phenix  township,  this  county,  but 
in  the  spring  of  1900  moved  to  Prophets- 
tnwn,  ^^'hiteside  county,  where  he  now  fol- 
lows the  same  pursuit.  He  married  ^Irs. 
Annie  Rock,  and  they  have  three  children, 
^\'illiam,  Herbert  and  Alice.  (2)  Charles- 
C,  a  farmer  of  Hooppole.  Henry  county, 
married  Lizzie  Greenwood  and  they  had 
eight  children,  ]\Iaude,  LIusy,  }\Iillie,  Carl, 
Cassie,   Bessie,   Pearl   and   an    infant    son. 

(3)  Anna  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Greenwood, 
a  farmer  of  Hooppole,  and  they  have  nine 
children.  Charles,  John,  flattie,  Henry,  Jo- 
seph, Forrest,  Aaron,  Zachariah  and  Katie. 

(4)  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Lawrence  Seyl- 
ler,  a  real  estate  dealer  of  Arkansas,  and 
they  have  six  children,  A'ida,  Roy,  Mollie. 
Charles,  Ethel  and  Manley.  (5)  John  H., 
a  retired  citizen  of  Geneseo,  married  Hat- 
tie  Hines.  (6)  Mollie  is  the  wife  of  John 
Smith,  a  farmer  of  Geneseo  township,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Neva.  (7)  Henry,  who 
is  engaged  in  farming  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Geneseo  township,  married  Julia 
Bubeck,  and  they  have  two  children,  Flora 
and  Lucille.  (8)  Katie  is  the  wife  of  Theo- 
dore Becker,  a  prominent  dry  goods  and 
hardware  merchant  of  Geneseo,  whose  pleas- 
ant residence  is  just  north  of  Mrs.  Goem- 
bel's  home  on  North  State  street,  and  they 
have  three  children,  Leslie  Goembel,  Ho- 
bart  Theodore  and  Marguerite  Mildred. 

Mr.  Goembel  died  at  his  home  in 
Geneseo,  I\Iay  8,  1900.  He  was  highly 
honored   for  his   Christian   and   benevolent 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


character  and  was  greatly  respected  by  his 
fellow  citizens.  Those  who  knew  him  best 
were  numbered  among  his  warmest  friends, 
and  in  his  death  the  community  realized 
that  it  had  lost  one  of  its  best  citizens.  He 
was  devoted  to  his  family  and  in  every  re- 
spect was  a  true  gentleman. 


CHARLES  E.  STURTZ. 

Charles  E.  Sturtz.  a  leading  and  promi- 
nent attorney  of  Kewanee,  Illinois,  was  born 
on  the  9th  of  November,  1864,  in  Somer- 
set county,  Pennsylvania,  not  far  from 
Cumberland,  ^Maryland,  and  is  a  son  of 
Charles  and  Catherine  (Kennell)  Sturtz, 
also  natives  of  that  county  and  representa- 
tives of  old  Pennsylvania  families.  In  i86g 
the  parents,  accompanied  by  their  children, 
removed  to  Illinois,  locating  near  Sterling, 
\\hiteside  county,  where  they  have  since 
made  their  home,  the  father  being  engaged 
ii:  farming.  He  was  born  July  6,  1839,  and 
still  enjoys  good  health.  In  his  native  state 
he  followed  the  occupation  of  school  teach- 
ing, and  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  H,  of  a 
regiment  of  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, but  was  later  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  orderly  sergeant.  His  wife  is  of  Eng- 
lish descent  and  her  ancestors  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania  and  Mary- 
land. In  their  family  were  nine  children, 
all  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely:  O.  L., 
a  photographer  of  South  Bend,  Indiana; 
Charles  E.,  our  subject;  Alice,  wife  of  H. 
T.  Bowman,  of  Dixon,  Illinois;  William 
S.,  a  resident  of  Sterling;  Mattie,  wife  of 
Arthur  Emmett,  of  Rock  Falls,  Illinois; 
Grant,  a  dentist  of  Marietta.  Mississippi ; 
Lewis   J.,   a   photographer   of   Green   Bay, 


Michigan;  Herman,  a  dentist  of  Marietta, 
Mississippi;  and  Cora  E.,  wife  of  Clarence 
Ward,  of  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 

'Sh.  Sturtz,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  recei\ed  his  preliminary  education 
in  the  cummon  schools  of  Whiteside  coun- 
ty, and  later  attended  Dixon  College,  after 
which  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  in 
\\'hitcside  county  for  four  years,  in  the 
meanwhile  devoting  his  spare  time  and  vo- 
cations to  the  study  of  law  under  the  di- 
rection of  Attorneys  Mannahan  and  Ward, 
of  Sterling.  He  also  took  his  Blackstone 
with  him  on  expeditions  of  pedagogy.  In 
the  fall  of  1887  he  entered  Knox  College, 
Galesburg,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1891,  receiving  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 
science.  All  this  time  he  was  pursuing  his 
law  studies  during  vacations,  and  after  leav- 
ing Knox  College,  he  entered  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  University  of  Michigan, 
at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  received  the  degree 
of  bachelor  of  laws  in  1892,  being  admitted 
to  the  bar  the  same  }ear.  He  spent  one 
year  in  the  law  uttice  of  Otis  &  Graves  at 
Chicago,  and  in  1893  i^^mie  to  Kewanee, 
where  he  has  succeeded  in  building  up  an 
extensive  and  lucrative  practice.  He  has  a 
well  equipped  modern  law  office  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Tremont  and  Third  streets. 

On  the  1 6th  of  September,  189-',  Mr. 
Sturtz  was  united  in  marriage  with  }kliss 
Allie  C.  Price,  of  Xcponset,  Illinois,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  l^rice,  who  now  resides 
in  Kewanee.  By  this  union  has  been  born 
a  daughter,  Zola  May,  now  six  years  of  age. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Sturtz  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  politically  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party.  In  1894, 
1895  'i"<i  i8g6  he  was  elected  city  attorney 
for  terms  of  one  year  each,  and  in  1899 
was  re-elected  for  a  term  of  two  years,  be- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


iiig  the  present  incumbent  in  that  office.  He 
is  also  serving  as  secretary  of  the  board  of 
education,  to  which  position  he  was  elected 
in  1899  for  a  term  of  three  years,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  committee  on  teachers  and 
text  books.  Socially  he  is  deservedly  pop- 
ular, as  he  is  affable  and  courteous  in  man- 
ner and  possesses  that  essential  qualifica- 
tion to  success  in  public  life,  that  of  mak- 
ing friends  readily  and  of  strengthening  the 
ties  of  all  friendships  as  time  ad\ances. 


ja:\ies  k.  blish. 

As  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Kewanee  and  one  of  the  leading  attorneys 
of  this  section  of  the  state.  Jas.  K.  Blish  is 
v.ideh'  known  and  universally  respected.  A 
native  of  Henry  county,  he  was  born  on  the 
2nd  lUw  (if  Mav.  1843.  within  a  mile  of 
v/here  the  l)ank  now  stands,  and  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  its  oldest  and  most  promi- 
nent families.  On  the  paternal  side  he  traces 
his  ancestry  back  to  Abraham  Blish,  who 
emigrated  from  England,  and  located  at 
Duxbury,  north  of  Plymouth,  rvlassachu- 
setts,  about  1637,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  a  time,  l)ut  in  1642  removed  to 
Barnstable,  the  same  state,  there  spending 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  son  Jo,seph. 
from  whom  our  subject  is  descended,  was  a 
life-long  resident  of  Barnstable  and  a  far- 
mer by  occupation.  In  the  latter's  family 
was  Tristram  Blish,  who  was  born  in  Barn- 
stable, and  married  Annie  Fuller,  a  great- 
granddaughter  of  Edward  Fuller,  who  came 
to  this  country  in  the  ^Mayflower.  In  1725 
they  removed  to  Colchester.  Connecticut, 
where  their  last  days  were  spent  ujxjn  a 
farm.   Of  their  seven  children,  David,   the 


fifth  in  order  of  birth,  was  born  in  Colchester 
and  married  Zeruiah  Skinner.  He  engaged 
ill  agricultural  pursuits,  and  during  the 
Revolutionar}-  war  served  as  sergeant  in  a 
company  from  Connecticut.  He  died  in  the 
town  of  Marlboro,  which  was  formed  from 
a  part  of  Colchester,  Glastonbury  and  Heb- 
ron. His  son,  Thomas  Blish,  was  born  in 
Glastonbury,  and  for  many  years  served  as 
deacon  in  the  old  New  England  church  at 
that  place.  He  married  Prudence  Hubbard, 
and  to  them  were  born  four  children. 

Of  this  family  Colonel  Sylvester  Blish, 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  third  in 
order  of  birth.  He  was  born  and  reared  in 
Glastonbury,  Hartford  county.  Connecticut, 
and  in  early  life  engaged  in  farming  and 
trading  there.  In  company  with  Rev.  Itha- 
mar  Pillsbury  and  Elizur  Goodrich,  he  was 
appointed  a  commissioner  in  1836  by  the 
Connecticut  Association  organized  in  Weth- 
ersfield,  and  sent  to  Illinois  to  select  land  for 
p.  colon}'.  Coming  to  Henry  comity,  they 
purchased  fifteen  thousand  acres  of  land  in 
what  is  now  \\'ethersfield  and  Kewanee 
townships,  after  spending  about  three  months 
in  carefully  inspecting  this  locality,  and  they 
displayed  remarkable  foresight  in  their  selec- 
tion. At  the  end  of  that  time  rliey  returned 
to  Connecticut,  but  in  the  spring  of  1837 
!Mr.  Blish  again  came  to  Illinois,  driving 
through  the  states  of  Pennsylvania.  Ohio  and 
Indiana,  the  journey  consuming  six  weeks. 
On  reaching  his  destination  he  erected  a  log 
cabin  upon  his  land,  about  fifteen  by  twenty 
feet,  with  a  loft  overhead,  which  was  his 
home  for  many  years,  but  has  since  lieen  torn 
down.  He  was  one  of  the  largest  land  own- 
ers in  this  section  in  early  days,  anil  engaged 
in  farming  in  connection  with  his  land  ven- 
tures. He  had  served  as  colonel  in  the  state 
militia  of  Connecticut  for  manv  vears,  and 


JAMES  K.   BLISH. 


I  ,  r,  o  /-  ov 

UNIVERSlii  u.  (LLiNOIS 
URBANA 


THE  BI(3GRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


25 


always  bore  tliat  title.  Two  years  after  lo- 
cating in  W'ethersfield  he  opened  an  inn, 
Avhich  he  conducted  for  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury, it  being  the  stopping  place  of  all  the 
stage  lines  passing  '  through  this  locality. 
]\Ir.  Blish  was  the  first  postmaster  of  W'etli- 
ersfield,  and  one  of  the  first  county  commis- 
sioners, and  took  a  very  active  part  in  organ- 
izing the  county  and  in  all  pulilic  matters. 
He  died  in  1855,  and  his  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Rhoda  Cheney,  passe<l  aw  ay 
in  1878.  In  their  famly  were  five  chldren. 
namely:  William  Henry,  who  died  in  W'eth- 
ersfield  in  1897,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three 
years,  leaving  eight  children;  Thomas,  who 
died  in  Galena,  leaving  two  children  who 
are  still  living  there;  Charles  Cheney,  father 
of  our  subject ;  Prudence  Hubbard,  who  mar- 
ried Hon.  James  Knox,  a  member  of  con- 
gress,and  Ixith  are  now  deceased  ;  and  George 
Cheney,  who  died  in  Chicago,  leaving  seven 
children,  who  still  reside  there. 

Charles  C.  Blish,  father  of  our  subject. 
•was  lx)rn  in  Glastonbury,  Connecticut,  in 
May,  1820,  and  was  educated  in  that  state, 
grauating  from  the  ]\Iiddletown  Academy. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Illinois,  and  took  up  surveying,  which 
he  followed  for  twenty  years,  serving  as 
county  surveyor  for  many  terms.  At  the  age 
of  twenty  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Elizabeth  P.  Bonar,  a  native  of  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  and  fifth  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  eleven  children,  nine  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Her  father,  Mathew  Bonar,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  I'ennsylvania.  and 
in  1839  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois, 
locating  on  Walnut  creek,  in  Kni:\  countv. 
where  he  prnxhased  a  partially  improved 
farm  and  lived  for  a  number  of  years.  \\'hen 
he  discontinued  surveying.  Charles  C.  Blish 
turned  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock 


raising,  which  he  successfully  followed  until 
his  death,  which  incurred  December  15. 
1S90.  His  wife  died  June  13.  1900.  To 
tb.em  were  l>orn  six  children,  but  only  two 
reached  vears  of  maturity,  these  being  J.  K., 
our  subject;  and  Mathew  I'unar,  who  is  a 
resident  of  Kewanee,  though  engaged  in 
farming  in  Wethersfield  township.  He  mar- 
ried Maliia  ]•".  -Mnrrill.  ;ui<!  they  have  three 
children. 

The  ])rimary  education  of  J.  K.  Blish 
V  as  obtained  in  the  Union  .school  of  W'eth- 
ersfiekl  and  Kewanee.  He  was  next  a  stu- 
dent in  the  prepar.ntory  school  at  Ann  Arlxjr, 
and  in  T862  entered  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan, where  he  was  graduated  in  1866,  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.,  after  ])ursuing  the  regu- 
lar collegiate  course.  Returning  to  his  home 
in  this  county,  he  engaged  in  farming  in 
Wethersfield  township  for  three  years,  and 
then  went  to  Council  I'luffs,  Iowa,  where 
the  following  two  years  were  spent  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Kiter.  Bonar  &  Blish, 
manufacturers  of  blank  books.  On  selling 
out  his  interest  there  he  went  to  Chicago, 
where,  in  the  employ  of  J.  W.  Middletown, 
he  engaged  in  the  same  business  until  the  big 
fire  of  1 87 1,  and  then  returned  to  Kewanee 
and  entered  the  law  office  of  Howe  &  Xorth 
as  a  student.  1  le  took  the  re(|uired  examina- 
tion before  the  supreme  court  at  Springfield 
;ind  was  ;ulniitted  to  the  bar  in  1873.  since 
w  Inch  time  be  has  successfull\-  engaged  in 
the  general  practice  of  law  at  Kewanee. 
He  was  alone  until  1889,  when  he  formed  his 
jiresent  partnership  with  \\'illiam  Lawson. 
This  is  one  of  the  leading  law  firms  of  west- 
ern Illinois,  and  they  enjoy  a  large  and  lu- 
crative i)ractice.  ( )n  the  organization  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Kewanee,  in 
1870,  Mr.  Blish's  father  became  president, 
and  lilled  the  ot'tice  for  about  twentv  vears. 


26 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  1886  our  subject  was  elected  a  director, 
and  since  1894  has  served  as  its  president. 
He  is  not  only  a  lawyer  of  ability  and  promi- 
nence, but  is  also  a  capable  business  man, 
and  the  business  of  the  bank  has  steadily 
increased  under  his  able  management. 

On  Christmas  day,  1869,  Mr.  Blish  was 
luiited  in  marriage  with  IMiss  Mary  E.  Mc- 
Manus,  a  nati\e  of  Xew  York  state,  who 
died  in  1881.  her  remains  being  interred  in 
Kewanee  cemetery.  By  that  union  were 
born  two  children  :  James  Louis,  now  a  dent- 
ist of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  who  married 
Martha  B.  Aldrich  and  has  two  children, 
Tvlary  Eleanor  and  Zirian  Aldricli ;  and  Ber- 
tha, at  home  with  her  father.  Mr.  Blish 
was  again  married,  Octol>er  5.  1886.  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  ?kliss  Amy  ^lason 
Rhodes,  a  native  of  Providence,  Rhode  Isl- 
and, and  a  daughter  of  Albert  Rhodes,  de- 
ceased, who  was  for  man}--  years  a  resident 
of  Buda,  Illinois.  To  them  have  been  born 
three  children :  Elizabeth,  ^lathew  Rhodes 
and  Asa  Rhodes,  all  attending  the  Kewanee 
schools.  Mrs.  Blish  is  a  lady  of  culture  and 
refinement,  a  leader  in  charitaljle  work, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  Cliurch. 

In  politics  Mr.  Blish  is  a  Democrat,  but 
not  an  advocate  of  free  silver.  For  several 
terms  he  was  an  active  and  influential  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council;  was  a  member  of  the 
school  board  eighteen  years  and  secretary  of 
the  saine  for  some  time:  and  was  county  su- 
pervisor four  years,  during  which  time  the 
new  court  house  was  built,  and  he  ser\-ed  on 
the  building  committee.  For  twelve  years 
he  was  also  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Ke- 
wanee public  library,  and  for  thirteen  years 
was  president  of  the  Kewanee  Fair  Associa- 
tion, of  which  he  was  one  of  the  organizers. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Kewanee  Building 
and  Loan  Association  he  took  the  leading 


part,  and  was  its  first  secretary,  a  position 
he  still  holds.  This  has  been  a  \er\'  success- 
ful entei"prise  and  of  great  benefit  to  the  city. 
Through  its  aid  many  workingmen  have  se- 
cured good  homes.  He  assisted  in  organiz- 
ing the  Kewanee  Electric  Light  Company, 
since  merged  into  the  Kewanee  Light  & 
Power  Company,  and  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  a  number  of  business  enter- 
prises that  have  promoted  the  welfare  of  the 
city  in  no  uncertain  manner.  He  has  been  a 
delegate  to  nearly  all  the  state  conventions 
of  his  party,  and  in  1888  was  one  of  the 
presidential  electors.  He  is  now  serving  as 
president  of  the  Old  Settlers  Association, 
which  office  he  has  filled  for  several  terms. 
As  a  citizen  he  meets  every  requirement  and 
manifests  a  commendable  interest  in  every- 
thing that  is  calculated  to  promote  the  city's 
v.-elfare  in  any  line.  In  manner  he  is  pleas- 
ant, genial  and  approachable,  and  all  who 
know  him  esteem  him  highly  for  his  gen- 
uine worth. 


A.  J.   AXDERSOX. 

A.  J.  Anderson,  who  is  now  success- 
fully engaged  in  the  real  estate,  loan  and 
insurance  business  in  Kewanee,  Illinois,  was 
born  in  Sweden  and  came  to  this  country 
with  his  father  during  infancy.  His  early 
education  was  acquired  in  tlie  schools  of 
Kewanee,  and  on  leaving  the  high  school 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Haxtun  Steam  Heating  Com- 
pany, now  the  \\^estern  Tube  Company,  as 
an  apprentice.  Here  he  learned  the  boiler 
maker's  trade,  remaining  with  the  company 
four  years.  He  then  went  to  San  Francisco, 
California,  where  he  served  as  inspector  of 
the  cit}'  water  works  one  season,  and  at  the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


27 


end  of  that  time  entered  tlie  mechanical 
department  of  Linci^hi  Schnol  of  that  city, 
wliere  he  pursued  a  meclianical  course. 
Later  he  took  a  trip  throujjli  the  western 
states,  and  before  rctiu'uinj;"  home  he  also 
visited  the  east. 

Since  then  Mr.  Anderson  has  resided 
uninterruptedly  in  Kewanee,  and  has  been 
engaged  in  the  real  estate,  loan  and  insur- 
ance business.  In  June,  i8c;j,  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  W.  11.  Remick,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Remick  X:  .Vnderson.  and 
this  connection  continued  until  March,  1900, 
since  which  time  Mr.  Anderson  has  been 
alone  in  business.  He  represents  many  of 
the  best  and  most  reliable  insurance  com- 
panies of  the  world,  including'  the  Liver- 
pool, London  &.  Globe,  of  Liverpool,  Eng- 
land; the  Springfield  Fire  &  Marine,  of 
Springfield,  Massachusetts;  the  German 
American,  of  New  York;  Magdeburg,  of 
Germany;  the  Phoenix,  of  Brooklyn;  the 
Phcenix,  of  Hartford ;  the  Imperial,  of  Lon- 
don; the  Home,  of  New  York;  the  Aetna,  of 
Hartford;  the  Fire  Association,  of  Phila- 
delphia; the  Hartford,  of  Hartford;  the 
American  Central,  of  St.  Louis;  the  Nation- 
al, of  Hartford ;  and  the  Fireman's  Fund. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1899,  Mr. 
Anderson  married  Miss  Lucy  Robison,  a 
native  of  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Robison,  now  deceased,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  this  county  and  an  honored 
resident  of  Kewanee.  Fraternally  Mr.  An- 
derson is  a  member  of  Kewanee  Lodge, 
No.  159,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Kewanee  Lodge, 
No.  466,  K.  P.,  in  which  he  has  filled  all 
the  ofifices  and  is  now  past  chancellor;  and 
Nabuthaean  Temple,  No.  5,  Knights  of 
Khorassan,  of  Galesburg.  As  a  Republi- 
can Mr.  Anderson  takes  quite  an  active 
part  in  local  politics  and  is  now  chairman 


of  the  city  central  committee.  He  is  a  wide- 
awake, energetic  young  business  man,  and 
in  all  his  undertakings  has  met  with  well- 
deserved  success. 


AUGUST  CHARLET. 

For  many  years  August  Charlet  was  ac- 
tively engaged  in  farming  in  Henry  county, 
but  is  spending  his  declining  days  in  ease 
and  retired  from  labor  in  his  pleasant  home 
at  No.  ;^2;^  South  (irovc  street.  Kewanee. 
He  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  firanden- 
burg,  October  31,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of 
Abraham  and  Dorothy  (Schalipp)  Charlet, 
natives  of  the  same  province.  The  father 
was  a  laboring  man,  who  died  in  Germany 
at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years.  The  mother 
afterward  came  with  our  subject  to  Amer- 
ica, and  passed  away  at  his  home  in  Burns 
township,  Henry  county,  Illinois,  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  seventy-eight  years  and  two 
months.  In  their  family  were  six  children, 
namely :  John,  who  was  serving  in  the 
German  army  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  he  was  about  twen- 
ty-four years  of  age;  August,  our  subject; 
Dorothy,  who  became  the  wife  of  William 
Wert,  and  died  in  Kewanee  township,  this 
county;  Julius,  a  farmer  of  Burns  township; 
William,  who  died  in  Germany  at  the  age 
of  four  years;  and  Louisa,  widow  of  Oscar 
Fischer  and  a  resident  of  Burns  township, 
this  county. 

The  early  life  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  spent  in  the  fatherland,  where 
he  attended  school,  and  after  the  comple- 
tion of  his  education  he  worked  at  the  weav- 
er's trade  for  some  time.  In  1856  he  sailed 
from  Hamburg  for  New   York  on  an  old 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Englisli  freiglit  lx)at.  wiiich  liad  been  con- 
verted into  a  passenger  sliip.  The  voy- 
age lasted  eight  weeks  and  three  days,  dur- 
ing which  time  they  encountered  some  se- 
vere storms.  On  reaching  New  York  Mr. 
Charlet  came  at  once  to  Henry  county,  Ilh- 
nois.  and  settled  in  ^^'ethersfield  township, 
where  he  at  first  worked  by  the  day  at  any 
thing  which  he  could  find  to  do.  Five 
years  after  his  arrival  he  had  saved  enough 
from  his  wages  to  purchase  eight}^  acres 
of  unimproved  land  in  Burns  township. 
The  land  was  fenced  but  there  were  no 
buildings  upon  it,  and  to  its  improvement 
and  cultivation  he  at  once  turned  his  at- 
tention. Later  he  added  to  it  a  tract  of 
one  hundred  and  twent_\-  acres  and  subse- 
quently bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  Cornwall  township.  He  was  successfully 
engaged  in  general  farming  until  February, 
1888,  when  he  removed  to  Kewanee  and 
purchased  the  lot  where  he  now  resides. 
Tearing  down  the  old  house  which  stood 
thereon  he  erected  his  present  comfortable 
residence.  He  has  since  sold  his  farms  to 
his  sons  and  has  laid  aside  the  cares  and  re- 
sponsibilities of  business  life. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  1859,  Mr. 
Charlet  was  united  in  marriage  with  ^Irs. 
^Mary  (Leonard)  Couve,  also  a  native  of 
dren,  namely :  \\'illiam,  a  farmer  of  Anna- 
Couve,  who  died  in  1858,  leaving  four  chil- 
country.  She  was  first  the  wife  of  \\'illiam 
Charles  Leonard,  who  ne\er  came  to  this 
Brandenburg,  Germany,  and  a  daughter  of 
v.an  township;  Fred,  a  farmer  of  Corn- 
wall township;  Louisa,  wife  of  Ernest 
Spiegel,  of  Cornwall  township,  and  Mary, 
wife  of  Gus  Schroeder,  of  Burns  township. 
By  her  marriage  to  our  subject  Mrs. 
Charlet  has  become  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren :  August,  a  farmer  of  Cornwall  town- 


ship, married  Sophia  Kollman  and  they 
have  three  children,  William,  Clare  and 
Louis;  and  ilinnie  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Klein,  who  is  with  the  Western  Tube  Com- 
pany of  Kewanee.  Mrs.  Charlet  was  born 
October  29,  1829,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  on  the  same  vessel  with  her  husband. 
By  his  ballot  Air.  Charlet  supports  tho 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
educational  affairs,  serving  as  school  di- 
rector for  three  years,  but  he  has  never 
cared  for  political  office,  preferring  to  give 
his  undivided  attention  to  his  business  in- 
terests. He  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Evangelical  Church  of  Kewanee,  and  was 
a  trustee  of  the  same  for  twelve  years. 
Coming  to  this  country  empty-handed,  but 
with  a  strong  determination  to  succeed  he 
has  steadily  and  persistent!}^  worked  his  way 
upward  until  he  acquired  a  comfortable 
competence,  which  now  enables  him  to  spend 
the  remainder  of  his  life  in  ease  and  quiet, 
surrounded  bv  all  that  makes  life  worth  the 


THOMAS  BEXXISOX. 

Thomas  Bennison,  who  is  now  living  a 
retired  life  at  his  pleasant  home  at  Xo.  600 
East  First  street,  Kewanee,  Illinois,  was 
born  in  Hurst,  England,  April  28,  1837,  a 
son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Bennison,  who 
are  represented  on  another  page  of  this 
volume  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of 
their  son,  Samuel.  In  1845  ^m"  subject 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  emigra- 
tion to  the  new  world,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Pennsylvania.  From  that  state 
the  family  renioved  to  Shullsburg,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  in  1864  came  to  Henry  county, 
Illinois. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


W'lien  liis  school  days  were  over  Mr. 
Bennisiin  worked  in  the  lead  mines  of  Wis- 
consin, and  after  cuniiny  to  Kewanee  em- 
barked in  mercantile  Inisiness  in  company 
with  others.  Eater  he  was  alone  in  busi- 
ness, and  witn  the  development  of  the  city 
his  trade  constantly  increased,  successfully 
following  that  pursuit  from  1865  until  June, 
1897,  when  he  retired  from  active  life  to 
enjoy  the  competence  he  had  acquired 
througli  years  of  industry,  perseverance  and 
good  management.  As  a  business  man  he 
was  always  energetic,  prompt  and  notably 
reliable,  and  his  success  has  been  worthily 
achieved.  He  has  erected  three  large  store 
buiklings  on  Tremont  street,  Kewanee,  and 
has  built  a  number  of  private  residences  in 
that  city,  and  he  and  his  son-in-law  put  up 
a  large  brick  block  in  Cozad,  Nebraska.  He 
is  also  a  stockholder  in  a  bank  in  that  city, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  was  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ke- 
wanee, of  which  he  was  one  of  the  charter 
members. 

In  1862  Air.  Bennison  married  iliss  Ann 
\\'alton,  a  native  of  Shullsburg,  Wisconsin, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Walton, 
who  were  born  in  England,  and  died  in 
Kewanee,  Illinois,  the  former,  July  30, 
1887,  aged  seventy-eight  years,  the  latter 
January  29,  1885,  aged  seventy-six.  They 
were  both  members  of  the  Primitive  Meth- 
odist Church.  By  occupation  Mr.  Walton 
was  a  miner  and  followed  that  pursuit  very 
successfully  in  the  gold  fields  of  California 
for  two  }ears,  and  after  his  return  east 
worked  in  the  mines  here  for  a  short  lime, 
and  then  lived  retired  throughout  (Tie  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  Of  his  seven  children 
Thomas  died  in  1853,  st  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years.  Sarah  became  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Bennison,  now  deceased,  and  she  died 


in  1893,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight.  Leonard 
is  engaged  in  mining  in  Colorado.  Mary 
i;  the  wife  of  ]>eiuictt  Osborne,  of  Kewanee. 
Ann  was  the  wife  of  our  subject.  Robert 
is  a  veteran  ot  the  Civil  war  and  a  retired 
farmer  oi  Iowa.  Ilercules  R.  was  married 
February  _'_',  1880,  to  Alpha  Johns,  and 
died  in  Kewanee,  in  July,  1899,  aged  fifty- 
five  years.  Of  his  two  children,  Joseph  C. 
and  Alae  B.  are  still  living,  while  Philip 
died  at  the  age  of  nine  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennison  were  born 
four  children:  Alary  A.,  now  the  wife  of 
AI.  H.  Brown,  of  Nebraska,  by  whom  she 
had  two  children,  Azal  and  Ruth;  Stella  E., 
wife  of  Robert  Davis,  of  Nebraska,  by 
whom  she  has  one  child,  Paul;  Lewis  J., 
who  died  Alay  6,  1888,  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years;  and  Nettie  O.,  wife  of  Arthur 
Wake,  of  South  Omaha,  Nebraska.  The 
wife  and  mother,  who  was  a  consistent  and 
faithful  member  of  the  Primiti\'e  Alelh- 
odisi  Clun-ch,  was  born  in  1844,  and  depart- 
ed this  life  July  13,  1899.  Air.  Bennison 
was  again  married  November  14,  1900, 
his  second  union  being  with  Aliss  Alice 
Jones,  of  Kewanee,  who  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania June  6,  185 1,  and  came  with  her 
parents,  Aloses  and  Catherine  (Taylor) 
Jones,  to  Kewanee  in  1863. 

Air.  Bennison  is  also  a  member  and- 
trustee  of  the  Primitive  Alethodist  Churcii 
of  Kewanee,  and  is  a  stanch  sup[K>rtcr  of 
the  Republican  party.  On  the  temperance 
ticket  he  was  once  elected  trustee  of  the  city, 
but  has  never  cared  for  official  honors.  As 
a  public-spirited  citizen,  however,  he  dias 
Ijeen  activeh'  identifietl  with  the  improve- 
ment of  Kewanee,  and  has  done  all  within 
his  i)ower  to  advance  its  interests  along 
various  lines.  On  locating  here  he  and  the 
other  members  of  the  Bennison  familv  innU 


30 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


up  their  residence  on  what  became  known 
as  Bennison  row,  but  within  the  past  few 
vears  the  name  has  been  clianged  to  Cam- 
bridge street.  The  family  is  one  of  promi- 
nence in  the  community,  and  its  members 
5tand  deservedly  high  in  the  esteem  of  their 
fellow  citizens. 


JOHN   CHISXALL. 

Since  November,  1867,  this  gentleman 
has  been  an  honored  resident  of  Kewanee, 
and  is  to-day  serving  as  special  tax  col- 
lector for  the  city.  He  was  born  in  Lan- 
-castershire,  England,  January  27,  1833,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Alice  Chisnall,  who 
were  lifelong  residents  of  that  country. 
The  father  died  when  a  young  man,  but  the 
mother  long  survived  him,  passing  away  in 
1876,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years. 

John  Chisnall,  the  only  child  of  this 
worthy  couple,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  England,  and  when  a  lad  of 
■eleven  years  was  apprenticed  to  the  wheel- 
wright's trade,  which  he  learned  thorough- 
Iv.  He  came  to  this  countr}-  as  a  ^Mormon 
emigrant  in  1831,  prior  to  the  insurrection 
of  Brigham  Young  against  the  government, 
-and  first  located  in  Utah,  where  he  remained 
until  1858,  during  the  uprising.  The  fol- 
lowing two  years  were  spent  in  Omaha, 
Nebraska,  which  city  at  that  time  had  no 
telegraph  or  railroad  lines  and  gave  little 
promise  of  its  present  thriving  condition. 
During  all  this  time  Mr,  Chisnall  worked 
at  his  trade.  In  i860  he  went  to  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania,  where  he  made  his 
home  until  coming  to  Kewanee  in  1867. 
During  the  winter  of  1866-67  he  spent  four 
months  in  visiting  his  native  land.  Lpon 
his  return  he  located  in  Kewanee,  where 
he  worked  at  wagonmaking  principally  un- 


til 1888.  Being  economical  and  industrious 
he  managed  to  save  something  from  his 
wages,  and  this  capital  he  invested  in  a  lot 
in  the  heart  of  the  city,  upon  which  he 
erected  a  pressed  brick  double  store  build- 
ing, which  on  account  of  its  location  is  very 
valuable  property.  This  he  now  rents  to 
a  good  advantage. 

In  1857  Mr.  Chisnall  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Ellen  Sandiford,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  Lancastershire,  Eng- 
land, and  came  to  the  United  States  on 
the  same  vessel  with  our  subject  in  June, 
1 83 1.  Both  are  active  members  of  the 
Latter  Day  Saints'  Church,  and  during  his 
residence  in  Kewanee  iMr.  Chisnall  has 
served  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  that  de- 
nominaton  at  this  place.  The  congregation 
now  numbers  about  one  hundred  families, 
and  they  have  erected  a  good  modern  church 
edifice.  Fraternalh"  !Mr,  Chisnall  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  No.  1173,  of 
Kewanee,  and  the  blue  lodge  of  the  INIasonic 
order  at  this  place  and  the  chapter  and  com- 
mandery  at  Princeton.  He  affiliates  with 
the  Republican  party  but  has  never  taken 
an  active  part  in  politics.  From  1892  until 
1898  he  was  with  the  Kewanee  Coal  Com-  , 
l)an\",  and  the  following  year  was  appointed 
by  the  mayor  as  collector  of  special  taxes, 
water  rents,  etc.,  which  position  he  is  now 
most  creditably  filling.  He  has  also  served 
as  health  officer  and  justice  of  the  peace 
since  1893.  He  has  led  an  upright,  hon- 
orable and  useful  life,  and  is  highlj-  respected 
and  esteemed  bv  all  who  know  him. 


MOSES  W,  RESSER. 

For  over  half  a  century  INIoses  ^\^ 
Resser  has  made  his  home  in  Henrj"  county, 
and  since  attaining  to  man's  estate  has  been 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


31 


actively  identified  with  its  business  inter- 
ests. He  is  now  following  fanning  on  sec- 
tion 5,  Genesee  township.  He  was  horn 
in  Adams  cuunly,  rennsylvaiiia.  on  the 
27th  of  October,  1847,  '""'  '^^'i*  ""'y  three 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  this  country 
with  his  parents,  Moses  and  Hannah 
(Groop)  Resser,  also  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone state.  The  family  settled  in  Phenix 
township,  where  the  father  purchased  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres.  To  his  landed 
possessions  he  added  from  time  to  time  un- 
til he  had  seven  hundred  acres  in  Phenix 
and  Geneseo  townships.  He  died  in  the 
city  of  Geneseo  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  age 
of  sixty-fi\-e.  In  the  family  of  this  worthy 
couple  were  eight  children,  of  whom  Moses 
W.  is  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth,  and  six  of 
the  number  are  still  living. 

Our  subject  remained  on  the  home  farm 
in  Phenix  township,  giving  his  father  the 
benefit  of  his  labor  until  the  Civil  broke  out, 
when  he  ran  away  from  home,  and  at 
Leavenworth,  Kansas,  enlisted  in  Company 
I,  Eighth  Kansas  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
took  part  in  many  of  the  principal  battles  of 
the  war  and  remained  in  the  service  until 
hostilities  ceased,  being  honorably  dis- 
charged at  San  Antonio,  Texas.  He  then 
returned  to  his  home  in  Illinois  and  went 
upon  the  Mississippi  river,  leading  the  life 
of  a  sailor  for  ten  years.  When  he  retired 
from  the  service  he  held  a  certificate  as 
first-class  pilot  from  the  government.  Dur- 
ing the  following  six  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  in  Geneseo,  conduct- 
ing what  was  known  as  the  Singleman 
House. 

In  the  meantime  -Mr.  Resser  was  mar- 
ried at  that  place,  in  1879,  to  Miss  Mary 
A.  Bookmiller,  a  native  of  Phenix  township. 


this  county,  where  her  father,  John  D. 
P)Ookmillcr,  now  deceased,  was  engaged  in 
farming.  P.y  this  union  were  born  five  chil- 
dren, all  of  wliiini  are  slill  living,  namely: 
lulith  I'".,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Henry 
L'.  Kirchner,  a  farmer  of  Greene  county, 
Iowa,  and  has  one  child,  Flossie  A. ;  Moses 
D.,  aged  seventeen;  Otis  A.  and  Flora  F., 
twins,  aged  twelve  years ;  and  Earl  E.,  aged 
eight,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Resser  is  now  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres  on  section  5, 
Cieneseo  township,  which  formerly  belonged 
to  his  father's  estate,  it  being  purchased 
by  our  subject  from  the  other  heirs.  When 
it  came  into  his  possession  it  was  all  wild 
and  unbroken,  and  all  of  the  improvements 
now  found  thereon  have  been  made  by  him. 
He  is  accounted  one  of  the  most  thorough 
and  skillful  farmers  of  his  community,  and 
in  his  undertakings  is  meeting  with  well- 
tleserved  success.  In  the  development  of 
his  farm  he  has  materially  advanced  the  in- 
terests of  the  county,  and  has  ever  borne 
his  part  in  promoting  those  enterprises  for 
the  public  good.  He  is  a  recognized  leader 
in  public  affairs,  and  has  creditably  filled 
nearly  all  the  township  offices,  including 
I  hat  of  supervisor. 


CASPER   S.VXi). 

Among  the  promineni  retired  farmers 
of  Geneseo,  Illinois,  and  honored  veterans  of 
the  Civil  war,  is  Casper  Sand,  who  was 
Imrn  on  the  7th  of  August,  1844,  in  Ger- 
many, of  which  country  his  parents,  Henry 
and  .\nna  Catherine  (Weaver)  Sand,  were 
also  natives.  The  father  ser\-ed  the  usual 
length  of  time  in  the  Cjerman  army,  and  in 
his  native  land  followed  both  farming  and 
the  mason's  trade.     In  the  fall  of  1849  1'^ 


32 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


brought  his  family  to  the  United  States, 
being  several  weeks  in  crossing  the  ocean. 
From  Xew  York  they  proceeded  to  Chi- 
cag'o  by  water,  and  in  the  latter  city  Henry 
Sand  was  ottered  a  good  position,  bnt  lia\-- 
ing  decided  to  join  his  brothers,  Lonis  and 
Philip,  in  Henry  county,  he  continued  his 
journey  by  team,  arriving  here  in  the  same 
fall.  He  purcliased  a  soldier's  claim  of 
forty  acres  in  Loraine  township,  to  which 
he  subsequently  added  until  at  the  time  of 
his  death  he  had  one  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  of  highly  culti\'ated  and  productive 
land.  He  died  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
one  years,  and  his  wife  departed  this  life 
in  1879,  at  tile  age  of  seventy-three.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church, 
antl  were  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew 
them.  They  were  married  in  1838,  and 
became  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely : 
Casper,  our  subject;  Mary,  widow  of  Fred- 
erick Jacpiet,  a  resident  of  Loraine  town- 
ship; Emeline,  wife  of  Flenry  Jaquet,  a 
farmer  of  Bureau  county,  Illinois;  and  Mar- 
garet, who  dietl  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years. 

Casper  Sand  attended  school  one  sum- 
mer in  Germany  before  coming  to  the  new 
world,  and  was  a  student  in  the  i)ul)lic 
schools  of  this  county  lor  a  time,  but  as  a 
boy  he  worked  hanl  upon  the  home  farm 
and  had  little  opportunity  to  obtain  an  ed- 
ucation. Feeling  that  his  adopted  country 
needed  his  services  during  the  Rebellion, 
he  enlisted  in  the  fall  of  1864,  in  Company 
H,  Thirty-first  Illinois  \^olunteer  Infantiy, 
at  Peoria,  and  went  into  camp  at  Spring- 
field. Later  the  regiment  joined  Sherman's 
army  in  Georgia  and  went  on  the  march  to 
the  sea.  Mr.  Sand  was  in  the  engagement 
at  Savannah,  where  he  was  under  constant 
fire  for  about  a  week,  at  the  end  of  which 


time  the  Confederates  retreated,  giving 
General  Sherman  the  grand  opiKjrtunity  of 
capturing  that  city  just  in  time  tii  present 
it  to  President  Lincoln  as  a  Christmas  gift, 
in  1864.  The  day  that  our  subject  par- 
ticipated in  the  grand  re\iew  at  W'ashing- 
ton,  D.  C,  was  one  of  the  proudest  of  his 
life,  knowing  that  he  had  aided  in  the  preser- 
vation of  the  Union.  He  was  mustered  out 
at  Springfield  in  June,  1865.  He  was 
wounded,  but  never  taken  prisoner,  and 
stood  the  service  fairly  well.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  resumed  farm  work  and  con- 
tinued to  follow  that  occupation  until  his 
retirement  from  acti\e  labor  in  1896.  He 
is  still  the  owner  of  a  good  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which  is  well 
improved  in  the  way  of  buildings  and 
fences,  and  is  under  a  higli  state  of  culti- 
vation. 

In  1875  ^Ir.  Sand  wedded  ^Miss  ^lar\- 
Groshaus,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
died  in  1868.  During  the  funeral  services 
at  the  church,  word  came  of  the  death  of 
!Mr.  Sand's  father,  and  her  remains  were 
taken  back  home,  so  that  both  might  be 
buried  together.  Our  subject  was  again 
married,  August  7,  1886,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Charlotte  Sommers, .  who 
was  born  in  this  state,  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Catherine  Sommers.  Her  father,  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  came  to  America  at  a 
very  early  day  and  settled  in  Henry  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  becoming  one  of  its  pioneers 
as  well  as  one  of  its  highly  respected  citi- 
zens. The  year  of  his  arrival  here  was 
1833.  He  owned  and  operated  a  well  im- 
proved farm  of  three  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  in  Loraine  township.  His  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances  throughout  this 
section  of  the  state  was  quite  extensive. 
He  died  April  10,  1891,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


33 


eiglit  years,  two  months  and  fourteen  clays, 
and  his  wife,  who  was  born  in  Warren, 
J'ennsylvania,  Jime  i8,  1835,  died  August 
II.  1S91,  on  the  fortieth  anniversary  of 
their  marriage.  She  was  a  good  woman, 
gentle  anl  loving,  yet  firm,  and  was  a  de- 
\out  Christian  from  her  youth,  both  she 
and  her  husband  being  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Association.  She  had  two 
brotliers,  Philip  and  Rev.  Jacob  Worth, 
who  are  still  living,  and  also  three  sisters, 
St)phronia.  Delia  and  Mary  Ann  (de- 
ceased). To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sommers  were 
born  nine  children,  namely :  Philip  E.,  a 
resident  of  this  county;  Henry  G.,  of  Chi- 
cago; Jacob  C.  a  farmer  of  Kansas;  Char- 
jitte  .\.,  wife  of  our  subject;  Joseph  W.,  a 
resident  of  Montana;  Mary  A., wife  of  Simon 
Jaquet,  a  farmer  of  this  county;  Katie  E., 
an  invalid ;  Delia,  w  ho  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years;  and  Prank  W.,  a  resident  of 
Loraine  township.  The  children  born  to 
our  subject  and  his  wife  are  Perrj'  A.  E., 
Homer  H.  G.  and  Alice  C.  By  a  former 
marriage  Mrs.  Sand  has  one  child.  Edna  E. 
In  his  political  views  ^Ir.  Sand  is  an 
anient  Republican,  and  he  filled  the  office  of 
school  director  about  five  years.  He  is  an 
honored  members  of  Jenkins  Post,  No.  452, 
G.  A.  R.^  while  his  wife  belongs  to  the 
Ladies'  Circle  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  both 
hold  membership  in  the  Evangelical  Church. 
They  are  widely  and  favorabh'  known,  and 
well  merit  the  high  regard  in  which  they 
are  held. 


WILLIAM   XELSOX. 

Geneseo  township  has  no  more  progress- 
ive or  enterprising  citizen  than  this  well- 
known  asrriculturist,   who  is  the  owner  of 


a  valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  aiul  ninety- 
five  acres  on  sections  13  and  24.  He  was  born 
in  Sweden,  on  the  2nd  of  January,  1847, 
a  son  of  Xels  and  Stiena  (Olson)  Nelson, 
who  were  life-long  residents  of  that  coun- 
try. The  father  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming  and  also  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  iron.  He  died  in  Sweden  at  the  age 
of  forty-four  years,  while  the  mother  was 
seventy-four  at  the  time  of  her  death.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  but  only 
three  are  now  living.  August,  our  subject's 
}-oungest  brother,  started  for  America  some 
years  after  William  came  to  this  country, 
luit  died  on  the  voyage  and  was  buried  at 
sea.  None  of  the  others  crossed  the  At- 
lantic. 

It  was  in  1869  that  William  Nelson  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  \\'ethersfield  township,  Henry- 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  by  the 
month  at  farm  labor  for  five  years,  and  then 
rented  a  farm  in  that  township,  which  he 
operated  for  four  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
period  he  came  to  Geneseo  township  and 
l)urchased  eighty  acres  of  partially  improved 
lanil  on  section  24,  and  erected  thereon  a 
l;:rge  and  modern  residence.  He  tiled  the 
jilace  and  has  otherwise  improved  it  until 
it  is  now  one  of  the  model  farms  of  the  com- 
munity. To  his  original  purchase  he  has 
added  until  lie  now  has  nearly  three  hundred 
acres  all  under  excellent  cultivation. 

On  the  22nd  of  November,  1873,  Mr. 
Nelson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
P.mma  S.  Peterson,  also  a  native  of  Sweden, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  i86g,  and  joined 
her  parents  who  were  then  living  in  Wis- 
consin, but  are  now  deceased.  By  this  union 
were  born  three  children,  namely :  Mary 
D.,  1)1  )rn  in  Wethersfield  township,  Novem- 
ber 13,  1875,  ^^''s  graduated  from  the  Gene- 


34 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


seo  Collegiate  Institute  in  1893,  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  Alfred  Peterson,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Geneseo  township,  whose  home  i? 
on  section  24.  just  opposite  the  residence  of 
her  parents.  Emma  Sophia,  born  in  \\'eth- 
ersfield  township,  January  13,  1880.  wa^. 
graduated  from  the  Geneseo  Collegiate  In- 
stitute in  1896,  and  for  four  years  has 
taught  school  in  Geneseo  township,  giving 
the  highest  satisfaction.  Henry  William, 
born  in  Geneseo  township,  February  2,  1892, 
is  now  attending  the  home  school. 

yir.  Nelson  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for 
office.  However,  he  takes  a  deep  and  com- 
mendable interest  in  public  affairs,  and  gives 
his  aid  to  all  enterprises  for  the  public  good. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  Swedish  Luth- 
eran Church  of  Geneseo,  which  his  family 
also  attend,  and  they  are  people  of  promi- 
nence in  the  communitv  where  the\'  reside. 


L.  F.  MATTESOX. 

Greater  fortunes  have  been  accumulated 
in  Henry  county  but  few  lives  furnish  so 
striking  an  example  of  the  wise  application 
of  sound  principles  and  safe  conservatism 
as  does  that  of  Mr.  ilatteson.  The  story  of 
his  success  is  short  and  simple,  containing 
no  exciting  chapters,  but  in  it  lies  one  of  tiiv.- 
most  valuable  secrets  of  the  prosperity 
which  it  records,  and  his  business  and  pri- 
vate life  are  pregnant  with  interest  and  in- 
centive, no  matter  how  lacking  in  dramatic 
action. 

Mr.  ilatteson  was  born  in  the  northern 
part  of  Sweden,  June  13,  1844,  a  son  of  Hans 
ar.d  Brita  Matteson,  who  brought  their  fam- 


ily to  America  in  October.  1854.  and  settled 
in  Copley  township.  Knox  countv.  Illinois. 
Throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life  the 
father  engaged  in  general  farming  in  Knox 
and  Henry  comities,  and  died  in  Galva 
tt^wnship.  this  county  in  1866,  at  the  age  of 
hfty-fi\'e  years.  Subsequently  his  wife  went 
to  Nebraska  to  make  her  home  with  rela- 
tives and  there  died  in  1890,  aged  seventy- 
six  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  eight  of  whom  were  born  in  Swe- 
den, while  one  was  born  in  this  country, 
but  died  when  quite  small.  Of  the  eiglit, 
Anna  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Boostrom.  a  man- 
ufacturer of  tile  and  brick  in  Polk  county, 
Nebraska;  L.  F.  is  next  in  order  of  birth; 
Anson  H.  is  a  stock  raiser  and  shipper,  of 
Loomis,  Phelps  county.  Nebraska :  Carrie 
is  the  wife  of  Jonas  \\  .  Olson,  of  Galva, 
Illinois;  Lizzie  is  the  wife  of  Olof  Erickson, 
of  Stromsburg,  Nebraska:  Mary  died  in 
Cambridge  township,  this  county;  anil  Au- 
gust H.  and  Peter  E.,  twins,  are  both  de- 
ceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  princi- 
pally educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
land,  though  he  attended  school  for  a  time 
in  this  country  after  attaining  his  twentieth 
}ear.  He  grew  to  manhood  upon  the  home 
farm  and  then  removed  from  Knox  tc» 
Henry  county,  locating  on  a  farm  in  Galva 
township,  where  he  spent  two  years.  The 
following  eight  years  were  passed  in  Cam- 
bridge township,  and  while  living  there  ha 
was  married  in  1875  to  ^Nliss  Lizzie  M.  San- 
burg,  who  was  also  born  in  Sweden,  De- 
cember 9,  1855,  and  came  to  America  with 
an  uncle  in  1870.  Her  father  died  in  Swe- 
den when  she  was  an  infant  and  the  mother 
came  to  America  in  June.  1899.  and  resides 
in  Galva  township.  By  this  union  were  born 
five  children,  of  whom  Jefferson  \V.  died  at 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


35 


the  age  of  t\\el\e  years.  Tliosc  living  are 
I'ranklin,  who  is  imw  engaged  in  farming 
upon  his  father's  laml :  Duhe  X.,  a  graduate 
of  tile  (ialva  higli  seiiDol  and  nmv  tiie  wife 
of  WilHam  Edward  Hanst)n.  wliu  is  clerk- 
ing in  her  father's  store;  and  May  and  Mor- 
ris, who  are  l)otli  attending  school. 

Mr.  ]\Iattes<in  owned  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  L'amhridge  townshii),  which  he 
operated  until  1S7S,  when  he  remoxed  to 
Clalva,  and  practically  li\eil  retired  for  the 
following  two  years.  In  iScSi  he  purchased 
a  meat  market,  which  he  conducted  at  in- 
tervals for  about  fourteen  years,  and  still 
owns  the  building  in  which  it  was  located, 
il  being  now  occupied  b\-  John  Lapan.  ( )n 
the  i^Ub  of  March.  iSi)<),  he  pmxdiased  his 
present  drug  store  i^i  Mrs.  Hanson,  and  has 
since  given  his  attention  to  that  line  of  trade. 
Jle  carries  a  well-selected  stock  of  drugs, 
druggists'  sundries,  paints,  oils,  books  and 
stationerv,  and  is  meeting  with  gciod  suc- 
cess in  this  ■  \enture.  During  his  residence 
in  Galva  he  purchased  a  well-improved  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  eigiity  acres,  which  has 
been  operated  by  hini  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  in  connection  with  his  farming  opera- 
tions he  is  now  gi\ing  consideral)le  atten- 
tion to  the  stock  business.  He  is  a  stock- 
liolder  of  the  (Ialva  .State  I  Sank,  the  (ialva 
Telephone  Company,  and  the  W'estr.'uid 
Manufacturing  Company  of  (jalxa,  which 
manufactures  corn  planters  and  farm  imple- 
ments. As  a  business  man  he  is  enterpris- 
ing, energetic  and  thoroughl}'  reliable, 
and  the  success  that  he  has  achieved  is  cer- 
tainl\-  well  merited,  lie  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge 
of  (ialva,  in  which  he  has  filled  all  the  offices. 
In  his  political  affiliation  he  is  a  Republican 
and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  i'i 
i)artv   affairs.      He   has   filled    a    number   of 


local  offices,  including  that  of  school  director, 
and  in  1899  ^^'i'^  elected  sujjcrvisor  of  (i.alva 
township,  which  position  he  is  now  filling 
witii  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents,  lie  has 
been  a  meinl)cr  of  the  town  board  of  Calva 
for  eight  years,  during  which  time  he  labored 
earnestlv  for  the  establishment  of  water 
wiirks,  and  his  efforts  were  finally  crowned 
w  itli  success.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  the 
County  senatorial  conventions  of  his  party, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  influential  and  prom- 
inent citizens  of  his  community.  His  esti- 
mable wife  holds  membership  in  the  Luther- 
an Church  at  (ialva,  and  he  contributes  lib- 
erallv  to  its  .support  and  to  all  worthy  en- 
terprfses  for  the  public  good. 


W.  SYDNEY  GOEMBEL. 

Among"  (jeneseo's  most  enterprising 
and  progressive  business  men  is  \\'.  Sydney 
Cioembel,  who  for  the  past  twelve  years  has 
represented  the  Moline  Wagon  Company  as 
a  lra\eling  salesman,  while  in  that  line  of 
business  he  has  been  successfully  engaged 
for  almost  a  (|uarter  of  a  centur_\-.  He  was 
born  in  I'eori;!,  Illinois,  on  the  9tli  of  .\pril. 
1S4S.  and  is  the  eldest  son  of  Jacob  and 
Louisa   I  Luther)  Cioembel. 

The  father  was  born  in  Xiederaula,  Kries 
Herschfeld,  Kurfenstenthun,  Hessen,  (ier- 
many.  May  17,  1SJ4,  and  in  1834  came  t(J 
.\merica  with  his  parents,  Sebastian  and 
.\nna  i^Schafferj  Goembel,  landing  at  Xew 
Orleans,  on  the  9tli  of  June,  after  sixty- 
three  (lavs  upon  the  water,  fliev  proceeded 
up  the  ^lississippi  and  Illinois  rivers  to 
I'eoria.  and  across  tiie  country  to  Tazewell 
count\',    Illinois,    where    Sebastian    (ioembel 


36 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


bought  a  farm  and  also  secured  a  (|u:u"ter 
section  of  government  land.  Mis  last  days 
vere  sjjent  in  Washington,  that  county, 
■where  he  died  at  alxjut  the  age  of  seventy- 
six  )-ears.  His  wife  was  over  eighty-three 
)'ears  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death.  For 
many  years  they  held  membership  in  the 
Evangelical  Association,  and  were  highly 
respected  by  all  who  knew  them.  Of  their 
nine  children  only  the  eldest  daughter,  Cath- 
erine, wife  of  John  Clinch,  of  Washington; 
and  Jacob,  father  of  our  subject,  are  now 
living. 

Jacob  (jocmbel  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  educated  in  the  German  language, 
having  never  attended  English  schools.  He 
assisted  in  opening  up  the  farm  in  Tazewell 
county,  which  was  only  five  miles  from 
Peoria.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  left 
home  and  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  worked 
ac  a  teamster  fur  ten  dollars  per  month.  In 
1846  he  was  married  in  Lake  county,  Illi- 
nois, to  -Miss  Louisa  Luther,  who  was  born 
in  Xew  York,  January  28,  1826,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Jacob  and  Louisa  (Saunders) 
Luther,  both  natives  of  Linbach,  Xeibeirn, 
then  a  province  of  France,  but  now  a  part 
of  Germany.  Her  father  served  tmder  Na- 
poleon Bonaparte,  for  seven  years  as  a 
member  of  the  old  Imperial  Guard,  and  ac- 
companied that  famous  warrior  on  his  inva- 
sion of  Egypt  and  Russia,  taking  part  in  the 
siege  of  Moscow.  He  was  under  the  com- 
Uiand  of  General  Xey  for  a  time,  and  while 
in  the  service  had  a  horse  shot  from  under 
him.  In  1821  he  came  to  this  country  and 
first  settled  in  Allegany  county,  Xew  York, 
Avhere  he  made  his  home  for  a  few  years. 
The  following  seven  years  were  spent  in 
\\'arren,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1836  he  re- 
moved to  Chicago,  Illinois,  which  city  at  that 
time  contained  only  two  good  houses.     The 


Indians  were  just  leaving  for  the  western 
reservations  beyond  the  ilississippi.  The 
family  made  their  home  in  the  vicinity  of 
Chicago  until  coming  to  Henry  county  in 
1852,  when  they  took  up  their  residence  in 
Yorktown  township.  Mr.  Luther  died  in 
Geneseo,  in  1862,  at  the  age  of  seventj'-four 
years,  six  months  and  five  days.  His  wife 
passed  away  at  their  home  near  Chicago  in 
1850.  They  were  members  of  the  Evangel- 
ical Association  and  most  estimable  people. 
Of  their  ele\eii  children,  ten  reached  matur- 
ity, but  only  three  are  now  living,  namely : 
Louisa,  mother  of  our  subject;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Jesse  Wilniot,  of  Leonora,  Kansas; 
and  David,  a  resident  of  Geneseo. 

After  his  marriage  Jacob  Goembel 
worked  in  a  slaughter  house  in  Peoria  for  a 
year,  and  then  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
kiud  on  Farm  creek,  Tazewell  county,  which 
he  sold  in  1S51  on  coming  to  Henry  county. 
Here  he  entered  a  tract  of  government  land 
on  section  30,  Y'orktown  township,  and  en- 
gaged in  its  cultivation  until  1863,  when  he 
bought  another  farm  in  the  same  locality, 
and  made  his  home  there  until  his  renio\al 
to  Geneseo  in  1876.  He  is  still  the  owner 
of  ninety-one  acres  of  land  in  Yorktowu 
township,  but  is  now  living  retired  in  Gene- 
seo. His  political  support  is  given  the  Re- 
imblican  party,  and  he  filled  the  office  of 
school  trustee  for  many  years.  He  and  his 
wife  are  iDrominent  members  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Association,  and  he  is  now  a  trustee 
of  the  church. 

This  worthy  couple  are  the  parents  of 
nine  children  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
oldest.  Samuel,  a  prominent  grain  dealer 
of  Geneseo,  is  represented  on  another  page 
of  this  volume;  Jacob  Edward,  a  farmer  of 
Yorktown  township,  married  Emma  Rapp 
and  has  three    children,  Ada,  Harvey    and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RFXORD. 


37 


r.essie;  Peter,  a  farmer  of  Minnesota,  mar- 
ried Clirisliiia  Rajip  and  lias  six  ciiildren. 
01i\e.  Arthur,  Jesse,  I'erry,  lulith  and  \'er- 
iu>n ;  Anna  is  the  wile  of  Henr\'  (ilahe,  a 
ciMitractor  of  Tazewell  county;  L\(ha  is  the 
wife  of  Isaac  Krimhill,  of  Minnesota,  and 
lias  five  cliildren,  Pilanclie,  \'era.  \\  innie, 
Clarence  and  Archie;  John  E.,  an  att>irney 
of  Rock  ford,  Illinois,  married  Minnie 
Crosskopp;  W'ilhelmina  died  at  the  age  of 
se\en  _\ears :  and  Catherine  dietl  at  the  age 
of  eighteen   months. 

.\lr.  (iocmhel.  of  this  review,  was  onlv 
three  years  old  when  hrought  1)\-  his  par- 
ents to  this  countr}',  and  in  ^'orktown  lnwn- 
ship  lie  grew  to  ni.inhood.  J  lis  earl\'  edu- 
cation was  ohtained  in  the  jjuhlic  schools, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  the 
Xorthwestern  College  at  Plaintield,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  a  student  for  a  time.  Snhse- 
(|uentl_\'  he  engaged  in  ti.'aching  schodi  in 
Henry  county  for  four  vears,  and  during 
the  following  two  years  engaged  in  farming 
in  Yorktown  townshii).  In  iSjj  he  m;ide 
an  extended  trip  through  Missouri,  Kan- 
sas, Colorado.  Nebraska  and  Iowa,  in  coni' 
pany  with  his  cousin,  Levi  <.  opp.  'They 
spent  a  delightful  summer  in  tins  way.  dri\- 
ing  the  entire  distance  of  two  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  sixtv  miles. 

( )n  his  return  home  Mr.  ( iocmhel  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  stock  l)u\-ing  for  two. 
years  in  Yorktown  township,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1873  remove<l  to  Moline,  where  he 
embarked  in  general  merchandising,  in 
company  with  John  Rapp,  under  the  lirm 
name  of  Rapp  &  (loemhel.  The  following 
June  Samuel  .\rnett  iiec.ame  a  member  of  the 
company  and  the  name  was  changed  to 
Rapp,  (ioembel  ^K:  .\ruett.  Two  years  and 
a  half  later  Mr.  Rapp  sold  his  interest  to 
his  partners,  who  continued  business  under 


the  name  of  Goembel  &  .\rnett  until  the 
fall  of  1S7S,  when  Mr.  Goembel  withdrew 
from  the  lirm.  The  following  year  he  en- 
gaged in  the  implement  business  with  Mow- 
ery  (Jt  Hawkins,  and  in  i<S8o  went  upon  tho 
road  for  the  JulinstMn  Harvester  Company, 
of  Ratavia,  .\ew  \nrk.  rejiresenting  their 
western  branch,  with  headcpiarters  at  Chi- 
cago. In  )88i  he  became  connected  with 
the  .Sterling  Manufacturing  Company,  of 
Sterling,  Illinois.  ])eing  the  lirst  man  to 
represent  that  company  as  a  traveling  sales- 
man, lie  remained  with  them  twn  and  a 
half  years,  and  in  t883  entLM-ed  the  service 
of  the  Janesville  Machine  (,'ompany.  of 
Janes\-ille,  Wisconsin,  his  territ(jry  includ 
ing  the  states  of  Wisconsin,  ^Minnesota,  thu 
Dakotas,  Xebra.ska,  Kansas,  Missouri,  Colo- 
r;'.ilo  an<l  Wyoming,  witli  headipiarters  at 
Lincoln.  Nebraska.  ( )n  leaving  that  con- 
cern, in  the  fall  of  1889,  he  entered  the 
emi)loy  of  the  Moline  Wagon  Comi)any, 
with  which  lie  is  still  connected.  .\  genial 
ami  obliging  gentleman,  he  ni;ikes  a  \  ery 
pojjular  salesman,  and  is  held  in  high  re- 
gard not  onl_\'  b_\-  the  company  which  he  rep- 
resents, but  also  by  his  many  ]>atriins  and 
the  ac([uaintances  he  makes  upon  the  road. 
Mr.  Goembel  now  makes  his  home  in  ( iene 
seo.  As  a  Inisiuess  man  he  has  prospered 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  ranch  of  six  bur- 
tired  and  forty  acres  near  Sherman.  Minne- 
liaha  county,  South  Dakota,  and  \\:\>  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Rock 
Count V,  Minnesota,  which  he  rents,  it  be- 
ing worked  on  the  mutual  plan.  He  also 
has  city  property  in  (jeneseo,  Illinois,  and 
Wichita.   Kansas. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  1870,  Mr.  Goem- 
bel was  tniited  in  nrarriagc  with  Miss  Mar- 
tha (ireenwood.  a  native  of  I''ngl;ind.  ami 
a   daughter   of  John     and     Mary    (Sound) 


38 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Greenwood,  wlio  became  residents  of  York- 
town  township,  this  county,  in  1863.  Mr. 
Greenwood  is  now  deceased,  but  his  wife 
is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  with  her 
son  Joseph,  in  that  township.  Mrs.  Goem- 
bel  died  September  11,  1871,  and  our  sub- 
ject was  again  married  Xovember  17. 
1874.  his  second  union  being  with  ?kliss 
Laura  E.  Early,  who  was  born  in  Saxony. 
Germany,  in  December,  1848.  and  came  t.' 
America  in  1853  with  her  parents.  Lave- 
recht  and  Leonora  (Bartholt)  Early.  On 
landing  in  Xew  York  the  family  proceeded 
at  once  to  Henry  county.  Illinois,  and  lo- 
cated in  Burns  township,  where  ^Ir.  I-'arlv 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  His 
wife  died  September  17,  i860,  at  the  age 
of  forty-three  years,  and  the  following  year 
he  removed  to  Geneseo,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  until  1867.  He  passed 
away  in  September,  1868.  at  the  age  of 
fifty  years.  ^Irs.  Goembel  has  a  half- 
brother,  \\illiam  F.  Crangle,  of  Holmes- 
\  ille,  Nebraska ;  and  has  three  sisters,  name- 
ly :  Amelia,  deceased  wife  of  Andrew  Mar- 
tni,  of  Atlantic,  Iowa;  Aurelia.  wife  of  J. 
J.  Shuck,  of  Geneseo.  Illinois:  Lizzie,  wife 
of  Joseph  Dobbs,  a  jeweler  of  Geneseo. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goembel  ha\e  been  born 
three  children:  Lowell  Sydney,  wiio  was 
born  July  13,  1878,  and  died  ^lay  i,  1890; 
Ethel  Pearl,  born  Xovember  13.  1881  :  and 
Lela  May,  born  June  4,  1883. 

In  politics  yir.  Cioembel  is  a  stanch 
Democrat,  and  is  a  jjcrsonal  frien<l  of  Will- 
iam J.  Bryan.  He  is  a  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Iowa  Travel 
ing  Men's  Association,  and  holds  an  en- 
viable position  both  in  Inisiness  and  social 
circles.  His  wife  and  daughter  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  the  family 


is  one  of  prominence  in  the  communitx 
where  they  reside,  having  an  extensi\e  cir- 
cle of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


J.  C.  SMILEY.  M.  D. 

Among  those  who  devote  their  time  and 
energies  to  the  alleviation  of  human  suflfer- 
ing  is  Dr.  J.  C.  Smiley,  of  Kewanee,  who 
is  to-day  the  oldest  practicing  physician  of 
Henry  county.  He  was  born  on  the  14th  of 
September,  1830,  in  Winchester,  \'irginia, 
near  the  battle  ground  of  Bull  Run,  and  is  .1 
son  of  Walter  and  Susan  (  Kraus)  Smiley, 
The  latter  was  born  in  Ohio  of  German 
parentage,  while  the  Doctor's  father  was  a 
native  of  Scotland,  though  he  came  to 
America  in  boyhood  and  was  only  a  Ind 
when  his  father  died.  He  was  educated  U.v 
the  Presbyterian  ministry,  and  devoted  h.s 
entire  life  to  that  noble  calling,  preaching  in 
Winchester  for  many  y^ars.  He  removed  to- 
Randolph  county,  Indiana,  when  our  sub- 
ject was  nine  years  of  age,  and  there  fol- 
lowed farming  for  h\e  years.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  and  liis  wulow 
subsetjuentl}'  married  Ephraim  Bragg.  Her 
death  also  occurreil  in  Randolph  county. 
Indiana,  when  she  was  sixty-nine  years  old. 
By  her  first  marriage  she  had  nine  chiklre.i, 
all  of  whom  reaciietl  years  of  maturity, 
while  five  are  still  li\ing.  namely:  J.  A.,  a 
resident  of  Indiana:  J.  C.  our  subject; 
Maria,  widow  of  Perry  Hinesley  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Indiana:  Sarah,  wife  of  Benjamin 
Cleavenger,  of  Indiana:  and  C.  M.,  a  farmer 
of  Rantlolph  county,  the  same  state. 

Dr.  Smiley's  early  educational  ad- 
vantages were  meager,  as  he  had  to  gov 
three  and  a  half  miles  to  school  and   was 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


39 


only  able  to  attend  a  few  months  in  winter, 
wading  throug^h  slush  and  snow.  As  his 
father  died  when  he  was  not  nine  years  old 
he  liired  himself  nut  to  a  man  who  taught 
school  in  winter  and  farmed  in  summer. 
While  in  liis  employ  he  was  sent  on  errands 
to  the  neighhoring  towns  and  in  this  way 
formed  the  ac(|uaintance  of  a  Mr.  Searle. 
who  conducted  a  general  store  at  Deerfield. 
and  who  later  hired  our  subject  to  work  for 
him  at  five  dollars  per  montii.  He  remained 
with  him  thirteen  years  antl  tiien  came  to 
Cambridge.  Illinois.  In  the  meantime  he 
commenced  reading  medicine  with  Dr. 
Longshore,  who  came  west  the  \'jar  before 
our  subject  and  it  was  tiirough  his  intluencc 
that  Dr.  Smiley  located  here.  For  a  year 
and  a  half  he  continuetl  his  studies  imder 
Dr.  I'ld wards,  of  Cambridge,  and  then  at- 
tended lectures  at  Rush  .Medical  C\)llege, 
Chicago.  On  his  return  to  Henry  county, 
in  the  spring  of  i860,  he  took  charge  and 
cureil  tlie  first  case  of  diphtheria  which  is 
known  to  have  occurred  in  the  county.  For 
abiiut  four  years  he  was  in  partnership  with 
Dr.  C.  II.  Grand,  and  was  then  alone  in 
practice  for  a  few  months.  In  the  spring 
<if  1H65  he  came  to  Kewanee.  and  has  suc- 
cessfidly  engaged  in  practice  here  ever  since. 
On  locating  here  there  were  six  other  ])hysi- 
ciaus  in  the  place,  but  he  is  the  only  one 
remaining,  lie  was  in  partnership  witn  Dr. 
Day  for  about  foiu"  \ears.  and  was  then 
alone  until  he  formed  a  j)artirershi])  with 
his  son  in  iSSj.  He  has  met  with  excellent 
success  in  his  chosen  profession  and  enjoys 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 

On  the  25th  of  September,  1852,  Dr. 
Smiley  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  ICUen  Cook,  of  Jay  comny,  Indiana, 
who  was  a  native  of  Ohic\  and  a  daughtei 
of   |ohu   R.  and   Marv  Cook.      He  has  been 


called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wile, 
who  died  January  12.  1899.  at  the  age  of 
si.xtv-six  vears.  Of  the  four  children  born 
to  them  two  (lied  in  infancy.  Florence  is 
now  the  wife  of  Louis  Kraiis,  of  Kewanee. 
and  they  have  one  child,  Charles.  Francis 
M..  now  a  i)hysician  engaged  in  practice 
with  his  father,  was  born  in  Cambridge, 
November  _^.  1838,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  liie  schools  of  Kewanee.  He 
then  entered  Xotre  Dame  L'niversity.  where 
he  i)ursued  both  the  literary  and  medical 
courses,  and  was  graduated  in  1876  with 
the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  was  next  a  stir 
dent  at  .\nn  Arbor  one  year,  and  having 
contracted  ague  at  that  ])lace  returned  home. 
I'"or  two  years  he  attended  lectures  at  Rush 
Medical  College,  and  was  graduated  from 
that  in.stitution  February  jj.  1879.  Lo- 
cating at  Atchison,  Illinois,  he  was  engaged 
in  practice  there  for  three  years,  and  for  the 
following  four  years  was  connected  with  the 
Pinkerton  Detective  .\gency.  He  then  spent 
some  time  at  the  receiving  hospital  of  Belle- 
\-ue.  .\ew  ^'ork.  and  the  insane  asylum  ac 
Staunton.  X'irginia,  making  a  stnd_\  of  the 
l)atients  at  both  places,  and  then  returned 
to  Kewanee  in  1887  and  entered  into  part- 
nership with  his  father.  In  1890  he  took 
a  special  course  at  the  llliiioi.s  ICye  &  Ear 
Infirmary,  where  he  spent  one  year,  bra 
ternallv  he  is  connected  with  ihe  Tribune, 
Roval  Circle  and  llome  l'"orum,  and  also 
belongs  to  Canton  Lodge,  1.  t).  O.  F..  of 
Kewanee.  lie  assisted  in  organizing  the 
Rebecca  hxlge  of  the  same  order,  and  also 
the  Improved  Tribe  of  Red  Men,  at  Kewa- 
nee. In  politics  he  is  independent.  He  was 
married.  May  i,  1879,  to  Miss  Minnie  Mac- 
Farland,  a  native  of  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
and  a  daugiiter  of  William  Macb'arland,  now 
of    Wichita.    Kansas.      I)\'    this    union    was 


40 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


born  a  daughter,  Grace  I.,  a  graduate  of  the 
Kewanee  high  scliool. 

At  national  elections  Dr.  J.  C.  Smilev 
votes  the  Democratic  ticket,  but  at  local 
elections,  when  no  issue  is  involved,  he  sup 
ports  whom  he  believes  to  be  the  best  man 
for  the  office,  regardless  of  party  affilia- 
tions. He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
town  council  and  for  many  years  was  presi 
dent  of  the  school  board,  during  which  time 
school  houses  were  built  and  the  public 
school  system  put  on  a  good  running  basis. 
Other  offices  have  been  tendered  him,  but 
he  has  always. refused  sucii  honors.  Hav- 
ing met  with  success  in  his  chosen  calling, 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  considerable  prop 
erty  in  Kewanee.  and  also  in  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska, and  has  farming  land  in  that  state. 
He  is  one  of  the  oldest  Odd  Fellows  in 
Henry  county,  and  has  been  a  !Mason  since 
1868,  now  holding  membership  in  Kewanee 
Lodge,  Xo.  159.  He  is  widely  known 
throughout  the  county  where  he  has  so  long 
made  his  home,  and  is  imiversally  esteemed 
and  respected. 


PETER  HERDIEX. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  oi 
Galva.  well  known  for  his  business  ability 
and  enterprise,  is  Peter  Herdien,  president 
of  the  Hayes  Pump  and  Planter  Company, 
and  the  orginator  and  treasurer  of  the  Her- 
dien Coal  Company,  the  latter  being  estab- 
lished in  1880.  He  was  born  in  Lingbo. 
Shog,  Socken.  Sweden.  May  23,  1844,  <i'ifl 
is  the  son  of  Hans  Hanson,  who.  through 
his  five  years'  service  in  the  X^ational 
Guards  of  Sweden,  acquired  distinction  and 
won   the  militarv   name  of   Herdien.      His 


wife.  Catherine  Johnson,,  was  also  a  native 
of  Sweden,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
three  children.  Hans,  born  in  1836,  died  in 
Sweden  in  1885.  Christine,  the  only  daugh- 
ter, still  makes  her  home  in  her  native  land. 
Peter  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The 
parents  both  died  in  Sweden,  the  father  in 
1865.  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years.  The 
mother  survi\ed  him  many  years,  and  died 
in  1891. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  only  one 
of  the  family  caming  to  America.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  country,  and  while  the  instruction 
was  not  all  that  he  desired,  it  was  the  foun- 
dation for  knowledge  afterwards  accpiired 
by  reading  and  contact  with  the  world,  and 
for  the  business  career  for  which  he  had  a 
natural  inclination.  He  was  but  twenty 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  the  L'nited 
States,  and  although  he  came  with  limited 
means,  he  had  the  steadfast  determination 
to  achieve  success,  if  it  were  at  all  possible. 
Locating  first  in  Knox  county,  Illinois,  he 
v.orked  for  a  time  as  a  carpenter,  but  in  the 
winter  following  his  arrival  he  commenced 
to  learn  the  cabinet  maker's  trade,  at  which 
he  continued  for  five  years,  securing  in  that 
time  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  trade. 

In  1869.  Mr.  Herdien  came  to  Henry 
canity  and  was  employed  by  ^Ir.  Alger  in 
his  furniture  store  in  the  village  of  Wood- 
hull,  and  there  remained  one  years,  during 
which  time  an  excellent  trade  was  built  up. 
Leaving  the  employ  of  ilr.  Alger,  he  went 
to  Gaha,  wiiere  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  O.  L.  Peterson,  and  purchased  the  fur- 
niture interests  of  L.  Hedstrom.  who  was  a 
partner  of  ^Ir.  Peterson.  For  a  number  of 
years  the  partnership  thus  formed  was  con- 
tinued, and  the  business  is  yet  carried  on  by 
Mr.  Peterson.     The  firm  of  Herdien  &  Pe- 


PKTl-.k    IIKKDIEN. 


LIB'?«''Y 

umvERSiiy  u.  -^tiHOu 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


43 


terson,  soon  after  its  orgaiiizatinn,  opened 
up  a  branch  store  in  Canilirido'e,  Illinois, 
which  they  continued  until  1876.  when  the 
stock  was  disposed  of  and  Mr.  Herdien  be- 
came interested  in  coal  mining  and  in  the 
general  coal  trade.  Soon  after  this,  bow- 
ever,  he  and  ^Ir.  Peterson  purchased  a  fur- 
niture store  in  Kearney,  Nebraska,  which 
they  continued  to  operate  for  one  year,  when 
they  sold  out  to  a  Mr.  Swift.  In  company 
with  seven  others,  he  then  formed  the  (jalva 
Alining  Company,  but  later  this  was  merged 
into  the  Herdien  Coal  Company.  In  tlie 
years  that  ba\e  since  passed,  he  has  built 
up  an  excellent  trade,  supplying  nearly  all 
the  coal  for  the  local  trade,  and  at  times 
shipping  to  other  points.  Some  years  ago 
the  firm  of  Lewin  &  Corkbill  started  up  in 
the  coal  trade,  and,  after  running  for  a  .sliort 
time,  the  company  purchased  their  inter- 
ests, and  has  since  conducted  a  profitable 
business. 

On  the  6th  of  Xovember.  1870,  Mr. 
Herdien  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Martha  Johnson,  of  \'ictoria.  Kuo.x  county, 
Illinois,  a  native  of  Sweden.  I)orn  July  o. 
1848,  and  daughter  of  Louis  Johnson,  who 
came  witii  his  family  to.  Illinois  in  1857  and 
settled  in  Knox  county.  By  this  union  three 
children  were  born.  Jennie  M.,  born  Octo- 
ber 17.  1 87 1,  was  married  Sejjtember  26, 
1900,  to  V.  V.  Bodinson.  a  druggist,  and 
tiiey  now  reside  in  Baker  City,  Oregon. 
\\'alter  L.,  born  August  8,  1874,  after  re- 
ceiving his  primary  education  in  the  schools 
of  Galva,  entered  Xorthwestern  University. 
Evanston,  Illinois,  and,  taking  the  classical 
course,  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
A.  B.  He  later  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  same  institution,  from  which  he  was 
also  graduated,  and  in  1900  was  admitted 
to  the  b;u"  of  Cook  count\',  ami  now  resides 


iu  Chicago.  In  all  be  took  a  seven  years' 
course  in  the  University.  Elmer  Forrest, 
born  May  22.  1876,  also  took  the  classical, 
later  the  medical,  course  in  the  same  insti- 
tution, receiving  first  his  degree  of  A.  B.. 
and  afterwards  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  was 
in  attendance  at  the  University  for  eight 
years. 

His  business  interests  calling  him  to  Chi- 
cago, in  1 89 1,  ^Ir.  Herdien  moved  his  fam- 
Iv  to  that  cty,  where  they  remained  until 
1895  and  then  returned  to  Galva.  In 
that  year  he  became  identified  with  the 
Hayes  Pump  and  Planter  Company,  as  man- 
ager, investing  some  capital  in  the  concern. 
With  his  well  known  energy  and  business 
tact,  he  has  built  up  a  good  trade  -for  the 
productions  of  tlie  company,  and  placed  its 
business  on  &  sound  financial  basis,  and  in 
.July,  1899,  was  made  president.  In  other 
concerns  be  has  also  become  interested,  and 
is  now  the  president  of  the  Galva  Gas  Light 
and  Coke  Company,  and  vice-president  of 
the  First  Xational  Bank  of  Galva. 

Religiously,  Mr.  Herdien  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Methodist  Episcopal  Qiurch, 
of  which  body  bis  wife  is  also  a  member. 
Both  manifest  much  interest  in  the  work  of 
the  church  and  in  the  cause  of  the  Master. 
Politically  he  is  a  I\epul)lican,  and  while 
lie  is  an  active  worker  for  his  party,  attend- 
ing and  particij^ating  as  a  delegate  in  its 
various  conventions,  he  has  never  aspired 
to  political  offices.  It  is  as  a  business  man 
that  be  is  best  known,  and  for  thirty  years 
he  has  been  identified  with  the  business 
interests  of  Galva,  and  it  is  conceded  by  all 
that  his  influence  has  been  felt  in  a  remark- 
able degree,  and  always  on  the  side  of  right. 
\\'hile  conservative,  he  is  yet  wide-awake 
to  every  nterest  that  will  best  advance  the 
general  good  of  Jiis  ado])te(l  city  and  c  unity. 


44 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


DANIEL  LA\'ERY. 

Tliis  well-known  and  successful  farmer. 
\\hos  hue  farm,  comprising  two  hunilred 
and  eighty  acres  of  land,  is  pleasantl}'  lo- 
cated on  section  3(),  Hanna  township,  is  a 
nati\"e  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  a  son  of 
Daniel  and  Esther  (Banii)  Lavery,  who, 
as  farming  people,  spent  their  entire  li\es 
in  Ireland.  The  fatiier  was  about  sixty- 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Our 
subject  has  one  lorother,  Patrick,  who  is  a 
farmer  of  this  count}-. 

In  1S55.  when  abnut  t\\  ent\--tw(j  }-ears 
of  age.  Mr.  La\-er}-,  of  this  re\-iew,  emi- 
grated to  America,  antl  first  located  in 
\Vayne  county,  Pennsyhania,  where  he 
worked  by  the  month  for  one  }-ear.  lie 
then'  went  to  California,  where  he  spent  two 
years  in  prospecting  and  mining,  and  vn 
his  return  east  again  took  up  his  residence 
in  Wayne  county,  Penns_\-l\-ania.  where  he 
tolknved  farming  for  the  fullowing  twi.i 
years.  In  1863  he  came  to  Henry  couui)-, 
Illinois,  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  hi^i 
present  farm  in  Hanna  township,  to  whic!-. 
he  has  adiled  fnmi  time  to  time  as  his 
financial  resources  have  increased  untd  he- 
is  now  the  jjossessor  of  a  valuable  place  of 
two  hundred  and  eight}-  acres,  idl  undei 
cultixatiiiii  and  improxed  with  good  and 
suljstantial  buildings,  including  a  [jleasant 
residence.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  is 'also  engaged  in  stock  raising 
with  excellent  success. 

In  Wayne  county.  Pennsyhania,  Air. 
Lavery  was  married,  in  1861,  to  Miss  Mary 
O'Xeill,  a  native  of  that  state,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  I'.liza  (  Boyle)  O'XeiU, 
both  n<]W  deceased.  J  ler  father  was  born 
iri  Ireland  and  was  abcmt  fom-  \-ears  of  age 
when  he  caiue  to  the  Lnitetl  States.     Unto 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laxerv  were  burn  the  follow- 
ing children:  John,  who  dietl  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years;  James,  wlui  married  Luc}' 
Hannon  and  is  eiigaged  in  farn-iing  in  .\t- 
cliisiin  township,  this  countv;  Lizzie,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years;  Daniel, 
a  farmer  of  Annawan  township ;  Charles, 
at  home ;  Celia,  now  in  a  convent  at  Sus- 
(juebanna,  I'ennsylvania ;  Salie,  Frank  and 
r\Iarg-aret  A.,  all  at  home;  ^\'illiam,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eig'hteen  years:  and  Min- 
nie, at  liduie.  All  were  born  in  this  cnunt}-. 
with  the  exceptiim  of  John,  wlidse  birth  oc- 
curred in   Penns}-l\-ania. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Laxery 
is  a  Democrat,  but  he  has  never  sought  pub- 
lice  office,  preferring  to  give  his  attention  to 
h^is  business  interests.  He  gives  his  support 
t(j  all  enterprises  for  the  public  benefit,  and 
in  man}-  ways  has  materially  ad\-anced  the 
interests  of  the  community  in  which  he  li\es. 
In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Catholic  and  his 
faniih-  also  attend  that  church. 


FREDERICK  W.   WEI X RICH. 

One  of  the  prosperous  farmers  and  suc- 
cessful stock  raisers  of  Henry  cnunt}-,. 
1-^-ederick  W.  Weinrich.  is  now  carr}-ing  on 
oi)erations  on  section  6.  Miuison  townsIii[i. 
He  is  a  nati\-e  oi  this  count}-.  Imrn  in  Cen;;- 
seo  tow-nship.  June  15,  i8()2.  and  is  the 
eldest  son  of  William  1".  and  Christina 
(  Kipping)  Weinrich.  who  were  l)orn.  reared 
and  married  in  Germany,  and  as  a  wedding 
journey  cameto  America  in  185J.  The  fa- 
ther had  receixed  a  limited  educatinn  in  his 
natixe  land  antl  had  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  xvhich  he  folloxved  for  ten  years  after 
coming  to   this   country,   making  his   home 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


4S 


(luring;  tliis  time  at  (ieiieseo.  Illinois.  He 
then  took  up  agricultural  pursuits,  to  whicli 
he  devoted  his  attention  from  1862  until 
he  retired  from  acti\e  labor,  in  1893.  ^^ 
purchased  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of 
l.uul  in  (Jeneseo  township,  which  had  pre- 
vinusly  been  broken.  biU  he  added  to  it 
manv  valuable  improvements,  making  it  one 
of  the  most  (lesiral)le  farms  of  its  size  ii: 
the  locaKtv.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  was  also  interested  in  tlie  stock 
business  until  1893,  when  be  laid  aside  ali 
business  cares  and  removed  to  (ieneseo, 
where  be  now  makes  bis  home.  lie  is  a 
supporter  of  the  Democratic  partw  but  has 
ne\er  taken  an  active  part  in  political  af- 
fairs. He  attends  the  Methodist  (.'hurch 
of  Cieneseo.  an<I  is  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all  who  know  him.  In  his  family 
were  nine  children,  all  of  whom  readied  ma- 
turity, namely:  Kmiua,  widow  of  (iottlieb 
Zimmerman  and  a  resident  of  (ieneseo; 
Clara,  who  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of 
thirty  years;  Christ 'na.  at  home  with  her 
parents;  Frederick  W  ..  our  subject;  Will- 
iam, salesman  for  a  wholesale  h(|uor  house 
(.f  Rock  Island;  Matilda,  at  home:  Ivlward, 
who  is  e.\tcnsi\ely  engaged  in  the  stock 
l)usiness  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Cieneseo 
township;  Charles,  a  printer  by  trade,  who 
died  in  1897;  and  Herman,  who  is  engaged 
ir.  the  poultry  and  commission  business  in 
Cambridge. 

Frederick  \\".  W  einrich  re(!:ei\ed  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  district  school  near  bis  boy- 
hood home,  and  grew  to  manhood  u])on  the 
f;;rm,  wliich.  as  the  oldest  son,  be  assisted 
bis  father  in  improving  and  culti\ating  as 
soon  as  large  enough  to  handle  a  ])low.  On 
attaining  his  majority  he  embarked  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  as  a  stock  dealer  on  a  small 
scale.  gi\ing  his  attention  to  Poland  China 


bogs,  which  he  raised  for  sale  and  breeding 
purposes,  .\lthough  still  a  young  man  be 
is  one  of  the  oldest  dealers  in  bis  community. 
His  stock  is  all  of  a  high  grade  and  very 
xaluable.  luicb  year  be  has  his  stock  on 
exhibition  at  the  fairs,  and  has  thus  far  se- 
cured first  prize  and  sweepstakes  for  his 
bogs.  He  is  also  extensively  engaged  in 
feeding  cattle  for  market,  and  by  a  \isit 
to  bis  well  kept  farm  one  can  see  some  line 
animals  as  exidence  of  his  skill  as  a  practical 
stock  feeder.  In  connection  w.tii  his 
brother  Edward  be  is  also  interested  in  rais- 
ing full  blooded  draft  horses  and  jiolled 
.\ngus  cattle,  w  hich  have  recently  been  added 
to  the  list  oi  high  grade  animals  wiiich  they 
raise.  In  each  business  venture  Mr.  W'ein- 
rich  has  met  with  decided  success,  and  we 
])redict  for  him  a  l)rilhant  f.iture  as  one  of 
the  leading  stock  dealers  of  the  county. 
I'-rom  1888  to  1894  he  rented  land  in  (iene- 
seo township,  but  in  the  latter  ye:u-  pur- 
chased his  present  farm  of  one  lumdrcd  and 
lwent\-four  acres  on  section  6.  Munson 
township.  uiJon  which  he  has  made  some 
valuable  improvements,  including  the  erec- 
tion of  additional  buildings  for  the  acco:n- 
UK Illation  of  his  constantlx'  increasing  stock 
business. 

In  1888  Mr.  W'eim-ich  was  uniteil  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Matilda  IJartz.  who  was 
born  in  (iermany,  in  1869,  but  was  brought 
to  the  United  States  in  1871  by  her  par- 
ents, John  and  .\nna  (Fritz)  P.artz.  I  ler 
fatber  died  in  h'dfonl  townshi]).  this  county, 
in  i(;Oo,  but  her  mother  is  still  living  on 
the  farm  there.  .Mrs.  \\  einrich  is  the  oklesc 
of  their  eleven  children  who  are  still  li\ing, 
the  others  being  Bertha,  w  ho  died  aged  about 
three  years  in  (iermany ;  .Mbert  died  in 
(ieneseo  when  a  child;  Gustaf,  a  farmer  of 
Edford  township:  Hulda,  wife  of  B.  Wood- 


46 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


rui¥:  Emma,  a  resident  of  Rock  Island; 
Edward,  at  home:  Mary,  a  resident  of 
Geneseo :  and  Minnie  and  John,  Ijoth  at 
home.  One  son,  Ottn,  is  deceased.  ^Ir. 
and  Mrs.  W'einrich  are  active  meml)ers  and 
liberal  supporters  of  the  ^lethodist  Episco- 
l)al  Church.  He  has  never  taken  an  active 
part  in  political  affairs.  He  is  a  wide 
awake ,  energetic  business  man,  and  is 
thorouehlv  reliable  in  all  transactimis. 


\\1LL1AM  II.  COSXER. 

This  well-known  and  prosperous  farmer 
■of  Burns  t^)wnship,  whose  home  is  on  sec- 
tion 14,  is  a  native  of  Hemy  county,  born 
ill  Kewanee  township,  January  5.  184J,  antl 
is  a  worthy  representati\e  vi  one  of  the 
county's  pioneer  families.  His  father 
Jacob  Cosner,  was  born  on  the  nth  of 
April,  1809.  in  Coshocton  Ciiunty,  Ohio. 
\\  here  he  continued  to  make  his  home  until 
coming  to  this  county,  in  1838.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  to  locate  in  \\'ethersfield  town 
ship  and  became  prominently  identified  with 
the  early  development  and  upbuilding  of 
this  locality.  In  1841  he  removed  to  Burns 
township,  of  which  he  was  also  a  pioneer, 
and  there  continued  to  reside  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  Januar}-  3,  1897.  He  served 
as  postmaster  of  Burns  for  several  years, 
was  road  commissioner  si.x  years,  and 
school  director  for  some  time,  and  was  one 
of  the  leading  and  influential  citizens  of 
his  community.  He  cast  his  first  presiden 
tial  vote  for  General  Jackson,  and  continued 
to  support  the  Democratic  party  through- 
out life.  On  the  5th  of  February,  1841 
he  married  ]\Iiss  Sarah  Leonard,  who  was 
horn     in     Pennsvl\-ania,    Tanuarv   6,    1820, 


and  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Phebe 
Leonard,  the  former  of  German,  the  latter 
of  Irish'  descent.  Her  parents  died  in  this 
county  and  were  luiried  in  Cosner  cemetery. 
the  cemetery  l)eing  named  after  his  family. 
Our  subject's  paternal  grandparents.  Philip 
and  Mary  Cosner,  were  of  German  and 
Welsh  extraction. 

William  H.  Cosner  is  the  oldest  of  a 
family  of  ten  children,  the  others  being  as 
follows:  Sylvester  Rush,  born  October  11. 
1843,  ^1'^^  September  27,  1845.  •'"''  ^^''^ 
buried  in  \\'ethersfield  cemetery.  Abrahani 
Swails,  born  November  13,  1845,  married, 
first,  Isabella  Tracy,  and,  second,  Eliz;-. 
Martin,  and  lives  in  Cornwall  township 
Benton  Boner,  born  October  20,  1847,  ^^^^^ 
April  21,  1849,  ^"d  was  buried  in  the  Cos- 
ner cemetery.  Amanda  Byantha,  born  De 
camber  20,  1849,  is  the  wife  of  L.  E.  Wil- 
helm,  of  Kewanee.  Cynthia  }^laria.  burn 
December  7,  1851,  died  January  6.  1873. 
Sarah  Salena,  born  August  31,  1854.  died 
September  11,  1855.  Mathew  Potter,  bom 
October  20,  1828,  died  September  12.  1859 
Ruea  Rosella,  born  June  28,  1858,  dieil 
September  30,  1858.  Francis  Clarion,  born 
]\Iay  22,  1859,  married  Betsy  Johnson,  and 
died  October  20,  1890.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  on  the  30th  of  July,  189O. 

Mr.  Cosner,  of  this  review,  attended  the 
country  schools  near  his  boyhood  home,  and 
on  the  completion  of  his  educatiDU  turned 
his  attention  to  the  work  of  the  farm. 
Throughout  his  entire  life  he  has  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  two  valuable  and  well  improved 
farms,  one  of  one  hundred  and  six  acres, 
the  other  of  one  hundred  and  seventv-two 
and  a  half  acres.  The  neat  and  thrifty  ap- 
pearance of  these  jjlaces  shows  conclusi\-ely 
that   he   thorouehlv   understands    the   \'oca- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


47 


tioii  \\l)icli  lie  follows  and  tliat  lie  is  a  man 
uf  good  business  ability.  I-"or  smne  years 
lie  engaged  extensixely  in  the  raising  nt 
Siiropshire  sheep,  Init  now  gives  attention  to 
the  raising  of  cattle,  horses,  sheep  and  hogs. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1864,  in  Wethers- 
field  township,  Mr.  Cosner  was  united  in 
marriage  with  ]\liss  Adelaide  Alvernia 
Wedge,  born  May  14,  1844,  and  daughter 
of  Chester  and  I'aulina  (Ellen  wood) 
Wedge,  and  they  have  become  the  parents 
of  two  children:  William  Oria  married 
Emily  Scott,  by  whom  he  has  three  children, 
and  with  his  family  lives  on  a  farm  ad- 
joining his  father's.  Ceria  Clyde  married 
Grace  A.  Whitted,  and  resides  with  oui 
subject;  has  two  children,  Dewey  K.  and 
Claude  \\'. 

Politically  Mr.  Co.sner  is  a  Democrat 
and  he  takes  cjuite  an  active  antl  pruniiucni 
part  in  local  affairs.  He  has  filled  the  crtice 
of  justice  of  the  peace  four  j'ears.  constablo 
eight  years,  and  road  master  at  various 
times,  and  his  official  duties  have  always 
been  most  capably  and  satisfactorily  per- 
formed. 


WILLIAM  AIERRIMAX. 

This  gentleman,  who  is  one  of  the  oldest 
settlers  and  most  highly  esteemed  residents 
of  Henry  county,  is  now  living  a  retired  life 
in  Geneseo.  He  was  born  in  Huron  coun- 
l\',  ^lichigan,  on  Christmas  day,  1832,  a 
son  of  Edward  and  Malinda  (Bartlett) 
Merriman,  natives  of  Xew  York,  from 
which  state  the  father  removed  to  Alichigan 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  '20s.  He  was  a 
good  farmer  and  followed  that  pursuit 
throughout  life.  He  died  February  14, 
1858,  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years,  and  his 
v,  idcjw  subsequently  married  Adam  Dunlap, 


a  highly  respected  citizen  of  Geneseo,  who 
i.-.  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Her 
death  occurred  March  24,  1898,  when  she 
was  seventy-seven  ._\ears  of  age.  She  was 
a  devout  Christian,  a  memlier  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  was  generous  and 
charitable,  ami  an  excellent  neighbor,  a  de 
voted  wife,  being  almost  worshiiiped  by  her 
children  for  her  many  endearing  qualities. 
She  still  lives  in  the  affections  of  all  who 
knew  her. 

W  illiam  Merriman  is  the  oldest  in  a 
family  of  si.K  ciiildreii,  the  others  being 
Louisa  Olive,  wIhj  married  J.  Stafford  and 
died  at  the  age  of  si.xt\--live  years;  Minerva, 
wife  of  Weslej'  Xiceswinder,  of  Geneseo, 
Charles  13.,  a  resident  of  Blairtown,  Iowa; 
Hortence,  wife  of  Charles  Jackson,  of  Es- 
sc.K.  Iowa;  Harriet,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years;  and  Gilbert,  who  resides  in  Ar- 
kansas City,  Kansas. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  reared 
to  farming,  which  ^iccupalion  he  has  fol- 
lowed throughout  life  in  connection  with 
auctioneering,  haxing  devoted  a  portion  of 
his  time  to  the  latter  pursuit  for  twenty- 
seven  years.  Although  he  is  practically  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  in  Geneseo,  he  still  does 
some  auctioneering  for  his  old  friends,  and 
has  sold  as  high  as  thirteen  thousand  dol- 
lars' wortii  of  property  in  one  day. 

As  early  as  1838  Mv.  Merriman  came 
to  Henry  count}',  Illinois,  locating  here  be- 
fore the  Indians  had  left  for  their  western 
reser\alions  and  when  wild  game  was 
plentiful.  At  one  lime  he  and  a  neighbor 
counted  a  drove  of  seventy-live  deer  go- 
ing from  one  patch  of  timl)er  to  another. 
yir.  Merriman  pre-empted  a  tract  of  govern- 
ment land  before  it  came  into  market  and 
later  purchasetl  it.  A  portion  of  this  land 
he  still  owns,  having  a  fine  farm  of  three 


48 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I'.undred  acres  in  Phenix  townshi]),  whicli 
lit  lias  improved  and  placed  nnder  excel- 
lent cultivatidn.  His  principal  farm  prod- 
ucts have  been  corn  and  oats,  and  he  has 
gi\en  considerable  attention  to  the  raising 
of  stock.  In  1S92  he  left  the  farm  and 
moved  to  Geneseo,  where  he  now  makes  his 
Ijome.  He  has  served  his  fellow  citizens  as 
school  director  and  highway  commissioner, 
bnt  has  never  cared  for  official  honors,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  entire  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  business  interests. 

On  the  24th  of  ^larch,  i860,  yiv.  Aler- 
riman  wedded  Miss  I\Iargaret  Carse,  a  na- 
tive of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  ^\^  AI.  and  Mary  Carse.  who  came 
to  this  country  from  Belfast,  Ireland,  at  an 
early  day.  and  in  1850  l(jcated  in  Illinois. 
By  this  union  were  l>orn  seven  children, 
namely:  Mary  M..  wife  of  Wilbur  Brown- 
ing, of  Phenix,  by  whom  she  has  one  child, 
-\Iaudie;  Xancy  J.,  wife  of  Benjamin  Mc- 
Henry.  of  Geneseo,  by  whom  she  has  six 
children,  Alta,  William  B..  Flora,  Eddie, 
Freddie  E.  and  Benjamin  D. ;  Pearley  Etta, 
wife  of  \\'.  M.  \\'ithrow,  of  Phenix  :  Amelia, 
wife  of  Olen  Browning,  bv  whom  slie  has 
one  child,  Alva  C. ;  Edward,  a  resident  of 
Phenix,  who  married  Susan  Tabor  and  has 
one  child,  Ora;  Delia,  wife  of  Edwin  Wert, 
of  Geneseo,  by  whom  she  has  two  children, 
Ira  and  Gertie;  and  Elsie,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years. 


LYMAN  J.  WILKINSON. 

This  well-known  and  efficient  superin- 
tendent of  the  Henry  county  infirmary,  lo- 
cated in  Munson  township,  was  born  in  Ti- 
«ga  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  17th  of 
August,  1833.  his  parents  being  George  and 
Julia  A.   (Manton)  ^^'ilkinson.  both  natives 


of  Rhode  Tslantl.  The  \\'ilkinson  family 
was  founded  in  America  by  his  paternal 
great-grandfather  and  two  brothers,  na- 
tives of  England.  When  young  the  parents 
of  our  subject  nio\ed  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  their  marriage  was  celebrated,  and 
there  the  father  followed  farming  for  sev- 
eral years.  Coming  to  Illinois  in  1837,  he 
took  up  a  government  claim  in  La  Salle 
county,  and  the  following  year  returned  to 
Pennsylvania  for  his  family.  He  followed 
his  chosen  occupation  in  that  county  until 
I'.is  removal  to  Bureau  county,  in  1844,  and 
there  he  also  opened  uj)  and  improved  a 
farm,  which  he  successfulv  operated  for  a 
number  of  years.  Later  he  embarked  in 
the  hotel  business  in  Tiskilwa  and  carried 
it  on  for  about  ten  years,  when,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-eight,  he  retired  from  active  life  and 
moved  to  Atchison,  Illinois,  where  he  owned 
a  small  farm.  He  resided  in  Henry  county 
for  about  six  years,  and  died  while  on  a 
visit  to  our  subject  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight. 
When  he  first  came  to  Illinois  this  section 
of  the  state  was  practically  all  wild  prairie 
Ir.nd,  entirely  destitute  of  improvement,  and 
in  the  development  of  his  farms  he  aided 
materially  in  advancing  its  interests.  He 
started  out  in  life  a  poor  man,  and  through 
his  industry,  enterprise  and  good  manage- 
ment became  quite  well-to-do.  In  religious 
belief  he  was  a  Uni\-ersalist.  and  in  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat.  As  one  of  the  leading 
and  influential  men  of  the  community  in 
which  he  lived,  he  was  honored  with  a  num- 
ber of  local  offices,  although  he  never  sought 
political  preferment.  After  his  death  his 
w  ife  made  her  home  with  her  children  and 
li\"ed  to  the  ripe  okl  age  of  eighty-three 
}ears. 

The  family  of  this  worthy  couple  num- 
bered eight  children,  fi\e  of  whom  reached 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


49 


years  of  niaturitv.  nainel\-:  Marshall,  wild 
was  a  ineniher  of  the  }'"orty-se\ciuh  Illi- 
nois N'oliintccr  Infantry  during  tiie  Ci\il 
var.  followed  the  hlacksniith's  trade  in 
Ti.skiiwa.  Bureau  cnunty.  where  he  died  in 
1892;  Lyman  J.,  our  suhject,  is  the  second 
in  order  of  hirtli  and  the  oldest  of  the  fam- 
ily now  li\ing;:  Orrin.  who  ser\ed  in  Com- 
pany E.  Xinety-third  Illinois  Infantry,  dur- 
ing tlie  Rebellion,  is  now  engageil  in  the 
boot  and  shoe  business  in  Princeton,  Illi- 
nois; Charles  is  a  carpenter  of  Cripple 
Creek,  Colorado;  and  Mary  J.  is  tiie  widow 
of  William  .'-^mith  and  resides  on  a  t:irm 
in  MunsDii  tuwuship,  this  ci unity.  All  were 
reared  in  L;i  S;ille  ami  I'.nreau  counties. 
th.is  state,  and  were  educated  in  the  public 
i;chools. 

L\nian  J.  Wilkinson  was  only  four  years 
nld  when  brought  l)y  his  parents  to  Illinois. 
and  was  reared  amid  pioneer  scenes.  He 
received  a  iiigli-sclKMil  education,  and  as- 
sisted his  father  in  the  ardunus  task  of  (ij)en- 
ing  up  a  farm  in  the  new  country,  lie  re- 
mained at  hiime  until  he  was  married,  .M;irch 
31,  1853,  to  Miss  Emeline  Stevens,  who  was 
born  in  Canterbury.  New  Hampshire,  Jan- 
uary 26,  1835.  Her  father,  Thomas  J. 
Steven.s,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  liureau 
county,  this  state,  where  he  li)cated  in  i8^<). 
In  his  family  were  fnur  children,  who  .are 
still  living:  Joseph  M..  a  retired  farmer  uf 
Anawan,  Henry  county;  Francis,  who  owns 
ii  farm  but  is  now  engaged  in  the  butcher 
business  in  Tiskihva,  Bureau  county;  Lo- 
rena.  widow  of  S.  Fifield  and  a  resident  of 
Buda;  and  Mary,  widow  of  Pi.  .\.  Cleveland 
?.nd  a  resident  of  Davenport.  Iowa.  Mrs. 
Wilkinson  died  at  the  present  limine  nf  our 
subject  September  19,  1898.  By  that  union 
there  were  born  three  children,  namely  :  ( 1 ) 
George   T.,   born   October    2;^,    1856,    lives 


(-11  his  father's  farm  in  Munsmi  townshi]). 
He  married  Jane  (ioshnrn  and  has  two  ciiil 
dren,  Lyman  and  r>ert.  (2)  Willis  I...  liorn 
September  21,  i8()i.  li\-es  with  his  father 
CM.  the  county  farm,  act.ng  as  his  assistant. 
He  married  Ethel  Lambert,  who  now  serves 
as  matron  of  the  intTrmary.  They  have  two 
children,  Mabel  and  Elon.  (3)  Bert  li..  the 
youngest  son  of  our  subject,  was  born  Au- 
gust 25,  1867,  and  died,  unmarried,  August 
28,  1889. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Wilkinson 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he 
had  prexiouslv  learned,  and  which  he  fol- 
Inwcxl  until  after  the  Civil  war  limke  out. 
l\es])ondiiig  to  his  couiitrx's  call  tor  aid, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  1'^,  Xinety-third  Illi- 
nois \'olunteer  Infantry,  which  company 
was  known  as  the  Tiskilwa  Tigers.  I  le  en- 
tered the  service  as  lirst  lieutenant,  while 
liis  brother  Orrin  was  captain  of  the  com- 
])any.  They  were  mustered  into  ser\ice  Oc- 
tober 13,  1862,  by  Captain  Barrey.  of  the 
L'nited  .States  army.  Our  suliject  i)artici- 
pated  in  tiie  battle  of  Champion  Hill  and 
the  siege  of  N'icksburg.  but  on  account  of 
failing  health  he  resigned  his  commission 
and  was  mustered  out  September  3,    1863. 

After  resting  for  a  time  Mr.  Wilkinson 
resumed  work  at  his  trade  in  Tiskilwa.  and 
continued  to  follow  the  same  until  selected 
by  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Bureau  coun- 
ty as  superintendent  of  the  infirmary  there, 
which  jx)sition  he  most  creditably  filled  from 
1869  to  1872,  when  he  resigned  to  accept 
a  similar  position  offered  him  in  this  county. 
The  new  building  luul  just  been  erected  in 
Munson  township,  the  plastering  being  ])ut 
on  after  he  moved  in.  Since  then  many 
improxements  lia\e  been  made  under  his 
careful  supervision,  ;uid  the  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  has  been  enlarged 


50 


THE  BIOGFL\PHICAL  RECORD. 


to  three  limulred  and  twenty.  Tlie  farm  i.s 
now  under  a  high  state  ot  cultivation  and 
the  institution  is  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
owing  to  tiie  excellent  management  and 
good  business  and  e.xecutive  ability  of  ^ir. 
Wilkinson,  who  has  proved  a  most  capable, 
as  well  as  popular  superintendent.  He  is 
now  the  owner  of  a  well  improxed  and  high- 
ly producti^•e  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  ^2,  Munson  township, 
now  occupied  by  his  son. 

^Ir.  \\'ilkinson  has  been  president  of  the 
Henry  Count}'  Agricultural  Board,  luider 
whose  auspices  the  fairs  are  held,  and  is 
one  of  the  stockholders  of  the  association. 
In  religious  belief  he  is  an  Episcopalian ; 
has  ser\"ed  as  vestryman  for  a  number  of 
years;  and  at  present  is  one  of  the  vestry- 
men of  the  church  at  Geneseo.  Fraternally 
he  is  an  honored  member  of  E.  G.  Jenkins 
post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  that  place,  and  is  a  prom- 
inent !Mason,  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge 
of  Cambridge,  the  chapter  and  commandery 
of  Princeton,  Illinois,  and  the  Mystic  Shrine, 
at  Davenport,  Iowa.  He  is  one  of  the  prom- 
inent Republicans  of  his  community,  and 
takes  quite  an  active  and  influential  part  in 
tlie  work  of  his  party.  As  a  pioneer  su- 
perintendent of  infirmaries  in  Illinois,  and 
as  one  of  the  most  honored  and  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  Henry  county  he  is  cer- 
tainly deserving  of  prominent  mention  in 
its  history.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  he 
h.as  been  found  true  to  every  trust  reposed 
in  him,  and  has  manifested  his  loyalty  in 
days  of  peace  as  well  as  in  time  of  war. 


FRANK  F.  WHIFFEN. 

The  present  mayor  of  Kewanee  is  one 
of  the  most  public  spirited  citizens  of  that 
place,   to   whose  energy-   and   foresight   the 


city  is  indebtetl  for  many  improvements. 
\\'hile  Mr.  ^^'hift^n.  as  a  prosperous  busi- 
ness man,  has  given  close  attention  to  his 
private  affairs,  he  has  never  forgotten  or 
ignored  the  bond  of  common  interest  whicli 
should  unite  the  people  of  every  community 
and  he  has  alwa}s  been  ready  to  prumote 
jjrogress  in  every  line. 

He  was  born  in  Kewanee,  ^lay  11,  1858, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  Whiffen,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Kimbolton,  England,  October 
13,  18 1 5,  and  who  came  to  America  in 
1832  with  his  parents.  For  many  years  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  proprietor 
of  a  livery  stable  in  London,  known  as  the 
Swan  Yard,  but  after  his  emigration  to  this 
countr\'  lived  a  retired  life.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  died  in  Utica,  Xew  York,  where  the 
family  located  on  coming  to  the  new  world. 
Their  children  were  born  in  England  and 
are  all  now  deceased.  In  order  of  birth 
they  Mere  as  follows :  Thomas  spent  his 
early  life  in  Utica,  Xew  York,  but  his  death 
occurred  while  making  his  home  in  Wyom- 
ing, Stark  county,  Illinois;  David  was  a 
resident  of  Iowa;  John,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  the  next  of  the  family;  Isaac 
followed  the  butcher  business  in  Utica,  Xew 
York,  throughout  life;  Uridge  was  a  school 
teacher  of  tlie  same  city ;  and  Mary  complet- 
ed the  family. 

\\'hen  quite  a  young  man  John  Whiffen 
was  engaged  in  the  butchering  business  in 
Utica  with  his  brother  Isaac,  to  whom  he 
sold  his  interest  on  coming  west,  and  wliose 
sons  still  carry  on  the  business  at  the  same 
corner  in  that  city.  It  was  in  1850  that 
John  \Miiffen  came  west  selling  carriages 
and  two  3'ears  later  located  in  ^^'yoming, 
Illinois,  where  he  followed  farming  until 
the  death  of  his  wife,  ]Mrs.  Sarah  (Seaton) 
\\  hiffen,    who   passed   away   February    23. 


FRANK   F.   WHIFFEN. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

W6MM 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


53 


1854.  She  was  a  sister  of  B.  \V.  Seaton, 
editor  of  the  Prairie  Chief,  Cambridge,  Illi- 
nois. She  was  also  a  native  of  England, 
and  they  were  married  in  Utica,  Xew  York, 
Jnly  25,  1838.  By  this  union  seven  chil- 
dren were  born,  namely:  John  \\'.,  born  in 
June,  1839,  is  deceased:  Isaac  .\.,  born  Oc- 
tober 8,  1840.  is  a  carriage  manufacturer 
and  dealer  of  Janesville,  Wisconsin ;  Aman- 
da Jane,  bora  Xovember  14.  184 J,  is  now 
Mrs.  C.  E.  Bowles  of  the  same  place : 
Thomas  L'.,  born  September  5,  1847,  is  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  a  lumber  mer- 
chant of  De  Witt,  Nebraska;  Sarah,  born 
October  4,  1849,  married  Moses  ^I.  Barr. 
of  Downers  Grove,  Illinois,  and  both  died 
leaving  a  family  of  six  children:  Mary  E.. 
born  March  J4,  185J,  is  ni)w  Mrs.  Clement 
Xoyes,  of  Minneapolis,  ]^linnesota ;  and 
Henrietta,  Iku-u  October  24.  1842,  died  Oc- 
tober 6,  1845.  Returning  to  Xew  York, 
the  father  was  again  married.  July  3,  1854, 
his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Clarissa 
A.  Ferguson,  of  Frankfort,  that  state,  who 
was  born  August  11,  1824.  There  were 
three  children  by  this  union,  of  whom  our 
subject  is  the  second  in  order-  of  birth. 
Charles  E.,  born  July  30,  1855,  died  April 
23,  1863;  and  FVederick,  born  Xovember 
1 1,  1864,  died  April  5,  1867.  In  1855  John 
WiiifFen  took  up  his  residence  in  Kewanee, 
Illinois,  becoming  one  of  the  first  butchers 
of  that  place,  and  continuing  to  carry  on 
the  business  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  was  also  one  of  the  early  stock  buyers 
and  shipjiers  of  this  section,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  tiie  carriage  business  as  a  sort  of 
side  issue  for  a  few  years.  He  died  June 
2/.  1897,  and  his  wife  passed  away  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1894.  They  were  among  the 
charter  memliers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Kewanee,  anl  were  highly  respected  and 
esteemed  bv  all  who  knew  them. 


During  his  boyhood  and  youtli  I'rank 
F.  Whiffen  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Kew  anee,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  began 
liis  business  career  in  tlie  employ  of  M.  C. 
Ouinn,  who  conducted  a  meat  market  and 
restaurant.  Later  he  worked  for  his  father 
and  William  Priestman  one  year,  and  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  went  to  Terrill,  Texas, 
where  he  was  employed  in  the  meat  market 
of  Mr.  Priestman  for  a  year.  On  his  return 
to  Kewanee  lie  formed  a  partnership  with 
liis  father  in  the  butchering  business  in 
September,  1878.  and  carried  on  a  market 
in  the  same  building  on  Tremont  street  un- 
til 1887,  when  he  began  buying  and  ship- 
ping live  stock  and  dealing  in  real  estate. 
He  purchased  a  part  of  the  Cook  estate,  con- 
sisting of  thirteen  acres  on  Water  street, 
which  he  laid  out  in  lots  and  then  sold.  In 
many  instances  he  built  houses  on  the  lots, 
and  sold  all  on  the  installment  plan,  thus 
disiK)sing  of  fifty  lots.  Although  a  number 
of  these  were  sold  without  anything  being 
paid  down,  he  has  never  had  to  take  one 
back.  In  this  way  he  has  enabled  many  a 
poor  person  to  secure  a  home,  who  other- 
wise would  not  have  done  so.  Mr.  A\'hiffen 
also  laid  out  an  addition  in  the  cast  end 
i)f  town,  known  as  the  Ehnwimd  addition, 
wiiich  ciintains  tliirty-two  lots,  all  practical- 
ly l)uilt  up  now.  He  is  still  successfully 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  and  has 
handled  houses  and  lots  all  over  the  city. 
He  sold  the  lot  on  which  the  Kewanee  Xa-. 
tional  Bank  is  located  to  that  corporation, 
and  received  for  the  same  the  liighest  price 
ever  paid  for  a  lot  in  Kewanee.  In  1894 
he  embarked  in  the  lumber  business  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Ouincy  railroad  tracks,  on  Xorth  Main 
street,  carrying  a  full  line  of  Iniilding  ma- 
terials, and  has  l)uilt  up  a  good  trade.  He 
is   a   wide-a\wike.    energetic   business    man. 


34 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


who  generally  carries  forward  to  successful 
completion  whatever  he  undertakes. 

On  the  20th  of  October.  1884,  Mr. 
^\"hift'en  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
.Sarah  J-  Pyle.  a  daughter  of  Robert  and 
.Sarah  J.  (Collingwood)  Pyle,  natives  of 
England  and  early  settlers  of  Henry  county. 
The  father  is  now  deceased,  but  the  mother 
it  still  living  and  makes  her  home  in  Ke- 
\\anee  t<iwnship.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
liave  two  children,  Clara  and  Charles  P.. 
\\ho  are  both  attending  school. 

^Ir.  Whiffen  is  a  director  of  the  Union 
Building  &  Loan  Association,  and  treasurer 
of  the  same.  As  a  Republican  he  takes  quite 
an  active  and  influential  part  in  local  pol- 
itics, and  has  been  honored  with  the  highest 
office  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow  townsmen. 
He  served  as  assessor  in  1893,  1894,  1896 
and  1897,  being  first  elected  on  the  Demo- 
cratic and  later  on  the  Republican  ticket. 
In  1899  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city, 
and  during  his  term  many  permanent  ini- 
pro\ements  has  been  made,  including  the 
completion  of  the  system  of  sanitary  sewer- 
age as  commenced  by  !Mayor  Pierce,  and 
the  laying  of  a  number  of  cement  sidewalks. 
He  also  arranged  the  details  and  carried  out 
tlie  paving  of  the  business  part  of  the  city. 
.the  first  laid  in  the  city.  Air.  W'hii^en  is 
j:)re-eminently  public-spirited  and  progress- 
ive, and  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  du- 
ties has  displayed  the  same  business  ability 
and  fidelity  that  has  marked  his  entire  busi- 
ness career. 


MICHAEL  N.  EMERY. 

For  a  quarter  of  a  century  this  gentleman 
has  been  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of 
vGalva  township,  his  home  being  on  section 


26.  -\  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born  near 
Lafayette,  Stark  county,  on  the  3d  of  .\pril, 
1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Neville)  Emery,  honored  pioneers  of  this 
state.  The  Emery  family  was  founded  in 
America  by  two  brothers,  who  came  to  this 
country  from  Germany,  one  locating  in 
Maine,  the  other  in  Pennsylvania.  The 
former  was  a  ship  carpenter  by  trade,  the 
latter  a  blacksmith.  The  family  has  been 
well  represented  in  the  wars  of  this  C(jun- 
try.  being  always  very  patriotic  and  loyal. 
Among  its  members  are  soldiers  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  while  Conrad  Emery, 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  several  cousins  participat- 
ed in  the  Civil  war. 

Jacob  Emery,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1803.  and  first 
nmrried  Deborah  Doty,  by  whom  he  had 
six  children.  Two  died  when  young,  but 
the  others  are  still  living,  namely :  Mary, 
\\idow  of  ^Michael  Neville  and  a  resident 
of  Fulton  county,  Illinois;  Sarah  J.,  wife 
of  LetMiard  Dufur,  of  L'nion  county.  Iowa ; 
James  H.,  of  Whitewater,  Wisconsin:  and 
Lucinda,  wife  of  Charles  Potter,  of  Toulon, 
Stark  county,  Illinois.  At  an  early  day  the 
father  came  to  Illinois,  and  near  Canton, 
Fulton  couiU}-,  he  married  Elizabeth  Neville, 
a  native  of  Ireland,  who  died  in  November, 
1850.  Two  of  the  eight  children  born  of 
this  union  died  in  childhood,  the  others  be- 
ing Johanna,  who  married  Joseph  Potter 
and  died  in  1862;  David,  a  retired  citizen  of 
Galva :  Britt  A.,  also  a  resident  of  that  place ; 
Michael  N..  our  subject:  Catherine,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Daniel  Lundy  and  died  in 
1869:  and  Rose.  For  his  third  wife  the 
father  married  Lydia  Driscoll.  and  to  them 
was  born  one  child,  Happy  E.,  wife  of  S. 
\'.  Deem,  of  Galva.     In  1863  the  parents  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


55 


(lur  subject  reninveil  in  Stark  coiintv,  wliicli 
was  then  infested  by  liiclians.  while  wild 
game  of  all  kinds  was  very  abundant.  Tiie 
father  purciiased  several  tracts  of  govern- 
ment land,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  held 
two  deeds  signed  I)y  President  \'an  Buren 
and  two  by  President  Tyler.  He  owned 
about  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  at  that  time,  all  of  which  had  been  im- 
l)roved  by  himself,  lie  was  one  of  the  first 
to  settle  on  the  jirairie  and  experienced  all 
the  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer  life. 
In  early  days  he  hauled  his  farm  produce 
overland  to  Chicago  and  Lacon.  Jn  1853 
he  purchased  property  in  Galva  and  erected 
fi\e  houses  in  the  new  town  about  the  time 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Ouincy  railroad 
w  as  built  through  that  place.  There  he  made 
ins  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  4.  1894.  By  his  ballot  he  supported 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  was  always  prominently  identi- 
fied with  public  affairs,  being  honored  with 
a  number  of  ofticial  positions.  He  served 
as  supervisor  and  a  member  of  the  town 
l.foard,  the  duties  of  which  positions  he  dis- 
charged in  a  most  creilitable  manner.  Re- 
ligiously he  was  an  active  wurker  and  in- 
fluential member  of  the  L'nited  Brethren 
Church. 

During  his  boyhood  Michael  X.  Emery 
pursued  his  studies  in  a  rude  school  house  in 
h.is  native  county,  and  after  coming  to  Galva 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  attended  school  for 
a  few  years.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he 
manifested  his  patriotism  and  love  of  coun- 
tr\-  by  enlisting  August  19,  1861,  in  Com- 
pany B,  Thirty-seventh  Illinois  \'olunteer 
Iiifantr)",  under  command  of  J.  C.  Black. 
Jeaving  Galva  the  same  day.  He  jiartici- 
pated  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  in  1862; 
Prairie  Grove,  on  the  7th  of  December,  that 


year ;  the  siege  of  X'icksliurg  and  many  skir- 
n-.ishes.  During  the  Red  river  expedition 
he  was  taken  ill  and  came  home  on  a  fur- 
lough. Being  unable  to  return  to  the  front, 
ht  was  mustered  out  at  Chicago  in  October, 
1864.      He  was  twice  slightly  wounded. 

After  being  mustered  out  Mr.  Emery 
lived  near  Lafayette,  Illinois,  until  1876,  be- 
ing engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  there  and  also 
operated  rented  property.  Selling  his  farm 
in  Stark  county,  in  1875,  he  bought  his  pres- 
ent place  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
on  sections  25  and  j6, Galva  township,Henry 
county,  and  the  following  year  took  up  his 
residence  thereon.  He  has  since  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  has  met  with  most 
gratifying  success. 

In  1867  Mr.  Emery  married  Miss  Lydia 
A.  \\'illiams,  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  in 
1847.  Her  father,  Lyman  Williams,  is  now- 
living  in  Lafayette.  Stark  county,  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighty-two  years.  Her  mother 
died  September  12,  1876.  During  the  bor- 
der troubles  in  Kansas  he  went  to  that  state, 
running  the  blockade  successfully,  but  after 
remaining  there  a  few  weeks  he  returned  to 
Jllinnis.  1  lis  children  are  Mrs.  Mary  Miner, 
a  resident  of  Toulon;  Charles  M..  of  Galva 
township;  Lydia  A.,  wife  of  our  subject; 
John  A.,  of  (ialva,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Sarah  Baker 
and  William  J.,  both  of  Stark  county;  Ella, 
a  teacher  of  tieneseo;  and  Mrs.  Anna  Belle 
White,  of  Lafayette.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Emery  were  burn  three  children,  but  one  died 
in  childhiKid.  William  E.,  born  November 
4..  1870,  is  an  employe  of  the  Hayes  Pump 
&  Planter  Company  of  Galva.  He  married 
Pauline  Dock,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Wallace  Leslie.  Wallace  J.,  born  Septem- 
ber 19.  1878,  is  at  home  with  his  father.' 
Both  sons  attended  the  public  schools  of  this 


56 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


countv,  and  the  i.)l(ler  took  a  l)usiness  cmirse 
ai  Lds  Angeles,  California. 

In  his  ])olitical  \'ie\vs  Mr.  Emery  is  a 
stanch  Uepuhlican,  Ijut  has  ne\er  heen  an. 
aspirant  for  oltice,  lliough  always  an  acti\e 
worker  tor  the  interests  (if  his  party.  I'^nr 
a  number  of  years  he  served  as  schoiil  di- 
rectiir  in  his  district,  fie  is  an  honored 
member  of  the  (irand  Army  I'ost.  Xo.  33, 
of  Gah'a,  and  is  a  Royal  .\rch  Mason,  while 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
]'-astern  Star  Chapter,  of  which  she  has  been 
wortliy  matron.  Thev  are  people  <if  con- 
siderable prominence  in  the  community 
\\here  they  reside  and  are  held  in  high  re- 
gard where\'er  known. 


HEXRY  EVER. 

Prominent  among  the  representati\'e 
citizens  and  respected  and  influential  men 
of  Annawan  is  the  subject  of  this  l)io- 
graphical  notice,  who  for  many  years  has 
lieen  identified  with  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  Henry  county,  but  is  now  living  a 
retired  life  at  his  pleasant  home  in  Anna- 
wan. 

Mr.  F.yer  was  born  in  Warren  comity. 
Ohio,  on  the  14th  of  April,  1823,  and  is  a 
son  of  Francis  Henry  and  AIar\-  (Knob- 
loch )  b'yer,  the  former  a  native  of  Ger- 
man}-, who  came  to  .America  and  settled  in 
Warren  count}',  Ohio,  prior  to  181 2,  the 
latter  of  \'irginia.  Bv  their  union  were  born 
three  other  children,  namely:  (i)  John 
wedded  Mary  Patton  and  died  in  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  leaving  si.x  children.  Will- 
iam, Root,  \\'endell,  John,  ^largaret  and 
Mary.  (2)  Jacob,  who  also  died  in  War- 
ren count}'.  Ohio,  first  married  Hester  Pat- 


ton  and  after  her  death  wedded  i\iar}'  l-.l- 
wood,  b}'  whom  he  had  the  following  chil- 
(h'en  :  lliram.  Rush,  Elwood,  Ashford,  de- 
ceased, Xanc}'  J.,  b'lizabeth  M.  and  .Susan 
M.  {_])  fiettie  is  the  wife  of  J<ihn  Eartles, 
(jf  Hamilton  count}',  Ohio,  and  the}'  have 
fi\'e  children.  John,  Jacob,  Wendel.  Cather- 
ine and  Mar}'.  After  the  death  of  the  father 
om'  subject's  m<jtlier  was  again  married, 
her  sec(_ind  luiion  being  with  Francis  Henry 
Eyer,  and  b}'  this  marriage  had  five  children  ; 
(i)  Margaret,  who  died  in  1899,  was  the 
wife  of  Amos  Gustin,  of  Indiana,  and  the}- 
luid  seven  children,  Henry,  Jeremiah,  Cath- 
erine, Clara,  Sarah,  Jacol)  and  William.  (2) 
^lary,  who  died  in  1880,  was  the  wife  of 
Robert  Patton,  and  they  had  fom'  children. 
Francis,  Jefferson,  John  and  Albert.  (3) 
Christiana,  who  died  in  ]86o,  was  the  wife 
of  Jonathan  Gustin,  of  Anderson, ,  Indiana 
(4)  Catherine  is  a  resident  of  Warren  coun- 
t}'.  Ohio.  (5)  .Sarah,  also  a  resident  of 
that  count}',  is  the  wi(k)w  of  John  Sette.  and 
has  twi.i  children,  k^'ancis  and  Mar\'  J. 

Henr\'  k'yer  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  comity.  Afr.  Ever  has  lieen 
twice  married,  first,  with  Miss  Matilda  I'. 
Patton,  of  Warren  county,  Ohio  To  this 
union  were  iK.irn  three  children,  William  J., 
Kewanee,  Illinois;  George  W  .  (deceased), 
and  Sarah  J.,  who  married  Thomas  Alasoii. 
Bureau  county,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Eyer  died  in 
September,  1850,  and  he  was  married  the 
sccoiul  time  on  the  14th  (jf  August.  1851. 
tlie  lad}'  of  his  choice  being  Aliss  Sarah 
Blinii,  who  was  born  June  20,  1831,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (  Frve  )  Blinii, 
nati\'es  oi  Ohio  and  Virginia,  respectixel}'. 
It  was  in  181 6  that  they  settled  in  Warren 
county,  Ohio.  In  their  faniily  were  elex'en 
children:  (  1  )  Absoluni,  a  resident  of  Kan- 
sas,  married   ^lartha   Frve,   and   tlie\'   ha\'e 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD.  57 

tiur  cliililren.  Sarah,  Millie,  Snlnmun  and  dtnt  nf  La  Favette.  llliiinis.  Her  children 
Linciiln.  (2)  Sarah,  wife  of  our  subject,  were  Tillie:  Eli,  deceased : -Mhert ;  Clarence; 
i>  next  in  order  of  hirtli.  (3)  Mary,  a  resi-  l-"orest :  Maud  and  Harrison.  (3)  Samuel 
dent  of  Bureau  county.  Illinois,  is  the  willow  Alfred.  Imrn  Julv  12.  1855,  died  Deceniher 
of  Samuel  Pottorf  and  has  three  sons.  Will-  i_>.  i,Sf,4.  (4)  ^[artha  Ellen,  born  Octolier 
iam.  .Samuel  and  Jacob.  (4)  Solomon  lirst  10,  1X3S,  ,licd  .\usu^t  31,  i>>y).  (3)  hJiiUKi 
married  I'llizaljeth  (ieochenour,  b\-  whom  he  .Mice,  born  .March  14.  iSfio,  died  March  J5. 
liad  three  children,  r>ecky,  .Mary  and  Malissa.  1S60.  {(>)  John  Ilenry,  born  July  id. 
and  fi^r  his  second  wife  wedded  .Mary  Xor-  1861,  died  October  14.  iShj.  (7)  .\n- 
ton.  l)y  whom  be  had  two  children,  (Irani  nette  Matilda,  born  March  14.  iSd,^.  died 
and  (ieorge.  (5)  Christiana  is  the  wife  of  September  11.  1864.  |S)  Daniel  1).  Va\- 
I  lenry  Messmore.  of  Indiana,  and  they  had  ward,  born  September  1.  iSf)4.  died  Janu- 
three  children:  Elizabeth,  now  the  wife  of  arv  29,  1865.  (9)  Aima  Louisa,  born  Feb- 
Samuel  Oldfalher,  of  Indiana,  by  whom  she  ruarv  26,  1866,  is  the  wife  of  Xichols  J. 
lias  two  children,  lunma  and  ()tis;  I-^lla.  who  (iriftiu.  of  .\nna\van,  and  they  had  five  chil- 
married  I-^.  .Mitten  and  tl:ed  in  Annawan,  dren,  (ieorge,  Charles,  Maud.  Id;i  .M.  and 
this  county.  In  .September.  1899.  leaving  two  Mamie.  (10)  Charles  Elmer,  born  .\pril 
children,  Xellie  and  I'Tank ;  and  (Ieorge,  24.  iSfiX,  is  a  farmer  of  Annawan,  Ilenry 
who  m.'irried  Etta  I'ayne,  now  a  resident  of  county.  He  married  .Salina  I'almer  and  they 
\\ether>tield,  Illinois,  and  in  Sei)tember.  have  two  children,  Willi.am  II.  and  (iny. 
iNi;S,  he  and  his  son  Willie  were  killed.  (11)  Jesse  .Mvin,  born  .M;iy  S.  1S70,  mar- 
when  cnjssing  a  railri)a(l  track  in  a  buggy  ried  Esta  Cole  ( decea.sed )  and  they  had  one 
ai  Kewanee.  I  (> )  Saiuuel,  of  Kansas,  mar-  child,  Lowell,  who  resides  at  La  Fayette, 
I'ied  Annetta  De  Witt, and  the\-  lia\e  bxechil-  Illinois. 

<iren.  l)a\i<l.  Lena.  Harry,  Samuel  and  Jo-  I)m-ing  the  first  few  years  of  his  married 
seph.  [J)  Julia  is  the  wife  of  James  K.  life  Mr.  Eyer  engaged  in  farming  in  Ohio. 
I'.atten.  of  .\nnawan,  Ilenry  onnity.  lib-  and  on  the  11  th  of  .September.  1S57,  started 
nois,  and  they  have  ten  children:  Ilettie.  west.  (  )n  his  arri\;d  in  Ilenry  county.  .\n- 
Mary.  John.  Howard.  .\<ldie,  (ieorge,  nawan  contained  but  two  stores,  and  much 
(.'in-ti>,  I'.nnua.  .Xora  and  Milo.  (8)  Eliza-  of  this  region  was  wild  and  unimproved, 
beth  i>  the  wife  of  Henry  Collins,  of  Kan-  He  located  three  miles  south  of  that  town, 
sas,  .ind  they  have  three  children,  .Xellie,  and  purchased  four  hundred  acres  of  land, 
Jon;is  and  .Misaloni.  (9)  Daniel,  also  a  resi-  for  which  he  i).'ud  an  average  of  twenty- 
dent  of  Kansas,  married  Hannah  Carroll,  fne  dollai's  ;md  twenty  cents  i)er  ;icre.  To 
and  they  have  nine  children.  .Sarah,  liecky,  thi-^  tract  he  added  mitil  he  bad  six  hundred 
John,  Millie.  X'inie.  William,  Mary.  Sanniel  acres,  biU  has  since  disposed  of  it.  .giving 
and  .Xettie.  n-.ost  of  it  to  his  children.  .Mrs.  I-lyer  still 
The  children  born  to  our  suliject  and  owns  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  in  .\nna- 
bis  wife  are  as  follows :  |i)  b'rancis  Marion,  wan  townsbi]).  In  his  farming  operations 
born  September  2,  1852.  died  July  24,  1853.  be  has  met  with  most  excellent  success,  and 
(2)  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  October  ifi.  1853,  his  career  has  ever  been  such  as  to  gain  for 
i,-  the  widow  of  Wel)Ster  Batten  and  a  resi-  him  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  those 


58 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact, 
either  in  business  or  social  Hfe.  He  and 
his  wife  are  faithful  and  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and 
are  ])eople  of  the  highest  respectability.  In 
May.  i8gj.  they  removed  to  Anna  wan, 
vhere  thev  now  reside. 


OSWALD   FISCHER. 

Oswald  Fischer,  deceased,  was  for  a 
i!umber  of  years  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
c'l  Burns  township,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most 
highly  respected  citizens.  He  was  born  in 
Saxony.  Germany.  February  i8.  1834,  and 
Avas  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  the 
others  being  Edward,  Gotlob.  Mina.  Paulina. 
Rosalia  Augusta  and  Christiana.  His  par- 
ents were  life-long  residents  of  Augusta. 
Germany. 

In  his  native  country  Oswald  Fischer 
grew  to  manhood  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Saxony.  He  then  served 
an  apprenticeship  as  a  miller,  an  occupa- 
tion which  he  followed  until  he  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1858.  Landing  at  New 
York  he  came  direct  to  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  obtained  his  first  position  in  a  mill 
at  Geneseo,  and  later  had  charge  of  the  mill 
in  Andover,  where  he  remained  imtil  he 
was  compelled  to  abandon  the  business  on 
account  of  poor  health.  He  then  bought  a 
partially  improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Burns  township,  but  after  a 
few  years  sold  it  and  lx)ught  the  fine  farm 
en  section  8.  that  he  afterward  made  his 
home.  He  took  the  farm  with  few  imjirove- 
nients.  there  being  only  the  shell  of  a  small 
frame  house,  a  few  apple  trees,  and  forty 
acres    broken.      The    improvements    which 


now  delight  the  eye  were  all  made  by  him- 
self, assisted  by  his  good  wife.  In  1881  they 
built  one  of  the  finest  houses  in  the  town- 
ship, a  home  that  would  compare  favorably 
with  many  good  residences  in  a  city.  As  a 
stock  raiser  he  was  very  successful,  giving 
special  attention  to  hogs,  of  which  he  kept 
the  best  grades.  Upon  this  farm  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred November  10.  1897.  The  farm  is 
still  held  by  the  family  and  is  the  widow'> 
place  of  residence. 

On  the  24th  of  August.  1865.  Mr. 
Fisclier  married  Miss  Mary  Louisa  Charlet, 
a  native  of  Prussia,  Germany,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Abraham  and  Dorothy  ( Scharlip  I 
Charlet.  the  father  dying  when  she  was  two 
years  and  a  half  old.  The  mother  came 
with  the  family  to  Kewanee  in  1856  and 
Miss  Charlet  was  educated  there.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fischer  were  born  the  following 
children  :  Edward  L..  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, married  Ida  \\  hitney.  a  native  of  this 
county,  and  they  have  one  daughter.  Hazel 
Belle.  Lena  L.  is  the  wife  of  William 
Stevens,  a  farmer  of  Burns  township,  and 
they  have  one  .son.  Earl  Cleo.  Bernard  O. 
married  Anna  Carlson,  a  native  of  Sweden, 
arid  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Burns  town- 
ship. Alvin  A.  and  Lorena  A.  are  both 
at  home  with  their  mother. 

Mr.  Fischer  acquired  a  good,  practical 
education  in  his  native  land,  and  for  twelve 
or  fourteen  years  capably  and  satisfactorily 
served  as  school  director  in  this  township. 
From  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  was  an 
earnest  member  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church,  and  led  an  upright,  honorable  life, 
in  which  he  gained  tlie  confidence  and  high 
regard  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 
In  his  ix)litical  views  he  was  a  Republican, 
but  not  an  aspirant  for  office.     Mrs.  Fischer 


THE  BIOGIL\PHICAL  RECORD. 


59 


is  a  member  ot  the  Cliristian  Science 
Church  ami  is  one  of  tlie  directors  of  the 
clinrch.  and  thus  far  successful  in  healing. 
althiHi"!!  her  field  of  lalmr  has  been  limited. 


JOHN'  i.i-:\vix. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  prosperou«i 
Manxman  of  Galva  township,  where  lie  has 
niaile  his  home  since  1856.  He  was  horn  on 
the  Isle  of  Man.  January  25.  1843,  ^  *'"^  '^* 
Robert  and  Isabella  (  Kissick)  Lewin.  also 
natives  oi  the  same  place.  In  1856  they 
l-rouijht  their  family  to  America  and  set- 
tled in  Calva.  Illinois,  wiiere  the  father,  who 
was  a  carnage  maker  by  trade,  died  the 
following  year,  aged  fifty-four  years.  After 
his  death  the  mother  made  her  home  with 
her  children  until  she.  too.  was  called  to  her 
final  rest  in  August.  1894.  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years.  She  lived  with  our  subject 
almost  forty  years.  Roth  ])arents  were 
earnest  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
l)al  Church,  and  were  highly  respected  and 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  them.  Their  chil- 
ilren  were  Thomas,  who  died  at  tiie  age  of 
twenty-one  years:  Robert,  who  lives  near 
Kem])ton,  Ford  county.  Illinois:  John,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch:  Jane,  deceased  wife 
of  William  Kneal.  of  Kempton  :  and  Isabella, 
wile  of  John  Corkill,  of  (laha  township,  tliis 
county. 

His  i)arents  being  in  limited  circum- 
stances. J<iiin  Lewin  had  very  limited  school 
privileges,  and  most  of  his  education  has 
been  acquired  by  reading  and  observation. 
He  was  thirteen  years  of  age  on  the  emigra- 
tion of  tlie  family  to  America  and  at  once 
sought,  work,  being  employed  as  a  farm  hand 
at  ten  dollars  per  month  for  two  years.     .\t 


that  time  this  region  was  wild  and  sparsely 
settled,  and  there  was  not  a  bridge  on  the 
road  between  (iaiva  and  Lafayette.  When 
si.xteen  years  of  age  he  and  a  brother  rented 
a  small  farm  in  (iaha  township,  which  they 
o])erated  on  their  own  accord,  having  pur- 
chased some  stock  and  agricultural  imple- 
ments. While  on  that  farm  our  subject  at- 
tended the  public  schools  for  three  winters. 

.\l)out  1870  Mr.  Lewin  made  his  first 
purchase  of  land,  cmisisting  of  eighty  acres- 
in  Knox  county,  which  had  been  improved,, 
ar.d  for  which  he  ])aid  four  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  later  sold  that  jilace  at  an  ad\ance 
of  one  thousand  dollars  and  bought  two 
hundred  and  fort\'  acres  on  section  26, 
Calva  townsiii]).  Henry  county,  where  he 
now  resides,  basing  i)reviously  rented  the 
same  for  ten  \ears.  Having  succeeded  in 
his  farming  o])erations  he  has  added  to  his 
l)roperty  until  he  now  has  three  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  of  well  improved  and  \ahiable 
land.  Throughout  his  business  career  he 
has  engaged  in  general  farming,  and  in  re- 
cent years  has  carried  on  stock  raising  quite 
extensively,  shipping  a  carload  of  both  hogs 
and  cattle  to  market  annually.  His  specialty 
is  polled  -Angus  cattle,  i  le  has  also  been 
identified  with  five  dilierent  mining  opera- 
lions  in  (iaiva,  all  of  which  provetl  quite 
profitable. 

In  1884  -Mr.  Lewin  married  Miss  Annie 
.\iidrewartha.  who  was  also  born  on  the 
Isle  of  Man.  May  jo.  1864,  and  is  the  oldest 
of  a  family  of  four  children,  the  others  being 
Martha,  wife  of  David  Clague.  a  farmer  of 
Kin)x  county;  William,  a  farm  b.iiid  of 
(jaha:  and  David,  a  Methodist  Episcopal 
minister  of  Hennepin.  Illinois.  The  parent* 
of  these  children  were  William  and  Eliza 
.\ndrewartha.  natives  of  the  Isle  of  Man, 
who  remoxetl  from  there  to  England,  and  in 


6o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


iSSo  caiiiL'  til  tlie  United  States,  Idcatinc^'  in 
(ialva.  wliere  the  mother  died  in  1887,  but 
tlie  father  is  still  living-  in  Galva  townsliip. 
Bv  iiccnpation  he  is  a  miner.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
i.ewin  have  ti\-e  children,  whose  names  and 
dates  lit  birth  are  as  ti>llii\vs:  Bertha.  Jan- 
uary 12.  1 886:  John.  June  i.  1887:  Eliza, 
January  25,  1889:  Forrest.  December  26, 
1893  •  ^"<^1  Francis.  December  16.  1896.  With 
the  e.xcejjtion  of  the  youngest  all  are  now 
attending  school. 

^Ir.  Lewin  started  nut  in  life  with  noth- 
ing" but  his  indomitable  energ}-.  and  his  ac- 
cunudation  of  this  world's  goods  is  at- 
tributable to  his  good  judgment  in  business 
atfairs,  his  industry  and  perseverance,  and 
the  assistance  of  his  estimable  wife.  Both 
are  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  and  of  the  Fraternal  Tribune 
of  (jaha.  They  are  widely  and  favorably 
known  and  are  held  in  hi.gh  regard  by  the 
peii])le  of  the  communit}'  in  which  thev  lix'e. 
In  his  political  af^liatirms  Mr.  Lewin  is  a 
Republican  and  cast  his  tirst  presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln. 


DAVID  WHIT  MORE. 

I'or  sixty  years  David  W'hitmore  has 
been  connected  with  the  liistor}'  of  Henry 
county,  and  for  a  quarter  nf  a  century  has 
been  a  resident  of  W'oodhull.  He  has  done 
n:iire  for  the  upbuilding"  of  his  tnwn  than 
any  other  of  its  citizens;  has  championed 
e\ery  movement  designed  to  promote  the 
general  welfare:  supported  every  enterprise 
for  the  public  good:  and  has  materially  aid- 
ed in  the  advancement  of  all  sncial.  indus- 
trial, educational  and  moral  interests. 

.Mr.    W'hitmore    was    born     in     Morgan 


count}".  Ohiii.  August  9.  1821.  and  is  a  son 
of  John  W'hitmore.  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1 812,  and  grandson  of  Jacob  W'hitniore. 
Ixith  natives  of  Pennsyhania,  of  which 
state  his  ancestors  were  pioneers.  They 
were  of  (ierman  descent.  .\t  an  early  day 
the  father  removed  to  Morgan  county. 
Ohio,  becoming  one  of  its  first  settlers,  and 
there  he  cleared  and  improved  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  In  connec- 
tion with  its  cultivation  he  also  operated  a 
sawmill  which  he  owned.  In  Belmont  countv, 
Ohio,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Archiltakl. 
a  native  of  Washington,  Pennsyhania.  and 
a  daughter  of  James  Archibald,  who  was 
born  in  Ireland  and  was  a  child  rif  three 
}"ears  when  brought  to  this  countr_\".  In 
1837  John  W'hitmore  came  with  his  family 
to  Illinois,  and  first  located  in  Mercer  coun- 
ty, but  three  years  later  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Clover  township,  Henry  ci unity, 
h.is  nearest  neighbors  at  that  time  being  ten 
and  twelve  niiles  awav.  There  he  entered 
a  tract  of  government  land,  and  froni  the 
wild  prairie  developed  a  good  farm.  His 
last  years  were  spent  at  the  home  of  our 
subject  in  W'oodhull,  where  he  died  in  1885, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-four  years. 
His  wife  passed  away  while  resitling  on  the 
farm,  in  1866. 

David  W'hitmore  received  a  rather 
nieager  educatinn  in  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive county,  and  was  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  this  state  with  his  parents. 
He  aided  his  father  in  the  arduous  task  of 
improving"  the  home  farm,  and  also  broke, 
fenced  and  improved  a  tract  of  forty  acres 
which  he  had  entered  for  himself.  He  subse- 
cpientlv  entered  and  bought  more  land  until 
he  owned  eight  hundretl  acres,  a  half-sec- 
f.on  of  which  he  place  under  cultisation.  and 
erected  thereon  a  good  set  nf  farm  buildings. 


DAVID  WHITMORE. 


Uwt.-.         ^^  'LciNOIS 

URSAXA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


63 


He  actively  engaged  in  farming  until  iS7(), 
and  at  tlie  same  time  was  quite  extensively 
interested  in  the  raising  and  feeding  of 
St' ick.  which  pnned  to  him  a  profitable  busi- 
ness, it  being  his  policy  to  buy  and  im- 
prove property.  He  has  erected  six  brick 
and  two  frame  business  houses  and  several 
residences,  and  in  this  way  has  materially 
promoted  the  welfare  of  the  town,  doing 
more  for  its  advancement  than  probably  any 
other  man. 

In  Henry  county.  Mr.  W'liitmore  was 
married,  in  1853.  to  Miss  Eliza  J-  Booher, 
a  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Mary  Ann 
(Young)  Booher,  who  were  also  pioneers 
of  this  county.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  from  which  state  he  removed 
t(^  Ohio,  later  came  to  Illinois,  and  finally 
went  to  Kansas,  where  his  death  occurred. 
His  wife  spent  her  last  years  at  the  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitmore  in  Woodhull, 
where  she  died.  Oiu'  sul)ject's  parents  and 
Mrs.  Booher  were  all  laid  to  rest  at  Clover 
Chajjel  cemetery.  F"ive  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitmore.  but  two  are 
now  deceased,  namely:  l-'lorence  M.,  who 
was  married  twice  and  died  in  Woodhull. 
leaving  five  children :  and  Douglas,  who  died 
in  1871,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years.  Those 
living  are  Ida  M.,  wife  of  S.  I.  Currie,  of 
Chicago;  Elizabetli  L.,  wife  of  John  Ben- 
nison,  a  merchant  of  Muscatine.  Iowa:  and 
Xellie  1..  wife  of  C.  .\.  Warren,  of  Wood- 
hull. 

Politically  Mr.  Wiiitniore  is  a  Jefifer- 
scnian  Democrat,  and  has  taken  quite  an 
active  part  in  local  politics.  He  served  as 
assessor  of  Clover  townshi])  for  aljout  ten 
consecutive  years ;  has  been  a  member  of  the 
village  board,  and  .school  director  for  some 
years.  In  religi<nis  belief  he  is  a  Methodist, 
and     was    first     conne'ted      with      Clover 


Chapel.  l)ul  now  holds  membership  in  the 
church  of  that  denomination  of  Woodhull. 
He  assisted  in  building  the  latter,  and  has 
contributed  liberally  toward  the  erection  of 
a  number  of  churches  in  Henry  county.  He 
has  served  as  trustee  and  steward  for  nearly 
forty  years,  and  takes  an  active  part  in  all 
church  work.  I'raternally  he  is  a  charter 
member  of  Woodhull  Lodge.  F.  &  .\.  M.. 
in  which  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs,  and  is 
now  past  master.  He  has  now  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Illinois  for  sixty-three  years,  and  a 
longer  period  of  time  in  Clover  township 
than  any  one  now  living,  and  can  relate 
many  interesting  reminiscences  of  life  on 
the  frontier.  In  early  life  he  worked  some 
in  the  pineries  of  the  north  and  rafted  logs 
down  the  Mississip])i.  He  also  engaged  in 
steamboating  on  that  river  one  summer. 
He  has  witnes.sed  the  destructive  prairie 
fires  that  once  swept  over  the  state,  and  has 
.seen  great  herds  of  deer.  \\'hen  he  first  lo- 
cated here  be  often  hauled  grain  and  other 
farm  produce  to  Chicago,  it  requiring  eight- 
een or  nineteen  days  to  make  the  trip,  which 
can  now  be  accomplished  by  means  of  rail- 
roads in  a  few  hours.  He  then  camped  out 
at  night,  sleeping  under  his  wagon.  He  is 
a  man  of  exemjilary  habits  and  tried  integ- 
rity, and  his  many  friends  tiiroughout  the 
county  will  be  i)leasetl  to  read  this  record  of 
his  life. 


JOHN'  E.  STOXBERC. 

John  !•-.  Stonberg.  a  retired  farmer  of 
Ciaha.  eminently  deserves  classification 
among  the  purely  self-made  men  of  Henry 
county  who  have  distinguished  themselves 
for  their  ability  to  master  the  opposing  forces 
of  life  and  to  wrest  from  fate  a  large  meas- 
ure of  success  and  an  honorable  name. 


64 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Stonlierg  was  Ixirn  in  Gestricland, 
Sweden.  October  31,  1835,  ^  son  of  Jolm 
and  Betsy  Stonlierg.  In  early  life  the  father 
followed  the  tailor's  trade,  and  his  wife  was 
his  assistant  in  the  shop.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Swedish  colony  that  settled  in 
this  count\'  in  1847,  belonging"  to  the  second 
lot  of  emigrants  to  come  over,  which  com- 
jiany  numbered  four  hundred.  The  voyage 
was  made  in  a  sailing  vessel  and  lasted  thir- 
teen weeks.  Landing  in  Xew  York  they 
remained  there  until  Ala\-,  1847.  \vhen  they 
proceeded  on  their  journey,  going  by  canal 
boat  to  Buffalii.  Xew  York,  and  by  steam- 
boat on  the  Great  Lakes  to  Chicago,  whence 
they  walked  to  their  new  home  in  Hcn.ry 
countx'.  Ihev  had  many  hardships  and  ])ri- 
\ati(ins  til  undergo  but  were  of  a  sturdy  race 
and  made  the  liest  of  their  Int.  There  was 
a  scarcity  of  ];ro\'isions  as  the  colony  was 
not  prepared  to  care  for  so  many  people. 
Sod  houses  were  built  and  in  these  the  set- 
tlers lived  for  a  time.  The  land  was  all  wild 
and  unimprnxed,  wild  game  was  abundant 
and  furnished  manv  a  meal  for  the  coUmi- 
ists.  Our  subject  once  counted  a  drose  of 
forty  deer  within  three  miles  of  the  colony. 
As  soon  as  the  colonists  got  settled  they 
went  to  work  at  their  various  industries,  and 
the  majority  of  them  became  prosperous 
and  substantial  citizens,  b'or  some  time  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stonberg  worked  at  the  tailor's 
trade,  but  at  length,  tiring  of  this,  he  ilid 
any  general  work  that  came  to  hand.  They 
were  members  of  the  original  colony  until  it 
broke  u]).  The  father  al\\a}-s  enjoyed  good 
health,  but  his  wife  ne\'er  fully  recovered 
from  the  ettects  of  the  long  and  arduous 
journey  from  Sweden  to  their  new  home  in 
this  country.  She  was  born  July  8,  1808, 
and  died  January  9,  1898,  while  he  was  born 
in    1805.   and   departed   this   life   in   ]SIarch, 


1895.  Of  their  four  children,  John  E..  the 
eldest  is  now  the  only  survivor;  Betsy  died 
ii.  1848,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years;  Peter 
O.  died  in  Sweden ;  and  Charles  F.  died  of 
measles  the  same  year  that  his  sister  passed 
away. 

John  E.  Stonberg  came  with  his  parents 
to  the  United  States,  and  remained  at  Imme 
in  the  colony  until  attaining  man's  estate. 
As  he  ne\er  attended  school  but  two  months 
during  his  entire  life,  he  is  a  self-educated 
as  well  as  a  self-made  man.  He  started 
out  in  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  twenty 
vears  with  a  capital  of  seventy-five  cents. 
Borrowing  twenty-five  cents,  he  purchased 
an  ax  and  commenced  chopping  wood  in  the 
timber  and  hauling  it  to  market.  Later  he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  a  time.  Going 
t<.  Missouri  in  1858  he  was  employed  as 
night  watchman  at  the  round  house  of  the 
Hannibal  &  St.  Jo  railroad  at  Brookfield 
until  i8f)i,  when  he  returned  to  Illinois, 
and  with  a  span  of  horses  which  he  owned 
engaged  in  culti\ating"  land  for  the  colon- 
ists. Subsequently  he  rented  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  his  own  account  on  a 
small  scale.  Prospering  in  this  undertak- 
ing he  at  length  purchased  one  hundred  and 
three  acres  of  land,  for  which  he  paid  ten 
dollars  per  acre,  borrowing  the  money, 
however,  to  make  the  first  payment.  He 
fully  improved  his  land  and  as  a  general  far- 
mer and  stock  raiser  met  with  wonderful 
success.  I'rom  time  to  time  he  has  addetl 
to  his  landed  possessions  until  he  now  owns 
four  hundred  and  forty- four  acres  of  \-alu- 
able  farm  huul.  He  continued  to  personally 
super\"ise  the  operation  of  his  land  until 
1900,  when  he  removed  to  Gaha  and  ]iur- 
chased  his  present  home,  wdiich  is  a  \-aluable 
piece  of  property  that  he  has  fitted  up  with 
moileru  impro\'ements. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


(  )ii  the  -'-'(1  i)f  December.  18(14.  at  Knox- 
\ille,  lUiudis,  Mr.  .Stonlierg  was  united  in 
marriage  witii  Mis.s  Eleanor  Swan.son.  wlid 
was  l)oni  in  Sweden  in  1S34.  and  came  In 
tliis  country  in  1852.  !'>}•  this  iniion  were 
born  six  children,  namely:  Amanda  J.,  who 
died  at  tbe  age  of  fifteen  years:  Emma  M.. 
at  home  with  her  parents:  Mary  A.,  who 
keeps  house  for  her  brother  on  the  farm: 
Carrie  H..  also  on  the  farm:  C'liarles  1'"...  who 
is  now  operating  his  father's  kmd  :  and  |olin 
E.,  who  was  a  twin  brother  of  I'harle^  \i. 
and  (lied  at  the  age  of  ele\en  months.  The 
children  were  all  reared  under  the  parental 
roof  and  received  good  district  school  edu- 
cations, while  Charles  V..  also  attended  tiie 
Northern  Illinois  .Xormal  school  at  l)!xon 
for   two   years. 

Mr.  Sti>nberg  is  liberal  in  bis  religious 
views,  anil  is  independent  in  politics,  votiu;:; 
for  whom  he  deeius  best  (|ualified  to  fill  the 
offices,  regardless  of  party  lines.  While  li\- 
ing  on  the  farm  he  ser\-ed  as  school  directoi 
for  eight  years  and  also  filled  other  minor 
offices  in  his  township  with  credit  to  him- 
self and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  con- 
cerned, lie  is  wi<lely  known  throughout 
the  County  which  has  been  his  home  for  o\er 
half  a  century,  and  has  the  entire  confidence 
and  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens. 


\\".\i,LACl".   W.   .\.\1)RI':\\S. 

This  well-known  farmer  residing  (in  sec- 
tion 16.  Burns  township,  was  born  in  Litch- 
fi.eld.  Connecticut,  on  the  JOth  of  May.  T843. 
arid  is  a  worth)'  representati\e  of  ;ui  honore'! 
pioneer  family  of  Henrv  county,  his  parents 
being  Orin  B.  and  Minerva  (Hemingway) 


Andrews,  also  natives  of  Litchfield  county. 
Coiuiecticut.  where  their  marriage  was  cele- 
brated September  ,20.  1840.  The  father  was 
;i  son  of  John  Andrews,  who  was  also  born 
in  the  Xntiueg  state  and  had  six  children. 
In  1831  Orin  B.  Andrews  came  to  Henry 
count\'.  Illinois,  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  ()sc<i  township,  where  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  wild  prairie  land,  and  at  once  turned 
his  attention  to  the  dexelopment  of  Irs  farm. 
At  that  time  there  were  but  few  settlers  in 
his  \ieinit\\  and  most  of  the  land  w.as  still 
in  its  ]iriiuiti\e  con<Iition.  He  died  Sepleiu- 
ber  14.  1837.  The  luother  married  Simeon 
Matthews  September  14.  1870.  anil  died 
January  20.    11)00. 

In  the  familv  of  this  worthy  couyjle  were 
five  children,  of  whom  Wallace  W.  is  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth.  Watson  L..  boni 
]u\v  _'4.  1841.  enlisted  during  the  Civil  war 
in  t'ompanv  11.  (Tne  Hundred  and  Twelfth 
Illinois  \  olunteer  Infantry,  under  t  aptain 
Dunn,  and  was  in  a  number  of  engage- 
ments, and  was  killed  on  the  battle  tleld. 
His  remains  were  interred  in  tbe  snutli. 
Lucy,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  William 
Sinionton.  Charles  resides  in  Cass  county, 
Iowa.     Willis  died  in  Cass  county.   Iowa. 

Wallace  W.  .\ndrews  was  .aboiU  eight 
years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  remo\al  to  this  count}',  where 
he  grew  to  manh(X)d.  his  education  being 
ac(|uired  in  the  country  schools.  .\t  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Rebellion  be  enlisted  in  the 
.Xinth  Illinois  Cavalry,  which  was  organized 
at  Camp  Douglas,  Chicago,  from  which  ])lace 
it  was  sent  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  thence 
to  Pilot  Knob,  Missouri,  through  to  llelena. 
Arkansas,  thence  to  Memphis.  Tennessee. 
fighting  all  the  way  across  the  countr\', 
skirmishing  and  guarding  railroads.     It  was 


66 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  the  last  liattle  at  Xasliville.  and  tlien  start- 
ed fartlier  south,  l)eing  at  Livingston,  Ala- 
bama, wlien  they  lieard  of  Lee's  surrender. 
.\ftcr  four  years  of  liard  service  he  was 
<lischarged  and  returned  home.  In  1866  he 
went  to  Cass  county,  Iowa,  and  liouglit 
eighty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land,  which  he 
improNed.  and  there  remained  until  1884, 
when  he  returnetl  to  Henry  county.  He  now 
owns  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty acres  in  Burns  township,  and  is  success- 
fully engaged  in  its  operation. 

Before  leaving  for  the  west  Mr.  Andrews 
vedded  ]\Iiss  Mary  Fort,  a  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Caroline  (Gooding)  Fort,  natives  of 
Connecticut,  in  whose  family  were  four 
children,  one  son  and  three  daughters,  two 
of  whom  are  now  li\ing.  Mrs.  .Andrews  died 
September  18.  1897,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Cosners  cemetery.  Seven  children  blessed 
this  union,  namely :  Watson  \\'il])ur,  born 
May  28.  1870,  is  a  member  of  the  Indepen- 
<lent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  a  resident 
>>i  Burns  township;  Lucv  C  born  Juh'  22, 
i87_'.  is  the  wife  of  David  Martin:  .\lbert 
1..  born  December  12.  iS^jT,.  is  deceased; 
Elmer  \\'..  born  ]May  17,  1875,  's  at  home; 
-Mice  M.,  born  October  14,  1878,  is  the  wife 
of  Edward  Martin;  George  K.,  born  Oc- 
tober JJ.  1880,  and  Leroy  \\'.,  born  .\u- 
gust  26,  1885,  are  both  at  home. 

Socially  Mr.  .\ndrews  is  connected  with 
the  ]\Iasonic  fraternity  of  Cambridge,  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  of 
the  same  place.  He  is  also  a  memlier  of  the 
G.  A.  R.  In  politics  he  is  an  ardent  Repub- 
lican, and  he  takes  a  deep  and  commendable 
interest  in  ]3ublic  affairs.  He  has  alwavs 
manifested  the  same  patriotism  in  days  of 
])tace  as  in  time  of  war,  and  is  numbered 
among  the  most  useful  and  valued  citizens 
<if  his  communitv. 


HE.XRY  DE  WITT. 

This  well-to-do  and  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zen of  Annawan  was  born  in  Durham, 
Greene  county,  Xew  York,  May  15,  1820, 
and  is  a  son  of  E.  Lucas  and  Polly  ( Will- 
iams) De  Witt.  On  the  paternal  side  his 
ancestors  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Xew  York  and  of  German  extraction.  The 
father  was  also  a  native  of  Greene  county 
and  a  son  of  James  De  Witt,  with  whom  be 
was  engaged  in  the  milling  business  in  early 
life,  operating  grist,  saw  and  woolen  mills. 
About  1834.  when  our  .subject  was  fourteen 
vears  of  age.  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
I'pper  Canada,  and  in  1849  they  came  to 
Henry  county.  Illinois,  locating  in  .\nnawan 
township.  The  father  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  34, 
and  continued  his  residence  there  until  called 
to  his  final  rest  at  the  age  of  eighty-three 
vears.  He  entered  some  government  land 
and  also  purchased  another  man's  claim.  He 
took  quite  an  active  part  in  politics  and  was 
a  stanch  Democrat.  Religiously  he  and  hi:- 
familv  were  connected  with  the  Baptist 
Church.  His  wife,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  Xew  York  and  of  Welsh  descent,  survived 
him  a  number  of  years,  and  died  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-four.  They  were  par- 
ents of  the  following  children :  Harriette. 
who  married  Adam  Bean,  and  both  died  in 
Kewanee;  Henry,  our  subject;  Piatt,  a  resi- 
dent of  Annawan  township;  Parmelia,  .wifa 
of  Peter  Baker,  of  Kansas;  Ira,  who  died  in 
Annawan ;  and  .Antoinette,  who  married 
Samuel  Blinn  and  died  in  Kansas. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent 
under  the  parental  roof,  and  at  the  age  oi 
thirty  he  came  to  Henry  county.  He  bad 
only  five  dollars  in  cash  with  which  to  begin 
life,  but  he  has  alwavs  made  the  most  of  his 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


67 


advantages,  and  is  ni)\v  une  <>i  the  \vcll-t<i- 
lii)  and  prnspercius  citizens  of  his  conmni- 
nit}'.  ( )n  cnniing-  t"  this  county  lie  jjre-empt- 
ed  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Kewanee  towii- 
shiip.  and  iiought  twent}'  acres,  for  which  he 
paid  twenty-five  dollars  ])er  acre.  On  dis- 
posing of  that  property  he  piu'chased  two 
hnndred  and  forty  acres  on  section  28,  An- 
nawan  township,  on  which  lie  made  his  home 
for  fifteen  years,  ami  then  removed  to  the 
village  of  Annawan,  where  he  has  huilt  a 
good  residence.  He  also  owns  eight  lots 
there,  and  still  has  his  farm,  which  he  rents, 
while  he  is  practically  living  retired,  enjoy 
ing  a  well-earned  rest.  Diligence,  enter 
prise  anil  good  management  have  been  the 
crowning  points  of  his  success  and  ha\e  en- 
abled him  to  overcome  the  difficulties  and 
obstacles  in  the  path  to  prosperity. 

In  .Ma_\-.  1S47,  -Mr.  l)e  Witt  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Xelson,  a 
uati\e  of  Canada  and  a  daughter  of  James 
Xelson.  She  died  May  2.  1898.  Si.K  children 
were  born  of  this  union,  namely :  Harriette 
first  married  John  Ha.xby,  who  died  lea\  ing 
four  children  ;  George,  now  a  resident  of  Ne- 
braska; Luella  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Spur- 
liick.  of  Chicago,  and  they  ha\e  two  chil- 
dren. Geneveive  anel  John  ;  William,  of  Iowa  ; 
and  Myrtle  married  Henry  Balternstern, 
and  resides  at  Galesburg,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Hax. 
b\-  married  for  her  second  husband  James 
Kockafellow,  of  Annawan  township;  Oran. 
a  resident  of  Arispe,  Iowa,  weddetl  Mary 
Tharp,  and  they  have  two  children.  Murl 
and  Ruth;  E.  Lucas,  of  Tingley.  Iowa,  mar- 
ried Katie  Fox,  and  they  have  two  children. 
Morris  and  Harold;  Levina  Jane  is  the  wife 
of  Byron  House,  of  Tingley,  Iowa,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Luella  and  Birdie;  .Addie. 
the  wife  of  Elmer  Fitzkie.  of  Annawan.  and 
thev  have  two  children.  Ds  Witt  and  Henry; 


and  liarrv.  of  .\nnawan.  married  .Mabel 
Williams,  and  tl.ey  have  two  children,  Robert 
and    .Marion. 


DAXlb'.l.  I.IA"!'. 


Wll.l-.V 


Only  those  lives  are  worlhy  of  record 
that  ha\e  been  potential  factors  in  the  [uil)- 
lic  progress,  in  promoting  the  general  wel- 
fare or  advancing  the  interests  of  the  com- 
numilv  in  which  they  live.  l"or  many  years 
Mr.  Wiley  was  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
and  business  men  of  Henry  county,  and  for 
twenty  years  was  prominently  connected 
with  its  financial  institutions  as  president  of 
what  was  one  time  known  as  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Galva.  though  the  name  was 
afterward  changeil  to  the  L.  -M.  N'ocum  it 
Company's  bank. 

Mr.  Wiley  was  born  in  Rockingham. 
A'ermont.  .March  J.^;.  1819.  a  son  of  John 
and  Randilla  1  \\eaver  )  Wiley,  also  natives 
of  the  Green  .Mountain  state,  where  the 
father  followed  farming  throughout  life. 
He  was  born  in  1795.  and  died  in  1866.  In 
l.is  family  were  eight  sons  and  one  daughter, 
but  only  one  of  the  mnnber  is  now  li\ing. 
Wilton  W.,  still  a  resident  of  X'erninnt. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  literary  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  his  nati\o 
state,  and  remained  at  home  until  he  attained 
his  majority.  For  a  few  years  he  followed 
mercantile  business  in  the  east.  Coming 
to  Brimfield.  Illinois,  in  1844.  he  purchased 
a  tract  of  land  and  for  a  time  followed  farm- 
ing. In  the  meantime  he  returned  to  \  er- 
mont,  where  he  was  marrieil  on  the  5lh  of 
August,  1846,  to  Miss  Mary  Billings,  of 
Rockingham,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Su- 
sannah (  Divol!  )  r.illings,  who  were  natives 
of  Massachusetts.      .She   was  born    [ulv  30 


68 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1818.  and  died  June  i,  1851.  She  left  two 
cliildren  :  Flora  B.,  the  older,  is  now  the  wife 
of  Lorenzo  Wiley,  a  farmer  of  Castana, 
Iowa.  William  F.  married  Florence  ^hm- 
ger  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  stock  busi- 
ness in  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  He  was  formerly 
cimnected  with  the  bank  at  Galva  until  his 
health  failed,  when  he  went  to  Iowa. 

In  1854,  Mr.  ^^'iley  was  again  married 
ill  Riickingham.  \'ermont,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Sarah  F.  Davis,  who  was 
born  there  September  26,  1832,  her  parents, 
John  H.  and  Susana  (Billings)  Davis,  be^ 
irg  farming  people  of  that  place.  She  was 
the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  in  their  family 
of  six  children,  the  others  being  as  follows . 
Louise  M.  born  July  13,  1826.  She  died 
August  2-j,  1866.  She  married  in  1849  ■^^' 
bert  Slierwin  and  he  now  resides  in  Lead- 
ville.  Col.  Susan  A.,  born  November  18, 
1827,  is  the  wife  of  Amos  G.  Sears,  of  Chi- 
cago. Nathaniel  J.,  born  October  14,  1830, 
Avent  to  California  during  the  gold  excite- 
ment of  1849,  snd  is  now  a  resident  of  Wx- 
ginia  City,  Montana.  Flora,  born  ilarch 
2:7,  1838,  is  the  widow  of  F.  A.  LeClerccj, 
and  a  resident  of  Springfield,  Ohio.  The 
father  of  this  family  died  in  Ohio,  in  1861, 
after  which  the  mother  came  to  Illinois  to 
make  her  home  with  her  children,  and  her 
death  occurred  in  Galesburg  in  1879.  ^y 
his  second  marriage  ilr.  Weily  had  four  chil- 
dren :  Stella  L.,  born  December  25,  1856, 
died  ^lay  18,  1880;  Marj,  born  April  29, 
1862,  died  February  27,  1865;  one,  born 
November  10,  1864,  died  March  3,  1865 : 
and  Amy,  born  April  21,  1868,  was  married 
in  1886  to  Orrin  Houghton,  who  died  March 
5,  1891,  leaving  two  children.  Earl  \\'.  and 
Flora  H.  On  the  14th  of  October,  1895, 
Mrs.  Houghton  married  George  T.  Lacey. 


and  now  lives  in  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  mercliandising  and  em- 
ploytd  in  a  bank. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Wiley  made  his 
home  in  Lafayette  until  1855,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Galva,  having  purchased  property 
at  this  place,  and  erected  a  pleasant  resid- 
dence  for  his  family.  For  a  year  before  lo- 
cating here  he  was  successfully  engaged  in 
niechandising  in  the  town  of  Brimfield.  He 
invested  largely  in  farm  property,  which 
he  impro\ed  and  operated  very  successfully 
for  sexeral  years,  and  then  sold  to  an  atl- 
vantage.  his  land  speculations  proving  quite 
profitable.  He  finally  disposed  of  all  his 
farms  in  Illinois  and  purchased  considerable 
land  in  Iowa,  which  he  also  improved.  In 
1865.  in  connection  with  others,  Mr..\\'iley 
assisted  in  establishing  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Galva,  becoming  one  of  its  largest 
stockholders,  and  for  twenty  years  served  as 
its  president.  After  the  charter  expired  it 
was  merged  into  the  L.  M.  Yocum  &  Com- 
pany's bank,  of  which  he  remained  president 
until  his  death.  For  many  years  he  prac- 
tically lived  a  retired  life,  though  he  con- 
tinued to  look  after  his  farming  interests. 
He  died  at  his  home  in  Galva.  !March  17, 
1890.  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  hm. 

Though  reared  a  Democrat,  Mr.  ^^'ile_^■ 
became  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  served  as  supervisor  of  his 
township  for  a  time,  though  he  never  took 
an  active  part  in  political  affairs.  In  relig- 
ious belief  he  was  a  Lniversalist,  and  gave 
liberally  to  the  support  of  church  work. 
Many  a  deserving  young  man  has  reason  to 
be  very  grateful  for  his  timely  assistance 
on  the  rugged  pathway  of  life,  for  he  took 
a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  those  start- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


69 


ing  out  in  life  witliout  capital  and  uiiconi- 
plainingly  working  their  way  steadily  up- 
ward to  the  goal  oi  prosi)erity.  He  was  al- 
ways ready  to  relieve  suffering  anil  distress; 
and  was  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  knew 
liini. 


JAMES  GILBRAITH. 

Many  of  Henry  county's  most  successful 
citizens  have  started  out  in  life  for  them- 
selves with  naught  but  an  abundance  of  de- 
termination and  indefatigable  industry,  and 
liave  succeeded  through  their  own  diligence, 
energy  and  economy.  Among  this  class  may 
be  numl)ered  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who 
is  to-day  a  prosperous  farmer  residing  on 
section  30,  .Mba  township. 

Mr.  Gilbraith  was  lx>rn  in  county  Down, 
Ireland.  July  6,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Jane  (McCracken)  Gilbraith.  who.  as 
farming  people,  spent  their  entire  lives  in 
tliat  county,  the  former  dying  in  1882.  the 
later  in  1874.  In  their  family  were  seven 
■children,  namely :  ( i  )  John  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  at  Rock  Island.  Illinois,  married 
Maragaret  Moore,  also  a  nati\e  of  counts- 
Down.  Ireland.  He  died  at  his  home  in 
Keiikuk.  Iowa,  leaving  the  follnwing  chil- 
dren. William,  John,  Robert,  .\le.\ander. 
Hugh.  Joseph,  Lizzie,  Agnes  and  Margaret. 
(2)  Hugh  married  Eliza  McClelland,  who 
•  lied  in  1885,  and  he  also  died  in  Ireland  in 
1890,  leaving  two  children,  John  and  Will- 
iam. (3)  Eliza  Jane  is  the  wife  of  John 
-McKee,  of  county  Down.  (4)  Isabella  mar. 
ried  David  Orr  and  died  in  Ireland  in  1894. 
leaving  si.x  children,  James.  John.  Isabella, 
Mary,  Margaret  and  Jane.  (5)  William 
married  Susannah  Scott,  who  died  in  1888, 


and  he  departed  this  lite  in  1884,  leaving 
four  children,  .Mexander.  John  and  two 
daughters.  (6)  James,  our  subject,  is  ne.xt 
in  order  of  birth.  (7)  Margaret,  who  died 
in  Keokuk.  Iowa,  in  iSSS.  was  the  wife  of 
Robert  Miller,  now  a  resilient  of  Minnesota. 

James  Gilbraith  attended  the  schools  of 
his  native  land  until  twenty  years  of  age 
and  aided  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  With 
the  hope  of  benefitting  his  financial  condition 
he  came  to  America  in  1859  on  the  steamer 
Circassian,  and  on  landing  in  Xew  York 
came  direct  to  Rock  Island  county.  Illinois. 
During  the  first  year  of  his  residence  here 
he  worked  for  John  \\'arnock,  and  during 
the  following  two  years  was  in  the  employ 
of  others  in  Henrj-  county.  In  1863  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  in  Alba  town- 
ship, which  had  already  been  broken,  paying 
for  the  same  twelve  dollars  and  a  half  per 
acre,  and  this  he  has  brought  to  its  present 
high  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  added  to 
his  property  from  time  to  time  until  he  now 
has  si.x  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  rich 
and  arable  land  in  this  county,  and  also  has 
a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Rock  Island  county.  He  has  devoted  cout 
siderable  attention  to  the  raising  of  cattl.; 
for  market,  and  has  been  remarkably  suc- 
cessful as  a  breeder  of  fine  Hereford  cattle. 
He  also  raises  horses  for  market,  anil  in  most 
of  his  undertakings  has  prosjiered  until  lie 
is  now  one  of  the  most  substantial  citizens  of 
his  community.  On  landing  in  Xew  York 
he  had  only  one  hundred  tlollars  with  which 
to  begin  life,  and  the  wealth  that  he  has 
since  accumulated  has  been  acquired  solely 
though  his  own  industry,  perseverance  and 
good   management. 

On  the  17th  day  of  .\pril,  iS()6,  in  Rock 
Island  countv,  Mr.  Gilbraith  married  Mi>s 


70 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Sarah  Morrison,  also  a  native  of  connty 
Dinvn.  Ireland,  wlio  died  March  i.  i88c-. 
Five  children  were  born  of  this  union,  name- 
ly :  (  I  )  James,  born  Julv  lo.  1867.  was  mar- 
ried in  Rock  Island  county,  in  1891,  to  Ly- 
dia  Coin,  and  they  had  two  children:  Gladys 
May.  who  died  in  April.  1900;  and  Ruth 
Elizabeth.  ( j)  Joseph,  born  March  12, 
i86g.  married  Emma  Hirshberger.  by  whom 
he  has  two  children,  Lyle  and  Frank  Leslie, 
and  they  live  in  Annawan.  (3)  Robert  H., 
born  August  18,  1870,  married  Maggie 
Downey,  of  Aledo,  and  resides  in  Alba  town 
ship,  Illinois.  (4)  Scrah  J.,  torn  February 
18.  1873.  is  the  wife  of  John  Warnock.  of 
Westchester,  Iowa.  (5)  Eliza  A.,  borri 
February  18,  1875,  '*  the  wife  of  John  Prit 
chard,  of  Geneseo,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Bernice.  iMr.  Gilbraitli  was  again  married, 
December  23.  1882,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Matilda  Smith,  who  was  born 
near  Antwerp,  Germany.  They  have  one 
son,  Clarence  A.,  who  was  born  May  29, 
1885. 

In  1850  Mrs.  Gilbraitli  came  to  America 
with  her  parents.  Anthony  and  Elizabeth 
( Young )  Smith,  also  natives  of  Germany. 
Her  father  died  in  Indiana.  Pennsylvania, 
in  i860,  and  her  mother  departed  this  life 
at  Taylor  Ridge.  Illinois,  in  April,  1888. 
They  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  were 
born  in  Germany,  namely :  (  i )  Elizabeth 
married  James  Bothel  and  died  near  Taylor 
Ridge,  in  1893.  leaving  two  children,  Her- 
bert and  Campbell.  (2)  Martin  L.  married 
and  died  near  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  leav- 
ing three  children.  (3)  Kate  is  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Bothel.  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  and  they 
have  four  children,  John  X.,  Adlow,  Ger- 
trude E.  and  Norwood.  (4)  Mrs.  Gilbraith 
is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.     (5)  Margaret 


married  Alexander  Madill.  of  Milan.  Illi 
nois,  and  died  leaving  two  children.  Will- 
iam A.  and  Maud  D. 

Both  }ilr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbraith  hold  mem- 
bership with  the  Congregational  Church  of 
Atkinson  and  are  people  of  prominence  in 
the  community  where  they  reside,  having  a 
large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 
In  his  political  affiliations  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  he  has  filled  the  offices  of  school  direc- 
tor and  road  commissioner.  Financially  he 
lias  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the  result  of 
his  labors  since  coming  to  the  new  world, 
and  his  course  as  a  citizen  has  been  such  as 
to  commend  him  to  the  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  the  people  among  whom  he  has 
lived. 


JUDGE  C.  M.  TURXER. 

In  the  last  half  century  the  lawyer  has 
been  a  prominent  factor  in  all  atifairs  of  pri- 
\  ate  concern  and  national  importance.  He 
has  been  depended  upon  to  conserve  the  best 
and  permanent  interests  of  the  whole  people 
and  is  a  recognized  power  in  all  the  avenues 
of  life.  He  stands  as  the  protector  of  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  his  fellow  men,  and  is 
the  representative  of  a  profession  whose  fol- 
lowers, if  they  would  gain  honor,  fame  and 
success,  must  be  men  of  merit  and  ability. 
Such  a  one  is  Judge  Turner,  who  now  occu- 
pies the  bench  of  Henry  county,  winning 
high  commendation  by  his  fair  and  impartial 
administration  of  justice. 

The  Judge  was  born  in  Stark  county. 
Illinois,  Xovember  i,  1861.  and  is  a  son  of 
Benjamin  Turner,  one  of  the  honored  pio- 
neers, who  was  born  in  Delaware,  December 


C.   M.  TURNER. 


UNIVERSE  u.  ILLINOIS 
URBAMA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


73 


7,  I  So",  and  when  a  child  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood 
and  became  quite  prominent  poHtically.  In 
1S49  he  emigrated  to  Lafayette,  Stark  coun- 
ty, Ilhnois,  and  engaged  in  farming  there 
until  the  following  year,  Avhen  Toulon  was 
laid  out,  and  he  moved  to  that  place.  He 
erected  the  first  house  in  the  village,  and,  as 
a  hotel  man  and  merchant,  he  was  prominent- 
ly identified  witli  its  business  interests  for 
many  years.  He  served  as  postmaster  of  Tou- 
lon for  sixteen  years,  and  was  one  of  the 
leading  and  influential  members  of  the  Old 
Settlers'  Society,  serving  as  treasurer  of  the 
same  at  the  time  of  his  death  and  for  many 
years  previous.  He  died  at  Toulon,  March 
21,  1887,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  His  first  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  ■SIcWilliams,  died 
in  1856,  leaving  one  daughter,  Sarah,  whose 
death  ocurred  in  1892.  In  1858  he  married 
Miss  Ruth  A.  Myers,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  went  to  Toulon,  Illinois,  to  teach 
music,  and  is  still  a  resident  of  that  place. 

Juidge  Turner,  the  only  surviving  child 
of  the  second  marriage,  passed  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  Toulon  and  attended  its  public 
schools,  graduating  from  the  high  school  of 
that  city  in  1879.  Subsequently  he  entered 
Knox  College,  Galesburg,  where  he  was 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  B.  A.  in  1884, 
and  in  1887  received  the  degree  of  A.  M. 
He  read  law  at  Toulon  with  Hnn.  yi.  Slial- 
Icnberger,  and  on  his  admission  to  the  bar, 
in  1888,  began  practice  at  that  place,  but  in 
1890  opened  an  office  in  Cambridge,  where 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  purchased 
the  law  library  of  the  Hon.  William  M. 
Shei)Iierd,  which  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
city.  In  the  fall  of  1890  Judge  Turner 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  V.  Strced,  and 
under  the  firm  name  of  Turner  &   Streed 


they  successfully  engaged  in  practice  until 
our  subject  was  elected  county  judge,  June 
6,  1899.  The  firm  was  one  of  the  most  popu- 
lar in  Cambridge  and  built  up  an  extensive 
and  important  law  practice. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  1889,  at  Toulon.  Illi- 
nois, Judge  Turner  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Emma  E.  Follett,  who  was  born 
in  Missouri,  but  was  reared  in  Toulon,  where 
her  father,  Benjamin  C.  Follett,  was  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  and  in  merchandising 
for  a  number  of  years,  but  is  now  living  in 
Wyoming,  Stark  county.  Mrs.  Follett,  who 
in  her  maidenhood  was  Miss  Helen  Rhodes, 
died  in  Wyoming  in  1892.  She  was  born  in 
Stark  county  about  1840,  a  daughter  of  Erie 
and  Eunice  Rhodes,  natives  of  Kentucky,  and 
prominent  early  settlers  of  Stark  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  both  died.  The  Judge  and  his 
wife  have  two  children:  Helen  Marie  and 
Ruth  Almira. 

In  his  social  relations  Judge  Turner  is  a 
member  of  Cambridge  Lodge,  Xo.  199,  I. 
O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the 
chairs;  is  also  a  member  of  the  Encampment 
and  has  been  for  several  years  a  representa- 
tive to  the  grand  lodge  of  the  state.  He  is 
a  Master  Mason,  and  a  trustee  of  the  J^Ieth- 
odist  Episcopal  Church,  of  Cambridge.  The 
Judge  is  widely  known  throughout  both 
Stark  and  Henry  counties,  and  in  the  former 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  also 
secretary  of  the  Stark  County  Old  Settlers' 
Society  from  1887  to  1890.  He  owns  the 
farm  on  which  the  first  court  in  that  county 
was  held.  During  his  residence  in  Cam- 
bridge he  has  taken  a  very  active  and  promi- 
nent part  in  public  affairs;  has  served  as 
president  of  the  school  board  six  years;  and 
as  mayor  of  the  city  in  1892  and  1893.  He 
was  active  in  securing  the  franchise  for  the 
electric  light  plant  but  was  not  at  that  time 


74 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


on  the  board.  Pre-eminently  publSc-spirt- 
ited  and  progressive,  he  takes  an  active  in- 
terest in  all  enterprises  calculated  to  prove  of 
public  benefit,  and  is  now  serving  as  treas- 
urer of  the  Henry  County  Fair  Association. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  was  the  first 
representative  of  that  part}'^  elected  to  any 
county  office  for  many  years,  a  fact  which 
plainly  indicates  his  personal  popularity  and 
the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellow 
citizens.  His  mind  is  analytical,  logical  and 
inductive.  With  a  thorough  and  compre- 
liensive  knowledge  of  the  fundamental  prin- 
ciples of  law,  he  combines  a  familiarity  \\ith 
statutory  law  and  sober,  clear  judgment, 
which  makes  him  not  only  a  formidable  ad- 
versar)^  in  legal  combat,  but  has  gi^•en  him 
the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  ablest  jur- 
ists in  this  section  of  the  state. 


HEXRY   OCIXX. 

For  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century  Henry 
Ouinn  has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois,  and  in 
this  time  has  always  been  recognized  as  a 
public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  in- 
terested in  the  welfare  of  the  communities 
■with  which  he  has  been  connected  and  taking 
an  active  part  in  all  that  has  i>ertained  to 
advancement  along  commendable  lines.  To- 
day he  is  a  well  known  rej^resentative  of 
joiu^nalistic  interests,  as  a  faithful  officer, 
serving  as  deputy  sherifif  and  as  the  popular 
and  highly  esteemed  proprietor  of  the  Ouinn 
Hotel  of  Cambridge. 

Mr.  Quinn  is  a  nati\e  of  the  Buckeye 
state,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Butler 
county,  on  the  nth  of  October,  1854.  His 
j)arents  were  Thomas  and  Ann  (Boland) 
( )uinn.     The  father  was  a  native  of  New 


York  and  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  born  in  the  Emerald  Isle, 
\N  hence  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  tn  the  new 
world  in  early  manhood.  About  the  time 
of  their  marriage  the  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject removed  to  Ohio  where  they  remained 
until  called  to  the  home  beyond.  The  moth- 
er passed  away  in  1862  and  eight  days  later 
the  father  died,  his  death,  being  occasioned 
by  his  great  grief  for  the  loss  of  his  wife. 
She  left  an  infant  daughter,  Agnes,  who 
is  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  A.  ^liller,  a  con- 
tractor and  builder  residing  in  Galva. 

There  were  but  two  children  in  the  fam- 
ily, the  son  being  Henry  Ouinn,  who  was 
left  an  orphan  at  the  early  age  of  eight 
years.  He  then  went  to  live  with  his  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  who  removed  to  Wis- 
consin, where  the  subject  of  this  review 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth. 
The  educational  privileges  Avliich  he  re- 
ceived were  those  afforded  by  the  common 
schools,  but  his  opportunities  in  that  direc- 
tion were  limited,  as  he  early  began  to  earn 
his  own  living.  His  first  independent  ven- 
ture was  in  carr3'ing  newspapers  and  he 
afterward  learned  the  printer's  trade,  work- 
ing in  the  pressroom  of  the  Cantwell  printing- 
house  of  Aladison  for  two  years,  and  in  the 
composing  room  for  three  years,  during 
which  time  he  not  only  mastered  the  business, 
but  also  acquired  considerable  general  in- 
formation which  greatly  supplemented  the 
knowledge  he  had  gained  in  school.  His 
efficiency  as  a  printer  made  it  easy  for  him 
to  obtain  work  in  that  line  and  he  w  as  em- 
ployed in  a  number  of  large  cities  of  the 
Cnited  States.  He  was  employed  at  vari- 
ous places  in  the  Mississippi  valley  between 
St.  Anthony  and  St.  Louis,  and  in  1878  he 
accepted  a  position  as  business  manager  of 
the  Galva  News,  in  which  capacity  he  served 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


75 


for  eight  years.  On  tlie  expiration  of  that 
period  he  purcliased  a  half  interest  in  tlie 
Inisiness,  since  \vliich  time  he  has  been  a 
member  of  tlie  firm  of  Fitch  &  Ouinn.  His 
thorough  knowledge  of  journalistic  work 
and  his  particular  experience  in  this  line  have 
enabled  him  to  give  to  the  public  a  most 
creditable  paper  that  finds  its  way  into  many 
homes  in  this  part  of  the  state,  having  a  very 
large  circulation.  It  is  one  of  the  leading 
papers  in  the  county,  neat  in  appearance,  and 
is  the  advocate  of  all  movements  and  meas- 
ures calculated  to  prove  of  public  good.  It 
lias  been  an  important  factor  in  promoting 
the  welfare  of  the  county,  as  well  as  in  up- 
holding the  principles  of  Republicanism. 

On  the  nth  of  April,  1877,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Ouinn  and  Miss 
Ettie  Carico,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
licth  Carico,  who  are  natives  of  West  Vir- 
ginia, but  emigrating  westward  in  1832  thev 
cast  in  their  lot  with  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Bureau  county,  Illinois,  where  they  long  re- 
>ided.  At  the  present  time  they  are  living 
in  Stark  county  where  they  ha\e  a  large 
circle  of  warm  friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
yuinn  have  one  child,  a  s(jn,  Harry. 

Mr.  Ouinn  is  recognized  as  one  of  tiie 
leaders  of  the  Republican  party  in  this  coun- 
ly,  and  his  fellow  townsmen  have  called 
liim  to  public  office.  In  1894  he  was  elected 
sheriff  of  Henry  county  by  a  majoritj-  of 
eighteen  hundred  and  si.xty-five,  for  a  term 
of  four  years.  He  discharged  his  duties 
in  a  prompt  and  fearless  manner  and  won 
high  commendation  by  his  faithful  service. 
He  handled  many  important  cases  during 
that  period  and  was  ever  just  in  his  enforce- 
ment of  the  law.  .\mong  his  deputies  was 
the  present  sheriff,  E.  Swain,  who,  on  be- 
ing elected  to  the  office,  chose  Mr.  Quinn  to 
serve  as  his  deputy,  the  apixjintment  being 


made  on  the  5th  of  December,  1898;  thus 
our  subject  has  continued  his  connection 
v.ith  the  office  for  si.x  years  and  his  pres- 
ent term  will  include  eight  years'  service. 
He  has  always  been  a  stalwart  Republicait 
in  his  political  association,  keeps  well  in- 
formed on  the  issues  of  the  day  and  does  all 
in  his  power  to  promote  the  growth  and  in- 
sure the  success  of  the  party.  The  journal 
<.f  which  he  is  a  part  owner  has  done  much 
ti:>  advance  the  cause  of  Republicanism  in 
this  portion  of  the  state,  being  an  earnest 
champion  of  the  measures  of  the  party  which 
stands  for  protection  to  American  indus- 
tries, for  the  gold  standard  and  for  the  su- 
premacy of  the  flag  in  every  section  of  the 
world  in  which  it  has  been  planted. 

Of  the  Masonic  fraternity  Mr.  Ouinn 
is  a  valued  and  prominent  member,  being  a 
representative  of  Blue  Lodge,  of  Galva,  the 
Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  Kewanee,  of  the 
Council  of  that  place,  of  Everett's  Command- 
ery,  K.  T.,  of  Rock  Island,  and  Kaba  Tem- 
ple of  the  !M3'stic  Shrine  of  Davenport, 
Iowa.  Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  member- 
ship in  the  order  of  the  Eastern  Star  and 
in  the  Blue  Lodge  he  has  been  honored  with 
office.  Mr.  Ouinn  is  a  public-spirited  man 
to  an  eminent  degree.  National  progress 
and  local  advancement  are  causes  both  dear 
ti!  the  heart  of  this  thoroughly  loyal  son  of 
the  Republic,  and  his  devotion  to  his  country 
is  above  question.  In  manner  he  is  pleas- 
ant and  genial ;  an  approachable  gentleman 
who  enjoys  the  friendship  of  a  large  circle 
of  acquaintances. 


FRAN'CIS  W.  LARSOX. 
Among  the  substantial  agriculturists  of 
\\'cstern  tnwnsb.ip  is  the  subject  of  this  rc- 
\iew,  who  owns  and  occupies  an  excellent 


76 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 32,  two  miles  west  of  Orion,  and  also 
has  another  farm  of  similar  size  on  section 
33.  He  is  a  native  of  Henrj'  county,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Lynn  township  on 
the  24th  of  September,  1855.  His  father, 
Samuel  B.  Larson,  was  born  in  Sweden,  in 
1815,  and  there  grew  to  manhood  and  mar- 
ried Anna  Collen,  a  Swedish  lady,  born  in 
1814.  In  1852,  with  their  two  children, 
they  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  came  direct  to 
Andover,  Henr}'  count)-,  Illinois.  The  fa- 
ther purchased  a  small  farm,  to  which  he 
later  added  a  tract  of  rav.-  prairie  land  ad- 
joining, making  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  on  v.hich  he  erected  a  good  set 
of  buildings  and  made  other  improvements. 
There  he  died  February  12,  1884,  and  his 
wife  departed  this  life  July  18,  1888.  In 
their  family  were  tliree  children  of  whom  our 
subject  is  the  youngest  and  the  onh-  one  born 
in  this  country.  John,  the  oldest,  is  a  farmer 
of  Lynn  township,  while  ^Matilda  married 
P.  J.  Anderson,  and  died  January  i,  1880. 

On  the  home  farm  in  Lynn  tov.nship 
Francis  \\'.  Larson  grew  to  manhood,  pur- 
suing his  studies  in  the  local  schools  and  as- 
sisting his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm 
until  he  attained  his  majority.  On  starting 
out  in  life  for  himself  he  rented  the  old 
homestead,  which  he  operated  for  a  few 
)"ears.  In  1882  he  bought  his  present  place, 
but  rented  it  out  for  two  years  before  mov- 
ing to  it.  Since  then  to  its  further  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  he  has  given  his  time 
and  attention.  He  raises  a  good  grade  of 
short-horn  cattle  aid  Poland  China  hogs, 
and  in  all  his  imdertakings  has  been  uni- 
formly successful,  so  that  he  is  now  number- 
ed among  the  prosperous  and  substantial 
men  of  his  community. 

In  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  ^Ir.  Larson 


was  married  March  17,  1877,  to  ^Miss  Anna 
Louisa  Plym,  a  native  of  Sweden,  and 
daughter  of  John  Plym,  who  settled  in  Ale- 
do,  ilercer  courity,  where  he  remained  until 
his  death.  She  was  a  miss  of  twelve  summers 
when  she  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
and  was  reared  and  educated  here.  She  died 
June  18,  1893,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
Swedish  cemeterj-  at  Orion.  Six  children 
were  born  of  this  union,  as  follows :  Emma, 
who  is  nov.-  keeping  house  for  her  father; 
Anna  \'ictoria,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years;  ^linnie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  elev- 
en; John  Edward,  who  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth  and  died  in  infancy;  Edna 
ilatilda  and  ilabel  \*iolet,  both  attending 
the  hon"»e  school. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  in  1876,  ^Ir.  Lar- 
son has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  but  has  never  cared  for  the 
honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  entire  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  business  interests.  He  has,  how- 
ever, efficientl)-  served  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  twelve  years,  and  his  du- 
ties of  citizenship  have  alwaj's  been  most 
faithfull}^  and  conscientiously  performed. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church,  and  are  prominent  in  the  best 
social  circles  of  the  community  in  which  thev 
reside. 


WILLIAM   LEMBKE. 

William  Lembke,  an  honored  and  high- 
ly respected  citizen  of  Lynn  township, 
whose  home  is  on  section  17,  has  been  a 
resident  of  Henry  county  since  August. 
1857,  and  as  a  farmer  he  has  borne  a  very 
active  part  in  its  development  and  upbuild- 


THE  BIOCIRAPIIICAL  RECORD. 


77 


iiig.  He  comes  from  across  the  sea.  liis 
birth  occurring  in  Prussia,  Germany,  Jan- 
uary 28,  1829,  and  in  that  country  he  grew 
to  manhood  and  learned  the  cabinet  maker's 
trade,  which  he  followed  there  for  some 
years. 

With  the  hope  of  benefiting  his  financial 
condition  i\Ir.  Lenibke  emigrated  to  Ameri- 
ca in  1855,  going  from  Rotterdam  to  Liv- 
erpool, where  he  took  passage  on  a  sailing 
vessel,  which  was  forty-seven  days  in  cross- 
ing the  Atlantic.  They  encountered  some 
severe  storms,  during  which  one  mast  was 
carried  away  and  other  damage  done  to  the 
vessel,  while  one  man  was  lost  overboard. 
Arriving  in  New  York  on  the  4th  of  May, 
Mr.  Lembke  at  once  proceeded  to  Milwau- 
kee, Wisconsin,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment at  the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade, 
and  after  working  for  ten  days  the  company 
disposed  of  their  old  foreman  and  put  our 
subject  in  his  place.  He  held  that  position 
until  Christmas,  1856,  when  he  came  to 
Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  decided  to  re- 
main in  this  state.  He  took  a  contract  for 
working  on  G.  B.  Pillsbury's  house  in  Lynn 
township,  Henry  county,  and  continued  to 
v>ork  at  his  trade  in  this  and  Mercer  coun- 
ties for  two  years. 

On  the  17th  of  August,  1857,  in  Cam- 
bridge, Mr.  I-eml)ke  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Amelia  A.  Huyck,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Ohio,  and  was  one  of  the 
early  teachers  of  Henry  county,  Illinois. 
She  died  in  1863,  aiyl  on  the  21st  of  De- 
cember, that  year,  Mr.  Lembke  was  again 
married  in  Rock  Island,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Rhodenbaugh, 
a  native  of  Mercer  county,  where  she  was 
reared  and  educated.  Her  father,  John 
Rhodenbaugh,  was  born  in  Northumber- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1818,  and  in 


1837  came  to  Illinois,  being  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  fiercer  county,  where  he  im- 
proved a  large  farm.  There  he  died  May 
2,  1892,  and  his  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Polly  Arrowsmith  and  was  a  na- 
tive of  Indiana,  passed  away  March  11, 
1888.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lembke  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  children :  Lena,  wife  of  Frank 
DeWitt,  a  farmer  of  Coal  Valley;  and  Mary 
E.,  wife  of  G.  B.  Krapp,  a  merchant  of  Coal 
Valley,  by  whom  she  has  Xwo  children, 
\\"illiam  Lembke,  and  Earl  H.,  who  died 
Octol>er  31,  1900,  at  the  age  of  three  years 
and  seven  months. 

Prior  to  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Lembke 
purchased  his  present  farm  in  Lynn  town- 
ship, only  a  .small  portion  of  whicii  had  been 
broken,  and  the  only  improvement  on  the 
place  was  a  small  frame  house.  To  the  fur- 
ther development  and  cultivation  of  liis  land 
he  has  since  devoted  his  energies,  has  erect- 
ed a  pleasant  residence  and  surrounded  it 
v.ith  shade  trees,  making  an  attractive  and 
picturesque  home.  Most  of  the  fruit  and 
forest  trees  upon  the  place  he  has  raised 
from  the  seed.  The  neat  and  thrifty  ap- 
pearance of  the  farm  denotes  the  supervis- 
ion of  a  careful  and  painstaking  owner, 
and  show  conclusively  that  he  thoroughly 
understands  the  occupation  he  has  chosen 
as  a  life  work. 

Politically  Mr.  Lembke  is  a  Douglas 
Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  jiresidential  bal- 
lot for  James  Buchanan  in  1856.  He  is 
an  earnest  advocate  of  good  schools  and 
competent  teachers,  and  did  much  to  ad- 
vance the  educational  interests  of  his  com- 
munity while  serving  for  twenty-one  con- 
secutive years  as  township  school  trustee. 
He  also  served  as  township  assessor  three 
years,  but  has  declined  further  honors. 
-Mthough  reared   in  the   Lutheran   Church, 


78 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  and  liis  wife  now  attend  the  Metliodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  are  members  of  the 
Eastern  Star  Chapter,  Xo.  93,  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  at  Orion.  Mr.  Lembke  is 
also  an  active  and  prominent  member  of 
Sherman  Lodge,  No.  535.  F.  &  A.  'M.,  in 
which  he  has  tilled  all  the  chairs  and  has 
twice  served  as  master,  while  he  has  also 
represented  the  lodge  in  the  grand  lodge  of 
the  state.  In  token  of  their  high  regard 
for  him  the  members  of  that  lodge,  on  the 
28th  of  December,  1892,  presented  him  with 
a  handsome  gold  headed  cane  on  which  was 
engraved  the  name  and  number  of  the  lodge. 
The  whole  thing  was  a  great  surprise  to  ;Mr. 
Lembke.  He  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  his  adopted  county,  and  is  justly 
deserving  of  honorable  mention  in  her  his- 

tOT}-. 


FRANK  J.  JOHNSON. 

Frank  J.  Johnson,  the  present  well- 
known  assessor  of  Andover  townshijD — ^a  po- 
sition he  has  held  for  four  consecuti\"e  vears 
— was  Wnn  in  Sweden  on  the  30th  of  June, 
1859,  and  in  1870  was  brought  to  the  L'nited 
States  by  his  parents,  Peter  and  Hannah 
Johnson,  also  natives  of  that  country,  who 
on  reaching  the  shores  of  America  came  at 
once  to  Andover  township,  this  county, 
where  the  father  rented  land.  For  some 
time  he  followed  farming,  and  then  retired 
from  active  labor,  moving  to  Andover, 
where  he  died  Decemljcr  jg.  1899,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five  years.  His  wife  survives 
him  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  and  now  lives 
with  a  daughter,  :\Irs.  Matilda  Anderson, 
of  Andover  township.  Both  held  member- 
ship in  the  Lutheran  Church  of  Andover, 
and  he  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party. 


They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  all 
of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity,  name- 
ly:  Christine,  wife  of  A.  V.  Hultgren,  of 
Andover  township;  Mary,  deceased  wife  of 
John  Reed :  Hannah,  deceased  wife  of  Eric 
Ericson,  of  \\'estern  township;  Emily,  wife 
of  Charles  Eckman,  of  Nebraska;  Frank  J., 
our  subject;  Maggie,  deceased  wife  of  Clar- 
ence Anderson,  of  Osco  tov.-nship;  Matilda. 
Viife  of  Bengt  Anderson,  of  Andover  town- 
ship; and  Otto,  a  turnkey  in  the  state  peni- 
tentiary at  Joliet. 

Frank  J.  Johnson  received  his  education 
ii;  the  public  schools  of  this  county  and  grew 
to  manhood  upon  the  home  farm.  He  start- 
ed out  in  life  for  himself  as  a  farm  hand  and 
was  thus  employed  until  1886,  when  he  had 
secured  enough  capital  to  purchase  some 
luid.  Nearly  all  this  time  he  worked  in  An- 
dover township. 

In  1885  j\lr.  Johnson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Ella  Johnson,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Sweden  ]\Iay  14,  1863.  Her 
parents,  John  and  Alarj^  (Peterson)  John- 
son, emigrated  with  their  family  to  the  new 
world  in  1869,  and  settled  in  this  county,, 
where  the  mother  died  March  i,  1889.  The 
father  now  makes  his  home  in  \\'estern 
township.  Besides  the  wife  of  our  subject 
they  had  six  other  children:  Ella  S. ;  Hul- 
da,  wife  of  Nels  Anderson,  of  Clover  town- 
ship; Charles;  John,  also  a  resident  of  Clo- 
ver township;  Frank;  Augusta,  wife  of 
Charles  Hultstreet;  and  Edwin.  Of  the 
seven  children  born  to  Frank  J.  Johnson  and 
wife,  two  died  in  infancy,  Cora  and  Nora, 
the  others  being  Fred  N.,  Herman  F.,  Gil- 
bert V.  S.,  Dora  M.  and  Martin  P. 

For  six  years  after  his  marriage  ^Ir. 
Johnson  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  on  rentetl  land  in  Andover 
and  Clover  townships,  but  in  1892  he  pur- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


79 


chased  Iris  present  farm  of  t.ne  luiiuhed  and 
forty  acres,  to  the  cultivation  and  furtlier 
improvement  of  which  lie  lias  since  de\dted 
his  energies.  In  connection  with  the  rci^u- 
lar  farm  products  he  raises  broom  corn,  and 
has  found  that  industry  quite  prohtahle.  He 
also  raises  cattle  and  hogs  for  market,  and 
in  all  his  business  undertakings  is  meeting 
with  gratifying  success.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  to  become  interested  in  the  Farmers' 
Telephone,  and  is  serving  as  one  of  its  di- 
rectors. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  what  is  styled  a  self-made 
man,  for  all  that  he  has  has  been  accjuired 
by  industry,  perseverance  and  good  manage- 
ment. The  Republican  party  finds  in  him  a 
stanch  supporter  of  its  principles.  In  iS(;6 
he  was  first  elected  assessor  of  Andover 
tov.-nship,  in  which  capacity  he  has  since 
served  the  people  faithfully  and  well.  He  has 
always  lx;en  officially  connected  with  school 
affairs,  and  is  now  a  director  in  district  Xo. 
5;  Andover  township.  Religiously  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Svvcd-sh  Lutheran  Church  of 
Andover. 


CHARLES  A.  CARLSOX. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  wlm  is  an 
energetic  antl  prDgressive  agriculturist  re- 
siding on  sectinn  26,  Andover  township, 
Henry  count}',  Illinois,  was  liorn  in  tiiat 
township  March  11,  1863.  His  faliier. 
Swan  .\.  Carlson,  was  one  of  the  men  who 
came  from  Sweden  to  foimd  a  home  for 
himself  and  better  his  financial  condition. 
He  was  born  in  183J  and  as  soon  as  old 
enough  to  care  for  himself  turned  his  at- 
tciuion  to  fanning,  following  that  pinsuit 
ill  his  nati\e  land  until  1858,  when  he  de- 
cide<I  to  come  to   .\merica.      He   had   pre- 


\  iouslv  married  Christina  Swanson.  and  to- 
gether they  crossed  the  .Atlantic,  the  voy- 
age consuming  eigiiteen  weeks.  They  first 
located  in  (ialesburg.  Illinois,  and  on  reach- 
ing that  city  found  that  their  means  were 
about  exhausted.  Coming  to  Antlover 
township,  which  was  the  first  settlement 
made  by  the  .Swedish  colony,  he  operated 
rented  land  for  a  short  time  and  then  pur- 
chased a  small  tract  of  forty  acres,  to  which 
he  added  from  time  to  time  as  he  succeed- 
ed in  business  until  he  had  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  He  now  resides  in  Andmer 
township.  His  first  wife  died  September  5. 
1872,  and  of  the  eight  children  l)orn  to 
them  three  are  now  deceased.  Those  li\'- 
ir.g  are  Axel,  a  resident  of  I'"\anston,  Illi- 
nois; ilary,  wile  of  Gust  Sanberg,  living 
en  section  22,  Andover  township;  Charles 
A.,  our  subject;  Frank,  who  lives  on  the 
home  farm;  and  Hulda,  wife  of  John  Sand- 
(|uist,  also  a  resident  of  .\ndo\er  township, 
Mr.  Carlson  again  married,  and  b\-  that 
union  had  two  children:  John  V...  a  farmer 
of  -Vndover  township;  and  Ellen,  at  home. 
The  father  has  always  \-oted  the  Republi- 
can ticket,  but  would  never  accept  or  hold 
jxjlitical  office.  He  has  ever  been  interested 
in  the  maintenance  of  good  schools  and 
efficiently  served  as  director  of  the  district 
school  for  several  years.  He  is  a  nieniber 
and  liberal  sui)porter  of  the  .Swedish  Lu- 
theran L'hurch  of  .\n(lo\er,  and  is  a  man 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  him. 

The  preliminary  education  of  Charles  A. 
Carlson  was  receiveil  in  the  common  schools 
of  Andover  township,  and  later  he  took  an 
elective  course  at  the  Xorthern  Illinois 
Xormal  School  of  Dixon.  He  grew  to 
manhood  on  the  home  f.arm,  becoming  a 
thorough  and  practical  farmer.     On  the  1  ith 


So 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Februar)',  1890,  lie  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Emma  Swanson,  wiio  was 
born  in  Cambridge  township,  this  county. 
November  22,  1869,  a  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Johanna  (Hanson)  Swanson,  na- 
tives of  Sweden,  where  they  were 
reared.  About  1864  her  father  came 
to'  the  United  States,  and  her  mother 
in  1868.  After  spending  ten  years  in 
Cambridge  township,  Henry  county.  Illi- 
nois, Mr.  Swanson  purchased  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Andover  town- 
ship, to  which  he  has  added  since  small 
tracts  of  land  as  his  financial  resources  per- 
mitted until  he  now  owns  a  valuable  place 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  section 
26.  When  it  came  into  his  possession  it  was 
only  partially  improved,  but  intending  to 
make  it  a  permanent  home  he  has  remodeled 
all  the  buildings  as  well  as  erecting  new 
ones.  For  many  years  he  followed  general 
farming  with  good  success,  but  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life,  enjoying  the  fruits  of 
former  labor.  Politically  he  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  religiously 
is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Swedish  Lu- 
theran Church  of  Andover  and  one  of  its 
libferal  supporters.  To  himself  and  wife  have 
been  born  four  children,  one  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  Of  those  living  Emma,  wife 
of  our  subject,  is  the  eldest;  Mamie  is  the 
wife  of  Gust  Bjorling,  of  W'eller  township; 
and  Alma  is  at  home  with  her  parents. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Carlson  rented 
a  farm  in  Clover  township,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  two  years,  and  met  with  suc- 
cess in  ever}'  undertaking.  In  1892  he 
moved  to  his  present  farm  on  section  26, 
Andover  township,  where  he  rents  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Swan- 
son, and  here  he  carries  on  general  farming 
and  stock  raising  with  marked  success.     In 


1895  '1^  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
section  27,  adjoining  the  farm  which  he 
rents,  and  now  operates  both  places.  Two 
children  have  come  to  brighten  the  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlson,  namely :  Esther 
M.  and  Millia  Evalma  E. 

In  his  political  views  our  subject  is  a 
FvCpublican,  though  at  local  elections  he  sup- 
ports the  men  whom  he  considers  best  quali- 
fied to  fill  the  offices,  regardless  of  party  lines. 
He  has  filled  the  office  of  school  director  for 
nine  years.  Mr.  Carlson  is  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church  of  Andover,  and 
since  his  residence  in  Andover  township  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  Sunday  school  work, 
the  meetings  being  held  in  the  school  house 
of  his  district.  He  has  been  superintendent 
of  the  American  Sunday  school,  and  is  dis- 
trict president  of  the  Union  Sunday  School 
Association  of  Andover  and  Lynn  town- 
ships, devoting  a  large  share  of  his  time 
in  promoting  the  work. 


GEORGE  W.  KLXCAID. 

^^'e  are  now  permitted  to  touch  briefly 
upon  the  life  history  of  one  who  has  re- 
tained a  personal  association  with  the  affairs 
of  Illinois  throughout  life  and  whose  ances- 
tral line  traces  back  to  the  colonial  epoch. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  honest  and  earnest 
endeavor  and  due  success  has  not  been  de- 
nied him. 

A  native  of  this  state,  ilr.  Kincaid  was 
born  in  St.  Clair  county,  on  the  23d  of  De- 
cember, 1 82 1,  and  is  of  Irish  descent  on  the 
l)aternal  side.  His  grandfather,  Andrew 
Kincaid,  who  fought  for  American  inde- 
pendence in  the  Revolutionary  war,  was  a 
native  of  Ireland  and  an    earlv    settler    of 


GEORGE   W.   KINCAID. 


ufmm 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


83 


Pennsylvania.  The  father,  James  Kincaid. 
was  born  in  that  state  about  1790,  and  at  an 
early  day  went  to  Kentucky,  being  among 
the  pioneers  of  the  Blue  Grass  state.  There 
he  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Miss  PolU' 
Sanders,  who  was  of  English  and  Scotch 
extraction,  and  whose  father  had  also  re- 
moved to  Kentucky  in  pioneer  days.  He 
was  from  Virginia.  James  Kincaid  followed 
farming  in  Kentucky  until  about  1820, 
when  he  removed  to  St.  Clair  county,  Illi- 
nois, locating  within  ten  miles  of  St.  Louis, 
where  our  subject  was  born  near  Belleville, 
In  1823  he  took  his  family  to  Greene  county, 
subsequently  spent  one  year  in  Rock  Island 
county,  and  then  located  in  Mercer  county, 
where  he  improved  a  farm  and  reared  his 
children.  He  continued  his  residence  there 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life,  but  died 
while  on  a  visit  to  our  subject  in  Henry 
county,  in  1855.  He  was  a  soldier  of  both 
the  war  of  181 2  and  the  Black  Hawk  war, 
and  was  ever  a  true  and  loyal  citizen. 

George  W.  Kincaid  is  one  of  a  family 
of  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  two  sons  and  two  daughters 
are  still  living.  Franklin  is  a  resident 
of  fiercer  county,  Illnois.  Xancy  married 
James  Glenn,  of  Henry  county,  and  both 
are  now  deceased.  Martha  is  the  widow  of 
George  Sinley  and  a  resident  of  Colona. 
Emma  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Davis,  of  Mis- 
souri. Mrs.  Sophia  Mendenhall  resided  in 
Hancock  county,  Illinois,  until  her  death. 

The  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
George  W.  Kincaid  passed  in  Mercer  coun- 
ty, but  he  received  only  a  limited  education. 
There  he  was  married  in  1844  to  Miss  Lou- 
isa Smith,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  came 
to  this  state  in  1837,  locating  in  fiercer 
county.  After  his  marriage  he  continued  to 
reside  in  that  county  for  a  time,  and  then  re- 


moved to  Rock  Island  county,  while  in  1850 
he  came  to  Henry  county,  and  purchased  an 
eighty-acre  tract  of  land  in  Colona  township, 
known  as  the  Dr.  Baker  farm.  Upon  this 
place  he  has  since  made  his  home,  and  to  it 
he  has  added  from  time  to  time  until  he  now 
owns  nearly  five  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
one  body.  Three  hunderd  acres  of  this 
amount  has  been  placed  under  the  plow,  and 
improved  with  two  sets  of  good  buildings. 
Although  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself 
m  limited  circumstances  Mr.  Kincaid  has 
steadily  worked  his  way  upward  by  diligence, 
lair  dealing  and  untiring  industry  until  he 
is  now  one  of  the  most  prosperous  citizens 
of  his  comunmity. 

Mr.  Kincard's  first  wife  died  in  the  fall 
of  1853.  By  that  union  he  had  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  \\'illiam,  a  resident  of  the 
state  of  ^^'ashington ;  Mrs.  Anna  Anderson, 
ot  Kewanee,  Illinois;  Luc)',  wife  of  ^laxwell 
Murray,  of  Nebraska;  Harriet,  wife  of 
Thomas  Davis,  of  Iowa ;  A.  Jackson,  who  is 
engaged  in  farming  on  the  home  place; 
Louisa,  wife  of  James  Montgomery,  of  Rock 
Island.  Mr.  Kincaid  was  again  married  in 
1S56,  his  second  union  being  with  Mary 
Walker,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  but 
reared  in  Missouri.  She  died  January  ly, 
1900,  leaving  one  son,  John  F.,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  engaged  in  farming  and  the  manu- 
facture of  cheese  at  Briar  Bluff,  Illinois. 

Since  the  formation  of  the  Republican 
party,  in  1856,  Mr.  Kincaid  has  been  an  ar- 
dent supporter  of  its  principles,  and  has 
\oted  for  all  its  presidential  candidates,  but 
lias  never  cared  for  official  honors.  His  in- 
terest in  educational  affairs  was  manifest 
by  fifteen  years  of  faithful  service  as  school 
director  in  his  district.  He  has  been  an  eye 
witness  of  almost  the  entire  growth  and  de- 
\elopment  of  this  state,  and  for  half  a  cent- 


84 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ury  he  has  heen  pmminently  identified  with 
the  upbuilding  of  Henry  county.  He  has 
since  seen  its  wild  lands  transformed  into 
beautiful  homes  and  farms,  its  hamlets  i^row 
into  villages  and  flourishing  towns,  and  all  of 
the  interests  andevidences  of  an  advanced 
ci\-ilization  introduced.  As  a  honored  pioneer 
and  worthy  citizen  of  his  adopted  county  he 
is  certainly  deser\ing  of  prominent  mention 
in  its  history,  and  his  sketch  will  be  read  with 
interest  by  a  host  of  warm  friends  thrDugh- 
out  the  countv. 


J.  A.  KIRKLAXD,  .M.  D. 

One  of  the  most  exacting  of  all  the  high- 
er lines  of  occupation  to  which  a  man  may 
lend  his  energies  is  that  of  the  physician.  A 
most  scrupulous  prcliminar}^  training  is  de- 
manded, a  nicety  of  judgment  but  little  un- 
derstood by  the  laity.  In  this  respect  Dr. 
Kirkl;ind  is  well  fitted  fur  the  ]M-ofession 
which  he  has  chosen  for  a  life  work,  and  his 
skill  and  ability  have  won  for  him  a  lucra- 
tive practice. 

This  well-known  iihysician  and  surgeon 
of  Cambridge  was  Ixjrn  near  Belvidere, 
Boone  county.  Illinois,  Julv  13,  1856.  but 
before  he  was  a  year  nld  was  lirought  to 
Henry  county  b_\-  his  parents,  William  and 
Hannah  (Farley)  Kirkland.  The  father 
was  born  in  Cbillicnthe,  Ohio,  in  Septemljer, 
1813,  and  was  a  son  nf  Alexander  Kirkland. 
who  at  an  early  <lay  was  extensively  engaged 
ill  trading  with  the  Indians  on  this  side  of  the 
Alleghanies,  bringing  his  goods  across  the 
mountains  on  hcjr.seback  and  in  i)ack  trains. 
He  an<l  two  brothers,  Robert  and  one  whose 
name  is  unknown,  were  nfillionaires,  and 
paid  man_\-  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  the 
government  in  way  of  iluties.  In  pioneer 
days  Alexander  Kirkland  went  to  Indiana, 


where  he  purcbaseil  a  large  amount  of  land, 
but  was  soon  taken  ill,  from  which  illness 
he  died.  His  widow  then  returned  east  on 
horseback,  carrying  her  infant  son,  the  Doc- 
tor's father,  a  distance  of  three  hundred 
usiles,  following-  blazed  trees  and  fording 
streams,  stopping  b}-  the  wayside  to  nurse 
her  sick  infant  and  give  him  what  medical 
attention  she  could.  She  ga\'e  an  attorne\' 
power  to  secure  the  lands  which  her  husliand 
had  purchased  and  sell  them  as  he  found  o])- 
portunity.  After  selling  the  jiroperty  he 
left  for  parts  unknown,  taking  the  proceeds 
w  itb  him.  The  brothers  of  Alexander  Kirk- 
l;n)d  were  lost  track  of,  and  nothing  was 
known  of  them  and  their  descendants  for 
many  years,  but  recently  some  were  found 
li\-ing  in  Baltimore. 

In  1856  \\'illiam  Kirkland,  the  Doctor's 
f:;tlier,  came  to  Illinois  from  ■Morgan  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  located  near  Woodhull,  Henry 
county,  where  he  improved  a  farm,  being  an 
a.griculturist  b}'  occu])ation.  Here  he  died 
Februar}-  22.  1896,  honored  and  res])ected 
bv  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  an  actixe 
and  prominent  member  of  the  Christian 
hurch  assisted  in  organizing  several  churches 
of  that  denomination  and  was  an  intimate 
friend  of  Alexander  Campbell,  who  was  oiien 
a  guest  at  his  home.  His  widow  is  a  de\'out 
Christian  and  a  very  active  member  of  the 
same  church.  She  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
\ania  and  is  now  se\'ent\'-six  vears  of  age. 
making  her  home  in  Woodhull.  Her  par- 
ents, James  and  Ellen  Farley,  were  nati\es 
of  Pennsylvania  and  England,  respectively, 
and  died  in  Boone  county,  Illinois,  the  former 
at  the  age  of  eight_\--four  }'ears,  the  later  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six.  In  early  life  William 
Kirkland  was  a  Democrat,  but  voted  for 
Lincoln  in  i860,  and  was  afterward  a  Ue- 
publican. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


])r.  Kirklaiid  is  the  fitth  in  order  of  liirtli 
in  a  family  of  seven  children,  the  otliers  being 
Mary,  wife  of  Martin  Hiller.  a  farmer  of 
Iowa :  James  Curtis,  a  farmer,  who  died  in 
1881.  at  the  age  of  tiiirty-five  years:  Ehza- 
betli  E.,  who  has  been  an  in\alid  for  years; 
W'ilHam  P..  who  is  extensi\ely  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  raising  on  the  old  iiome- 
stead  at  Woodhull,  Illinois:  Davis  O.  a 
farmer  of  Henry  county:  and  Lloyd  G.. 
attorney  for  the  Iowa  Insurance  Company 
and  a  man  of  considerable  ])rominence  in 
Chicago,  who  is  now  serving  as  president  of 
the  park  board. 

After  leaving  the  common  schools,  where 
his  primary  education  was  secured.  Dr.  Kirk- 
Ir.nd  attended  Abingdon  College  three  vears. 
and  for  one  year  was  a  stu<lent  at  the  Ken- 
tucky University.  He  successfully  engaged 
in  teaching  school  for  two  years,  then  read 
medicine  with  Dr.  Dunlap,  of  Cambridge, 
for  a  time,  and  later  attended  lectures  at  Jef- 
ferson Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  1885.  Immediately  af- 
ter his  graduation  he  opened  an  ofifice  in  Chi- 
cago, where  he  remained  two  years,  and  since 
1887  has  successfully  engaged  in  practice  at 
Cambridge.  Besides  his  large  general  i^rac- 
t!ce  he  is  medical  examiner  for  the  following 
insurance  companies  and  societies :  The  Man- 
hattan, Penn  Mutual,  Fidelity  Mutual,  Phoe- 
nix Mutual,  Home  Life  of  Philadelphia,  Pru- 
dential of  New  York,  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  Home  Forum,  Knights  of  the 
Globe,  and  Kansas  Life.  The  Doctor  is  also 
interested  in  business  enterprises,  and  has 
served  as  president  of  the  Electric  Light 
Company  of  Camlvridge  for  .several  years. 
He  has  an  extensive  and  well-selected  li- 
brary, equal  to,  if  not  excelling,  any  other  in 
Cambridge. 

On    the    17th  of    November,   1887,  Dr. 


Kirkhuul  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  Price,  daughter  of  Obed  and  Mary 
Price,  of  Galva,  who  are  now  residing  at 
Etherly,  Knox  county,  Illinois,  where  the 
father  is  engaged  in  business  as  a  merchant. 
As  a  contractor  and  builder  he  was  jiromi- 
n.ently  identified  with  the  interests  of  this- 
county  for  some  years,  and  erected  more 
large  buildings  than  any  other  man  within 
its  borders.  He  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
his  wife  of  Pennsylvania,  and  they  were  mar- 
rietl  in  Illinois  in  the  early  '60s.  Religious- 
ly thev  are  quite  prominent  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mrs.  Kirk- 
l;:nd  is  the  older  of  their  two  chilidren.  The 
other,  Archibald,  is  an  extensive  contractor 
and  builder  of  Anaconda,  Montana,  and  has 
erected  some  of  the  large  public  buildings  of 
that  state.  Mrs.  Kirkland  was  a  member 
of  the  first  class  ever  graduated  from  the 
high  school  of  Galva,  and  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage successfully  engaged  in  teaching  for 
twelve  years,  ton  of  these  being  in  the  city 
.schools  of  Galva.  She  won  an  enviable  rep- 
utation as  an  instructor,  and  by  extensive 
reading  has  become  perfectly  familiar  with 
the  best  literature.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  Doctor 
and  his  wife  have  three  children,  namely: 
Helen  Irer.c,  Archibald  F.  and  Therese. 

PoliticaUv  Dr.  Kirkbnd  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party,  but  takes  no  act- 
ive part  in  politics  aside  from  voting.  For 
six  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board  of  Cambridge.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  tlic  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  is  also  connected  with  the 
Galva  Medical  Society  and  the  ^lilitary 
Tract  Medical  Society.  He  has  taken  a 
post-graduate  course  at  the  Post-Graduate 
Medical  College  of  Chicago,  and  has  writ- 
ten many  able  articles  for  medical  journals. 


86 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The  Doctor  is  a  lover  of  nature,  and  pos- 
sesses an  excellent  knowledge  of  natural 
histor}'.  While  a  student  at  the  Kentucky 
LTni\ersity  he  was  shown  ho\v  to  mount  a 
bird,  and  since  then,  through  his  own  per- 
sistent effort,  has  become  an  expert  taxider- 
mist. He  has  given  instruction  to  many 
high  school  pupils  and  others  in  this  art, 
having  started  several  amateurs  along  that 
line  of  work.  He  has  the  best  and  largest 
ornithological  collection  in  Henr^-  county, 
liaving  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
varieties  of  birds  mounted,  and  their  poise 
is  excellent,  showing  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  their  life  and  habits. 


HEXRY  G.  GRIFFIX. 

There  is  particular  satisfacton  in  revert- 
ing to  the  life  history  of  the  honored  and 
venerable  gentleman  whose  name  initiates 
this  review,  since  his  mind  bears  impress  of 
the  historical  annals  of  Henrj-  county  from 
the  early  pioneer  days,  and  from  the  fact  that 
he  has  been  a  loyal  son  of  the  Republic.  For 
many  years  he  was  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  the  county,  but  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  Cambridge. 

Mr.  Griffin  was  born  in  Stockbridge, 
Berkshire  county,  ^Massachusetts,  June  19, 
1819,  and  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  \\'ill- 
iam  Griffin,  the  progenitor  of  the  family  in 
America,  who  was  a  native  of  \\'ales  and 
an  early  settler  in  Connecticut.  His  son, 
Samuel  Griffin,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, moved  from  Connecticut  to  ilassachu- 
setts  prior  to  his  marriage  with  Xahusta 
CaldAvell,  who  was  born  of  New  England 
parentage  and  was  of  ^^"elsh  and  English 
extraction.     They  made  their  home  in  ilas- 


sachusetts,  and  lived  to  an  advanced  age. 
John  Griffin,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
in  that  state,  and  on  leaving  home  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  went  to  New  York.  Being  draft- 
ed, he  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  when  peace  was  once  more  restored  he 
resumed  work  at  his  trade  of  carpenter  and 
joiner  in  New  York.  While  there  he  wedded 
;Miss  ^lary  Hoag,  a  native  of  Rensselaer 
county,  that  state,  but  owing  to  ill  health 
lie  finally  returned  to  Massachusetts.  In 
1841  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  near 
\'iola,  Mercer  county,  where  he  secured  a 
quarter-section  of  land  on  a  warrant  due  for 
his  services  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  to  it  he 
subsequently  added  by  purchase.  A  part  of 
this  farm  is  still  in  possession  of  the  family. 
The  father  died  in  !Mercer  county  in  June, 
1865,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  and  the 
mother,  who  was  a  faithful  member  of  the 
i\Iethodist  Episcopal  Church,  died  in  Janu- 
ary, 1890,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two 
vears  and  six  months.  Their  children  were 
^Villiam,  who  has  been  dead  many  years; 
Henry  G.,  our  subject;  James  M.,  deceased; 
Sarah,  who  died  in  Massachusetts,  in  1839; 
Huldah,  widow  of  Anson  Calkins,  and  a  resi- 
drent  of  this  county ;  Elizabeth,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years;  George,  who  lias 
been  dead  man)'  years;  and  Septimus,  who 
lives  near  Viola,  Illinois. 

The  boyhood  and  }-outh  of  Henry  G. 
Griffin  were  spent  on  a  farm  in  his  native, 
state,  and  he  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  As  early  as 
1837  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  one 
hundred  and  sixtj-  acres  of  land  in  what 
is  now  Green  township,  fiercer  county.  To 
the  improvement  and  culti\ation  of  that 
place  he  devoted  his  energies  .  until  1846, 
when  he  moved  to  Cambridge  township, 
Henry  county.     Five  years  later  he  sold  the 


H.   G.   GRIFFIN. 


LIBRARY 

university  of  illinois 
urba?;a 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


89 


farm  wliicli  he  first  purchased  and  bought 
another  in  the  same  township,  making  it  his 
home  until  his  removal  to  the  city  of  Cam- 
bridge in  March,  1900.  It  is  a  well  improved 
place  of.  one  hundred  and  seventy-four  acres 
on  section  2,  and  has  lieen  rented  to  the  same 
parties  for  twenty  years. 

In  Mercer  count}-,  ]Mr.  Grifiin  became 
acquainted  with  ard,  August  4,  1840,  mar- 
ried, ]\Iiss  Isabella  \V.  jMcGaughey,  who  was 
born  near  New  Bedford,  Pennsylvania,  April 
29,  1822.  Her  parents,  Alexander  and  Re- 
becca (Tarrar.ce)  AIcGaughey,  were  natives 
of  Adams  county,  that  state,  but  shortly  after 
their  marriage  moved  to  Mercer  county; 
Pennsylvania,  locating  near  New  Bedford. 
By  occupation  her  father  was  a  wagonmaker 
and  farmer.  Plaving  lost  her  mother  when 
in  her  tenth  year,  Mrs.  Griffin  went  to  live 
with  her  sister,  ^Mrs.  zVgnes  Stewart,  near 
Coitsville,  Ohio,  and  in  1839  came  Avith  her 
to  Viola,  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  She  died 
September  6,  1893,  ^'-"J  t'le  funeral  services, 
which  were  held  at  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  conducted  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Brand, 
were  very  impressive  and  comforting,  the 
text  being  "Let  not  your  hearts  be  troubled." 
In  early  life  she  was  a  member  of  the  Unit- 
ed Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  instructed 
well  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which  she  taught 
h.er  children  both  by  precept  and  example. 
On  the  organization  of  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Cambridge,  she  and  her  husband 
were  two  of  the  original  members,  and  Mr. 
Griffin  is  now  the  only  survivor.  She  al- 
ways took  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
the  work  of  the  church,  and,  save  a  few  times 
during  the  Civil  war,  always  prepared  the 
bread  for  communion.  As  a  friend  she  was 
ever  true  and  loyal,  and  :io  one  ever  left  her 
home  who  did  not  have  good  reason  to  be 
grateful  for  her  hospitality.     In  her  efforts 


to  make  her  family  comfortable,  she,  like  a 
true  mother,  often  went  beyond  her  strength. 
As  a  wife  ■"many  daughters  have  done  vir- 
tiously,  but  thou  cxcc'.lest  them  all,"  is  the 
feeling  of  the  husband,  whose  home  was  left 
desolate  by  her  death.  In  the  great  struggle 
between  the  north  and  the  south,  with  forti- 
tude an  dforesight,  sustained  the  cares  of  the 
family  and  the  farm  while  her  husband  and 
son  were  at  the  front,  and  she  gave  liberally 
to  both  the  sanitary  and  Christian  commis- 
sions. On  the  4th  of  August,  1890,  at  their 
golden  wedding,  the  community  showed  their 
appreciation  of  her  worth  by  many  substan- 
tial offerings. 

The  children  born  to  ^Ir.  and  ]\Irs.  Grif- 
fin were  as  follows :  ( i )  John  A.  has  been  a 
minister  in  the  Congregational  Church  for 
many  years,  and  now  resides  at  Sherrard, 
Illinois.  At  President  Lincoln's  first  call  for 
troops  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Seven- 
teenth Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was 
promoted  from  the  rank  of  sergeant  to  sec- 
ond lieutenant.  He  remained  in  the  service 
until  March,  1866,  and  was  wounded  in  the 
thigh  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  He  first  wed- 
ded ilary  Payne,  who  died  in  Danville,  Illi- 
nois, leaving  four  children,  Chester,  Alice, 
Grace  and  Albert.  For  his  second  wife  he 
married  Margaret  Haddick,  and  to  them 
were  born  four  children:  Isabel,  who  died 
when  about  three  years  and  a  half  old;  Rob- 
ert T.,  John  and  Charlotte.  (2)  French  B., 
bur  subject's  second  child,  was  born  ^larch 
29,  1845,  ''"^  died  at  the  age  of  six  months. 
(3)  James  M.  died  in  infancy.  (4)  The 
fourth  child  died  in  infancy  unnamed.  (5) 
William  A.,  born  September  2^,  1848,  mar- 
ried Lovica  Hibbard  and  died  March  17, 
1882,  leaving  two  children,  Evelyn  and 
Wilhelmina.  (6)  Mar}^  A.  is  the  wife  of  J. 
M.  MeiTill,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  has 


9° 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


tliree  children,  Frank,  Earl  and  Royce.  (7) 
Rebecca  A.  is  the  wife  of  Rufus  Anderson, 
•of  Des  Moines,  by  whom  she  has  one  child, 
Julia  A.,  and  they  also  have  an  adopted 
daughter,  Fannie  Anderson.  (8)  Gilljert 
A.,  Ixiru  July  25,    1857,  .died  January   18, 

1861.  (9)  Julia  A.  is  the  wife  of  F.  H. 
Streed,  of  L'lah,  Illinois,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Henry  G.  and  Eugene  F.  (10) 
Sarah  A.  is  the  wife  of  L.  K.  Filmore,  of 

-iMarshalltown,  Iowa,  and  they  had  seven 
children,  Ralph  \V.,Ross  C.,Paul  H.,  Agnes, 
Dora,  Marion  and  Charles  K.,  deceased. 
i\Ir.  Griffin  has  now  living  h\-e  children, 
twenty-two  grandchildren,  and  hve  great- 
grandchildren. 

For  his  second  wife  ^Ir.  Griffin  married 
^Irs.  Susan  C.  Blanchard,  of  Davenport, 
Iowa,  JNIarch  2,  1898.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
\\'illiam  and  Matilda  Kennedy,  prominent 
residents  of  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Griffin  entered  the  Union  service 
during  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  August  11, 

1862,  for  three  years,  in  Company  D,  One 
Hundred  and  Twelfth  Illinois  Volunter  In- 
fantry, under  the  command  of  Colonel  T.  J. 
Henderson.  He  took  part  in  all  the  engage- 
ments in  which  his  regiment  participated  un- 
til the  battle  of  Kno.xville,  where  he  was  cap- 
tured by  the  rebels.  By  a  roundabout  \\-ay 
he  was  taken  to  Libby  prison,  where  he  re- 
mained from  December  i,  1863,  to  May  7, 
1864,  and  was  then  transferred  to  the  stock- 
ade at  JNIacon,  Georgia.  In  August  of  the 
same  year  he  was  taken  with  others  to 
Charleston,  where  they  were  placed  under 
the  fire  from  the  Union  guns  on  ]\Iorris  Isl- 
and and  were  kept  there  until  October  6, 
when  they  were  sent  to  Columbia,  South 
Carolina,  where  they  were  kept  in  an  open 
field  until  December  12.  On  that  date  the 
prisoners  were  mo\-ed  to  the  state  insane  asv- 


lum.  and  remained  there  until  the  i8th  of 
February,  1865,  when  sent  to  the  parole 
c;mip  near  Wilmington.  Here  they  were  de- 
livered to  the  Union  authorities,  but  Mr. 
Griffin  was  not  exchanged  until  April  26, 
1865,  when  he  was  allowed  to  join  his  regi- 
ment at  Greensboro,  North  Carolina.  The 
war  ha\ing  ended,  he  was  finally  discharged 
July  7,  1865,  after  almost  three  years  of 
faithful  service  on  southern  battle  fields  and 
in  tiie  loathsome  prisons  of  the  south,  where 
lit  endured  all  the  hardships  and  privations 
of  prison  life. 

Politically  ^Ir.  Griffin  was  originally  a 
Whig,  but  has  been  an  ardent  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party  since  its  organization, 
and  has  served  as  a  delegate  to  many  county 
and  state  conventions  of  his  party.  He  has 
been  in  office  most  of  his  life,  being  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  when  very  young.  He 
\\as  county  school  commissioner  two  years, 
and  was  on  the  building  committee  for  the 
erection  of  different  school-houses,  including 
the  first  in  the  village  of  Cambridge.  He 
was  coroner  of  the  countv  for  a  time  and  was 
supervisor  of  Andover  township  for  nearly 
twenty  years.  He  is  a  very  prominent  and 
mtluential  member  of  the  Congregational 
C'hurch  of  Cambridge,  and  has  served  as 
deacon  since  its  organization.  His  upright 
course  in  life  commands  the  respect  and 
commendation  of  ex'eryone,  and  his  labors  as 
u  founder  of  the  county  justly  entitle  him  to 
a  prominent  place  in  its  annals. 


PHILIP  B.   KELLER. 

Among  the  recognized  leaders  of  the 
Republican  part)^  in  Henry  county  is  Pliili]) 
B.  Keeler,  the  well-known  and  efficient  cir- 
cuit clerk,  \vhose  large  acquaintance  and  en- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


91 


bounded  popularity  give  him  an  influential 
following,  while  his  shrewd  judgment  of  men 
and  aft'airs  makes  his  counsel  of  value  in  all 
important  movements.  In  business  circles 
he  also  takes  a  foremost  rank,  and  his  suc- 
cess is  all  the  more  notable  from  the  fact  that 
it  has  been  .secured  by  his  own  judicious 
management. 

;Mr.  Keeler  was  born  in  Clarendon,  Or- 
leans county,  New  York,  August  27,  1843, 
the  youngest  child  of  Ira  B.  and  Clarissa  H. 
(Foley)  Keeler,  also  natives  of  the  Empire 
Slate,  and  of  English  and  Irish  descent,  re- 
spectively.    In  early  life  the  father  followed 
the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade,  and  later 
engaged    in    bridge    building,    constructing 
many  of  the  bridges  over  the  Erie  canal.    lie 
was  widely  and  favorably  known,  and  was  a 
man  of  considerable  prominence  in  his  town, 
being  called  upon  to  serve  as  supervisor  and 
in  many  other  positions  of  public  trust.    Fra- 
ternally he  was  quite  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  Society.     He  died  in  Jan- 
uary,   1852,  at   about  the   age   of   fifty-two 
3-ears,  wiiile  his  wife,  who  was  a  consistent 
and  faithful  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
for  many  years,  was  born  in  1797  and  died 
in  1879.  To  them  were  born  eleven  children, 
of  whom  eight  reached  years   of   maturity, 
namely :  Harriet  B.  is  the  widow  of  Clark 
Glidden,  with  whom  she   came   to   De  Kalb 
county,  Illinois,  in  1854,  but  is  now  living 
with  her  son  in  Aberdeen,  Washington ;  Ru- 
fus  died  in  California  in  1898;  Delia  died  in 
1852;    Josiah    was     accidentally     killed    in 
Scottsville,  Kansas;  Elizal^eth  \'.  is  the  wife 
of  J.  W.  Eddy,  a  jeweler  of  Kewanee,  and  is 
now,  in  1900,  visiting  the  Paris  exposition; 
Mary  E.  is  the  widow  of  Andrew  \Voo<l  and 
a  resident  of  Cambridge ;  Viola  M.  married 
L.  P.  Wilson  and  died  in  1889;  and  Philip 
B.  completes  the  family. 


The  early  education  of  our  subject  was 
acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
state,  but  later  he  attended  the  Union  high 
school  at  Kewanee,  Illinois,  and  also  took  a 
si>ecial  cour.se  in  bookkeeping.     By  the  death 
of  his  father  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
st )urces  at  the  tender  age  of  seven  years,  and 
has  since  made  his  own  way  in  the  world  un- 
aided.    In  1859  he  came  with  his  mother  to 
Kewanee,  which  he  still  considers  his  home, 
though  in  the  discharge  of  his  present  official 
duties  he  is  comi)elled  to  spend  most  of  his 
time  at  the  county  seat.     On  starting  out  in 
life  for  himself  he  learned  the  jeweler's  trade 
in  Kewanee.  Subsecjuently  he  found  employ- 
ment in  a  machine  shop,  l)ut  in  less  than  a 
\ear  he  had  the  niisforlune  to  lose  his  right 
hand  and  a  portion  of  his  forearm,  though 
he  did  not  resign  his  position  for  three  years, 
successfully  manipulating  the  machine  with 
one  hand  during  that  time.     Following  this 
he  again  worked  at  the  jeweler's  trade  until 
1866,  when  he  formed    a    partnership  with 
&  Keeler  he  was  engaged  as  a  dealer  in  jew- 
elry, sewing  machines  and  musical  instru- 
ments, being  successfully  engaged  in  that  line 
of  trade  for  thirty  years,  he  taking  charge  of 
the  sewing  machines  and  musical  instrument 
department.     P'or  a  time  he  was  also  inter- 
ested in  the  lumber  business  in  southern  Ar- 
kansas, but  his  property  there  was  destroyed 
by  fire.     The  Building  and  Loan  Association 
of  Kewanee  owes  much  of  its  success  to  Mr. 
Keeler,  who  is  a  man  of  keen  discrimination, 
scnnid  judgment  and  indefatigable  enterprise. 
.\s  one  of  the  organizers  and  directors  and 
president    he    has  labored  untiringly  for  its 
success,  and  has  succeeded,  with  others,  in 
placing  the  concern  on  a  good  financial  basis. 
Through  this  organization  many  poor  people 
have  been  able   to    secure  homes  for   them- 
sehes  A\hich  thev  ne\er  c(juld  have  done  in 


92 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


any  other  way,  and  it  has  thus  advanced  tlie 
interests  of  the  town. 

On  the  22nd  of  December,  i8r)C),  Mr. 
Keeler  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  F.  Whittemore,  a  daughter  of  Caleb 
Whittemore,  who  to-day  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  highly  esteemed  business  men  of 
Peoria,  where  their  marriage  was  cele- 
.  brated.  By  this  union  were  born  two  chil- 
dren: Rufus  W.,  an  expert  electrician;  and 
Philip  B.,  Jr.,  a  pupil  in  the  public  schools. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  ilr.  Keeler  has  '-ecn 
an  ardent  Republican,  and  has  worked  un- 
tiringly for  the  success  of  his  party.  He 
has  been  honored  with  several  important  offi- 
cial positions,  having  served  as  a  member  of 
the  village  board  of  Kewanee  and  was  super- 
visor of  Kewanee  tOAvnship  for  many  years. 
While  a  member  of  the.  vill.age  board  the  gas 
plant  was  put  in  and  preliminary  steps  were 
taken  to  secure  water  works.  He  was  char- 
man  of  the  board  of  supervisors  from  the 
time  he  Avas  first  elected  until  his  election  as 
circuit  clerk,  which  office  he  now  so  credita- 
bly fills,  discharging  its  duties  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  all  the  people.  He  was  re- 
elected to  the  latter  office  in  1900  by  a  largely 
increased  majority,  antl  had  no  opposiiion 
in  the  convention.  For  some  )'-ears  he  v.  as  a 
member  of  the  library  board  of  Keuaace,  its 
library  beiiig  one  of  the  finest  in  the  state, 
and  its  rooms  kept  open  every  day  in  the  year. 
In  the  building  up  of  this  library  much  credit 
is  due  to  him. 

As  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  he  has  done  much  for  the  or- 
der, and  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  mem- 
bers in  the  state.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
building  committee  when  the  hall  of  the  Ke- 
wanee lodge  was  built.  He  is  past  grand 
of  the  subordinate  lodge,  and  has  been  a  rep- 


resentati\e  to  the  grand  lodge  of  the  state 
for  the  past  twenty-five  years.  A  member 
also  of  the  encampment  he  is  now  past  chief 
patriarch,  and  he  has  represented  his  camp 
in  the  grand  encampment  of  the  state  for 
twenty-five  vears.  He  is  now  past  grand 
marshal  of  the  grand  encampment.  L'ntil 
his  election  to  the  office  of  circuit  clerk, 
he  was  a  trustee  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  prop- 
erty in  Kewanee  from  1870.  Philip  B. 
Keeler  is  emphatically  a  man  of  enterprise, 
positive  character,  indomitable  energy  and 
liberal  views,  and  is  thoroughly  identified 
in  every  respect  with  the  growth  and  pros- 
perity of  his  adopted  city  and  county. 


WILLIAM  RINGLE. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  stock- 
dealers  and  agriculturists  of  Henry  county 
is  William  Ringle,  the  present  efficient  super- 
visor of  Osco  township.  He  was  born  in  Ar 
legheny  county,  near  Pittsburg,  Pennsyha- 
nia,  on  the  6th  of  March,  1847,  ^"^  was  ten 
years  of  age  when  brought  to  this  county  by 
his  parents,  Josqjh  and  Mary  (W'hitsel) 
Ringle,  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  state, 
where  their  marriage  was  celebrated.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolutionary  war  under  the  command  of 
General  Washington,  and  was  trainmaster  at 
Valley  Forge.  He  died  when  comparatively 
a  young  man,  leaving  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  lived  to  an  advanced  age. 

Joseph  Ringle,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  181 1,  and  died  in  1893.  He  was 
born  and  reared  in  western  Pennsylvania, 
his  early  home  being  in  Indiana  county. 
During  his  early  manhood  he  lived  for  a  time 
near  Pittsburg,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
dairy  business,  but  later  returned  to  Indiana 


LiBR/JRY 

UNIVERSIJy  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBAU 


WILLIAM   RINGLE. 


JOSEPH   RINGLE. 


UNIVERSlir  OF  ILLINOIS 
URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


97 


county.  He  was  one  of  tlie  fir.st  to  settle  on 
the  prairies  in  Osco  township,  Henry  coun- 
ty, vvliere  he  purcliased  and  improved  a  farm 
of  one  hunch^ed  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  and 
later  added  eighty  acres  more,  which  he  re- 
tained until  a  settlement  .was  made  among 
the  children  by  their  starting  out  in  life  for 
themselves.  He  was  a  supporter  and  active 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Munson,  and  was  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics, 
though  he  never  took  a  very  active  part  in 
political  affairs.  He  was  a  man  of  sound 
financial  stai>ding,  and,  starting  from  noth- 
ing, he  accumulated  quite  a  fortune.  His  wife 
was  of  Dutch  ancestry,  her  forefathers  hav- 
ing come  from  Plolland  at  an  early  day  and 
settled  in  Pennsylvania.  They  were  quite 
wealthy  and  invested  their  money  in  coal 
mining,  which  is  still  carried  on  extensively 
by  their  descendants  in  that  state.  Mrs. 
Ringle  died  at  the  home  of  a  daughter  in 
Cambridge,  in  1898.  She  was  the  mother  of 
nine  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
the  others  being  James,  a  retired  farmer  of 
IMunson  township,  who  now  resides  in  Gene- 
seo;  Jiilui,  a  retired  resident  of  Cambridge; 
William,  our  subject;  David  \\.,  a  farmer  of 
Geneseo  township;  Catherine,  wife  of  Harri- 
'  son  jMoore,  a  retired  farmer  of  Newton, 
Iowa ;  Louisa,  widow  of  A.  J.  Combs  and  a 
resident  of  Cambridge ;  and  Mary,  wife  of 
John  Sherrard,  of  Cajnbridge  township. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  \\'il]iam 
Ringle  attended  the  district  schools  near  his 
!       home  and  the  Orion  Academy,  and  he  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  his  mar- 
\       riage.  It  was  on  the  27th  of  October,  1873, 
I       that  he  wedded  Miss  Ellen  A.  Welton,  who 
!       was  born  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  Febru- 
ary 22,  1852,  a  daughter  of  Lester  C.  and 
Ora  Welton,  both  natives   of    Connecticut. 
During  her  infancy  the  family  moved  from 


Peoria  to  Henry  county  and  located  in  Osco 
township,  at  which  time  the  greater  part  of 
this  locality  was  still  in  its  primitive  condi- 
tion. Mr.  Welton  purchased  and  improved 
a  large  farm  and  was  quite  e.xtensively  en- 
gaged in  stock  raising.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  promoters  and  a  large  stockholder  of  the 
Osco  &  Western  Farmer's  Mutual  Insurance 
Company,  which  was  founded  and  incorpor- 
ated in  i'&7^,  and  embraced  Osco  and  West- 
ern townships,  Henry  county,  and  Rural 
township.  Rock  Island  county.  It  has  proved 
a  great  benefit  to  the  resident  farmers  of  this 
community.  For  a  time  ^Ir.  Welton  lived 
in  Cambridge,  and  then  moved  to  Hutchin- 
son, Reno  county,  Kansas,  locating  on  a 
large  stock  farm,  where  his  death  occurred. 
He  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  Osco 
township,  and  was  looked  up  to  by  all  as  a 
guide,  being  a  man  of  intelligence  and  in- 
tegrity. His  children  were  James,  a  retired 
farmer  of  Geneseo ;  Merritt,  a  farmer  of  At- 
lantic, Iowa:  ]\Iargaret,  wife  of  Chester 
O'Neale,  of  Hudson,  Kansas;  and  Ellen  A., 
wife  of  our  subject.  Mrs.  Ringle  received  a 
good  education,  pursuing  a  classical  course. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Ringle  located 
upon  his  present  farm,  having  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  partially  im- 
proved land  on  section  28,  Osco  township, 
on  which  he  at  once  erected  necessary  and 
substantial  buildings,  including  commodious 
barns,  sheds  and  cribs,  with  the  intention  of 
embarking  in  the  stock  business.  This  he  has 
always  carried  on  in  connection  with  farm- 
ing, and  also  operates  threshers  and  shellers, 
having  two  steam  engines  for  that  purpose. 
The  Ringle  family  have  always  been  en- 
gaged in  the  latter  business,  owning  from 
one  to  five  outfits  among  them  and  operat- 
ing the  same  very  successfully  in  threshing 
grain,  shelling  corn  and  hulling  clover,  as 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


well  as  grinding  feed.  For  the  last  named 
purpose  our  subject  keeps  an  engine  on  his 
farm  all  the  time,  preparing  food  for  the 
large  herd  of  cattle  which  he  fattens  each 
j-ear.  He  has  added  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  to  his  first  purchase  and  im- 
proved the  same  to  conform  to  his  growing 
stock  business,  being  one  of  the  largest 
stock  men  of  Osco  township.  He  started  on 
a  small  scale,  but  has  gradually  increased 
the  volume  of  liis  business  until  he  now  han- 
dles many  hundred  head  of  stock  annually 
with  profit.  He  first  raised  short  hoTn  cat- 
tle for  market,  and  now  gives  his  attention 
entirely  to  the  feeding  of  stock  for  market 
purposes,  his  average  shipments  being  from 
six  to  eight  carloads  of  cattle  and  hogs  an- 
nually. He  is  also  interested  in  a  fine  grade 
of  horses,  and  has  sold  some  of  the  finest 
teams  of  Englishshires  ever  put  on  the  mar- 
ket from  Osco  township,  having  the  hon- 
or of  receiving  the  highest  price  ever  paid 
for  a  gelding  in  that  place.  He  buys  stock 
wherever  he  can  to  an  advantage,  princi- 
pally in  the  west,  and  brings  them  home  to 
fatten  for  market.  ^Ir.  Ringle  has  met  with 
most  excellent  success  in  this  business,  and 
takes  a  just  pride  in  his  stock  and  the  facili- 
ties he  has  for  handling  it.  Always  honora- 
ble and  upright  in  all  his  dealings,  he  has 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  those  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact,  and  his  suc- 
cess is  well  merited.  For  the  past  eighteen 
years  he  has  operated  a  steam  threshing  ma- 
chine, and  has  ownedand  operated  a  thresher 
since  1867.  He  is  one  of  the  stockholders 
and  directors  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Cambridge;  is  also  a  director  and  treasurer 
of  the  Osco  &  Western  Farmers"  ilutual 
Insurance  Company,  which  does  the  leading 
business  of  this  section,  and  he  has  served 
the  people  well  in  financial  concerns. 


A  Republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Ringle  is 
an  active  worker  for  his  party  and  its  inter- 
ests, and  has  been  selected  to  fill  various 
offices  in  his  township.  In  1899  he  was 
elected  supervisor,  and  is  now  serving  in  that 
capacity  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  Since  resid- 
ing upon  his  present  farm  he  has  served  con- 
tinuously as  township  school  trustee.  In  re- 
ligious belief  he  is  a  Presbjterian.  while 
his  wife  holds  membership  in  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  Osco,  and  he  is  a  liberal  supporter 
of  all  church  work.  He  is  widely  and  fav- 
orably known  throughout  the  county  as  a 
most  progressive  and  enterprising  man,  and 
is  held  in  high  regard  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances. 


SA^IUEL  H.  CALLA\\"AY. 

Samuel  H.  Callaway  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Western 
township,  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-six acres  being  pleasantlv  located  on  sec- 
tion ;^2  and  5  in  Lynn  township,  within  two 
and  a  half  miles  of  Orion.  He  was  born  in 
Warwickshire,  England,  Jul}'  27,  1839,  and 
ill  his  boyhood  passed  the  birthplace  of  the 
immortal  Shakespeare  on  his  wa\-  to  and 
from  school.  In  1849  he  came  to  the  new 
world  with  his  parents,  Samuel  and  Esther 
Callaway,  who  first  located  at  Utica,  New 
York,  but  later  removed  to  Detroit,  Michi- 
gan, where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  In  England  the  father  had  followed 
the  stock  business. 

In  1 85 1  our  subject  and  his  older  brother, 
Jonathan,  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
where  the  former  worked  at  anything  by 
which  he  could  earn  an  honest  dollar.     For 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


99 


some  time  he  was  employed  by  the  day  or 
month  at  clearing  land  and  at  farming,  and 
later,  when  he  had  saved  enough  money,  lie 
purchased  teams  and  commenced  breaking 
jjrairie,  following  that  occupation  for  sev- 
eral years,  during  which  time  he  broke  hun- 
dreds of  acres  of  land.  However,  after  re- 
maining here  about  three  years,  on  account 
of  poor  health,  he  returned  to  Detroit,  and 
three  years  later  came  back  tn  Western 
township.  Later  he  rented  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  his  own  account.  When 
the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  tried  to  enlist 
at  Detroit,  Michigan,  but.  being  lame  and 
in  poor  health,  was  rejected. 

On  the  2 1  St  of  November,  1861,  in 
Henry  county,  Mr.  Callaway  married  Miss 
Julia  Belle  Harrison,  also  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
(Williams)  Harrison.  Her  father  spent  his 
entire  life  in  that  country.  The  mother  came 
to  the  United  States  with  her  daughter  in 
May,  1850,  and  after  the  latter's  marriage 
made  her  home  with  our  subject  and  his 
v.ife  until  her  death.  For  several  years 
prior  to  her  emigration  from  England,  Mrs. 
Callaway  made  her  home  with  her  uncle, 
Frank  Pears,  the  noted  soap  manufacturer 
of  London.  Before  coming  to  this  cmintv 
she  and  her  mother  lived  in  Detroit,  Michi- 
gan. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Callaway  are  the  ])ar- 
ents  of  seven  children,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters,  namely:  Herbert  L.,  who  is  still 
under  the  parental  roof;  John  H.,  who  has 
engaged  in  teaching  school,  but  is  now  a 
student  at  Kno.x  College,  Galesburg;  Ezra 
S.,  also  a  school  teacher  of  Henry  county: 
Ssther  K.,  wife  of  Albert  Sayre,  of  Western 
township ;  Pauline  J.,  wife  of  S.  H.  Callo- 
way, a  farmer  of  Grundy  county,  Iowa; 
Bertha  A.,  wife  of  Addison  Chase,  a  farmer 
of  Western  township,  this  county ;  and  .Mice 


M.,  a  successful  school  teacher  of  this  coun- 
ty, four  of  the  family  having  followed  that 
profession. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Callaway  began  married 
life  on  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Lynn  town- 
ship, which  he  purchased  in  186 1,  and  to 
which  he  later  added  another  forty-acre 
tract,  making  it  his  home  for  four  years. 
On  selling  that  place  he  bought  eighty  acres 
on  section  32,  Western  township,  where  he 
has  now  made  his  home  since  1865.  When 
he  located  thereon  about  fifty  acres  had  been 
jjroken,  a  small  house  built  and  an  orchard 
and  shade  trees  set  out.  Subsequently  Mr. 
Callaway  purchased  an  adjoining  tract  of 
forty-six  acres  in  Lynn  township,  and  has 
s-nce  devoted  his  energies  to  the  further  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  his  land,  con- 
\erting  it  into  one  of  the  most  desirable 
farms  of  its  size  in  that  locality.  He  has 
made  a  specialty  of  the  raising  of  Poland 
China  hogs  and  Shropshire  sheep,  and  this 
branch  of  his  business  has  proved  quite 
profitable.  He  commenced  life  in  Illinois 
w  ilhout  a  dollar,  and  by  his  own  labor,  en- 
terprise and  perseverance  has  accumulated 
a  comfortable  competence,  and  is  to-day  the 
t^wner  of  a  good  home  and  farm. 

Politically  Mr.  Callaway  has  been  a  life- 
long Republican,  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860. 
He  has  been  a  delegate  to  numerous  con- 
ventions of  his  party;  has  served  as  high- 
way coinmissioner  three  years ;  and  as  school 
director  twelve  years  and  president  of  the 
board.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Sher- 
man Lodge,  No.  535,  F.  &  .\.  M.,  of  Orion. 
He  is  a  loyal  citizen  of  his  adopted  country, 
and  in  all  the  relations  of  life  has  been  found 
true  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him.  For 
almost  half  a  century  he  has  made  his  home 
in  Henry  county,  and  he  is  lx)th  widely  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


favorably  known.  He  was  one  of  the  pro- 
moters of  the  Orion-Sherrard  Mutual  Tele- 
phone Compan)-,  in  wliich  he  is  a  director. 
He  is  also  president  of  the  Richland  Grove 
Vigilance  Committee,  that  has  been  in  ex- 
istence fort)-  years. 


ROBERT  G.  NEVILLE. 

Robert  G.  Neville,  who  is  successfully 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  section 
29,  Osco  township,  first  came  to  Henry 
county  in  December,  1879.  A  native  of  Illi- 
nois, he  was  born  in  Kickapoo  township, 
Peoria  count}-,  June  22,  1862,  and  is  a  son 
of  George  and  Catherine  (jMoorehead) 
Neville,  both  natives  of  Ireland.  They  came 
to  this  country  when  young  and  were  mar- 
ried in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  where 
they  continued  to  make  their  home  for  three 
years  after  their  marriage,  and  then  re- 
moved to  this  state,  locating  in  Jubilee  town- 
ship, Peoria  count}-.  The  father  was  active- 
ly engaged  in  farming  in  that  county  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  March  4,  1872. 
The  wife  and  mother  came  to  Osco  in  1893, 
and  died  at  the  home  of  her  daughter  in 
Cambridge  township,  December  23,  1899. 
In  the  family  were  eight  children,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  while  five  sons  and 
two  daughters  are  suU  living,  namely :  Will- 
iam, fireman  in  the  Monarch  distillery  of 
Peoria;  Robert  G.,  our  subject;  Kate,  wife 
of  Frank  Sheen,  of  \\'olcott,  Indiana; 
Thomas  M.,  a  shipping  clerk  in  a  whole- 
sale rubber  house  in  Chicago;  John  F.,  pro- 
prietor of  a  pool  and  billiard  parlor  in  the 
same  city;  Richard  C,  a  resident  of  Cam- 
bridge township,  this  county;  and  Sarah, 
wife  of  Albert  C.  Tomlinson,  who  lives  on 
D.  C.  Tomlinson's  farm  in  Cambridge  town- 


ship. The  parents  were  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church. 

As  soon  as  he  attained  a  sufficient  age 
Robert  G.  Neville  entered  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county,  where  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  until  ten  years  old,  when 
his  father  died  and  he  had  to  assist  in  the 
support  of  the  family.  Subsequently,  how- 
ever, he  attended  business  college  at  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  for  two  terms.  His  education 
was  obtained  principally  by  general  reading 
and  observation,  and  he  has  thus  made  up 
for  his  lack  of  early  educational  advantages. 
He  worked  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  un- 
til twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  did  his  share 
in  supporting  the  family  until  he  attained 
his  majority. 

On  the  loth  of  February,  1886,  ]\Ir. 
Neville  married  JMiss  ]\Iargaret  McCurdy, 
who  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, September  19,  i860,  but  who  at 
the  time  of  her  marriage  was  living  in  Osco 
township,  this  county,  with  her  parents,  both 
of  whom  are  now  deceased.  ]\Irs.  Neville 
died  July  10,  1896,  leaving  four  children: 
Alexander,  Robert,  Harold  and  M.  Edith, 
who  attend  he  Osco  school.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Alexander  and  Kate  McCurdy, 
of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  who  came  from  the 
north  of  Ireland  to  the  United  States,  first 
locating  in  Penns}-lvania,  where  they  were 
married.  Later  they  came  to  Henry  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  located  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  20,  Osco  township,  where 
he  opened  up  a  farm  and  made  his  home 
until  his  death.  Religiously  he  was  an 
Episcopalian,  while  his  wife  was  reared  in 
the  Presbyterian  faith.  On  that  home  farm 
Margaret  grew  to  womanhood,  and  there 
remained  until  her  marriage. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Neville  removed 
to  Kearney,  Nebraska,  where  he  lived  for 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


two  years  and  on  his  return  to  this  county 
settled  on  his  present  farm,  which  was  deed- 
ed to  his  wife  by  her  fatlier.  He  has  since 
greatly  improved  the  place  by  the  erection 
of  a  good  residence  barns  and  fences;  has 
planted  trees,  tiled  the  land,  and  placed  it 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The  farm 
consists  of  one  hundred  acres  of  rich  and 
arable  land.  Mr.  Neville  follows  both  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  feeding.  He  usually 
buys  a  car  load  of  cattle  in  Nebraska,  both 
spring  and  fall,  which  he  feeds  and  pre- 
pares for  the  market.  For  the  size  of  his 
place,  he  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  feed- 
ers in  Henry  county. 

Mr.  Neville  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
Democratic  party  in  his  community,  and  has 
been  elected  to  the  office  of  town  clerk  and 
assessor.  He  has  also  served  as  school  di- 
rector nine  years,  and  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  maintaining  good  schools.  Re- 
ligiously he  is  an  active  member  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  of  Osco  township,  and  for 
about  ten  years  has  served  as  vestryman, 
during  which  time  a  rectory  has  been  built. 
He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Modern 
^\'oodmen  Camp,  No.  2248,  of  Osco,  of 
which  he  was  consul  four. years,  and  is  also 
a  charter  member  of  the  Royal  Neighbors 
of  America.  He  is  a  member  of  Sherman 
Lodge,  No.  535,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Orion,  and 
of  the  Eastern  Star.  In  social  circles  he 
stands  high,  and  is  an  active  worker  in  the 
socities  to  which  he  belongs. 


OLOF  WALLINi:. 

Tireless  energy,  well  directed  by  sound 
business  judgment,  has  bnjught  to  Mr. 
Walline  gratifying   success   in   the   affairs 


of  life.  For  thirtv  years  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Henry  county,  and  now  owns  and 
occupies  a  fine  farm  on  section  14,  Andover 
township.  Like  many  of  the  best  citizens 
of  this  localit}-  he  is  a  native  of  Sweden, 
born  February  18,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of 
Olof  E.  and  Betsey  (Olson)  Walline,  also 
natives  of  that  country,  where  the  father 
followed  farm  work  until  his  emigration  to 
America  in  1869.  His  last  days  were  spent 
at  the  home  of  our  subject  in  Andover  to\Am- 
ship,  this  county,  where  both  he  and  his 
wife  died.  Of  the  four  children  born  to 
them  one  died  in  Sweden.  The  others  are 
Margaret,  wife  of  Peter  Olenius,  living  on 
the  old  Buck  farm  in  Andover  township; 
Olof,  our  subject;  and  Peter  E.,  now  a 
resident  of  California,  who  was  formerly 
a  farmer  of  Andover  towaiship,  and  a  mer- 
chant of  Cambridge. 

The  subject  of  this  review  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  na- 
tive land,  and  remained  at  home  with  his 
parents  until  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
then  came  to  the  United  States  and  first  lo- 
cated at  Bishop  HilJ,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  at  the  mason's  and  carpenter's 
trades,  having  partially  learned  the  latter  oc- 
cupation in  Sweden.  After  two  years  spent 
at  Bishop  Hill,  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  Andover  township  in  partnership 
with  his  brother,  and  together  they  success- 
fully engaged  in  farming  for  twelve  years, 
thus  securing  a  good  start  in  life.  As  they 
succeeded  in  business  they  added  to  their 
farm  until  they  owned  about  two  hundred 
acres,  which  property  was  divided  when  they 
dissolved  partnership.  In  1883,  having  sold 
his  portion  of  the  farm,  Olof  Walline  pur- 
chased his  present  place,  which  at  that  time 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  partially  improved  land.     He  has  since 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


laid  many  rods  of  tiling,  built  fences  and 
erected  buildings,  and  now  has  one  of  the 
best  and  most  attractive  farms  of  the  lo- 
cahty.  He  and  his  brother,  P.  E.,  are  also 
proprietors  of  the  Cambridge  Creamery,  and 
in  its  operation  have  also  met  with  well- 
deserved  success;  our  subject  is  manager  of 
the  same. 

In  January,  1875,  Mr.  W'alline  was 
united  in  marriage  witli  Miss  Elizabeth 
Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Andover  town- 
ship. May  6,  1855,  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
M.  and  Christina  Johnson.  The  former, 
now  deceased,  was  among  the  early  settlers 
of  his  township.  There  Mrs.  Johnson  still 
resides,  and  with  her  live  her  two  sons,  Al- 
bert and  Otto,  and  one  daughter  Ida,  while 
Oscar,  Alfred  and  Emma,  wife  of  Swan 
Anderson,  make  their  home  in  Nebraska,  and 
Mrs.  Amelia  Norling  lives  in  Cameron,  Illi- 
nois, where  her  husband  is  engaged  in  black- 
smithing.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  \\'alline  have  a 
family  of  nine  children,  namely :  Charles 
W.,  Jennie,  Henry  W.,  Louvina,  Eddie  J., 
Esther,  Minnie,  Ernest  and  Maljel,  all  at 
home.  They  have  been  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  while  Charles  W.  and  Henry 
have  pursued  an  agricultural  course  at  Madi- 
son, \\'isconsin,  and  are  prepared  to  accept 
and  hold  any  ixjsition  in  the  business  world. 
They  also  attended  the  high  school  of  Cam- 
bridge. Charles  W.  now  has  charge  of  the 
creamery  business  of  his  father. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  W'alline  is  a 
Prohibitionist,  but  at  local  elections  supports 
the  men  whom  he  believes  best  qualified  for 
office.  For  the  long  period  of  seventeen 
years  he  has  efiiciently  served  as  school  di- 
rector in  his  district,  and  for  the  past  ten 
years  has  been  appraiser  for  the  Swedish 
Insurance  Company  in  his  township,  adjust- 
ing losses  also.     He  is  an  active  member  of 


the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Andover, 
and  one  of  its  trustees.  He  is  a  public- 
spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  who  takes 
a  deep  interest  in  everything  pertaining  to 
the  welfare  of  his  adopted  county,  and  is 
held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know  him. 


JOHN  L.   HULL. 

It  is  astonishing  to  witness  the  success- 
of  young  roen  who  have  emigratec^to  Amer- 
ica without  capital  and  from  a  position  of 
comparative  obscurity  have  worked  their  way 
upward  to  a  position  of  prominence.  The 
readiness  with  which  they  adapt  themselves 
to  circumstances  and  take  advantage  of  op- 
portunities oifered  brings  to  them  success 
and  wins  them  a  place  among  the  leading- 
men  of  the  community  in  which  they  re- 
side. 

Among  the  natives  of  Sweden  who  have 
become  prominent  in  business  and  public 
affairs  in  Henry  county,  is  John  L.  Hull, 
who  has  been  a  resident  of  Cambridge  town- 
ship since  1869.  He  was  born  November  3,. 
1850,  in  Sweden,  a  son  of  Nels  P.  and  Inga 
Carolina  Larson.  The  father,  who  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  died  in  that  country, 
but  the  mother  is  still  living  and  continues 
to  make  her  home  there.  In  their  family 
were  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  still 
living,  namely:  Christine,  who  lives  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Sweden;  John  L.,  our  sub- 
ject; A.  S.,  manager  of  a  lumber  yard  in 
Cambridge,  Illmois ;  and  Emma  and  Nels 
P.,  who  are  living  on  the  home  farm  in 
Sweden. 

In  the  public  schools  of  his  native  land 
John  L.  Hull  acquired  a  good  practical  ed- 
ucation.    He  remained  on  the  home  farm 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


103 


until  eio^Iiteen  years  of  age,  when  lie  emi- 
grated to  this  country  with  tlie  iiope  of 
bettering  his  financial  coiulitiDn.  After 
working  as  a  farm  hand  in  this  country 
for  two  years,  lie  located  u]K3n  his  present 
farm  on  section  8.  Cambridge  township, 
where  he  was  at  first  in  the  employ  of  others. 
The  Brick  and  Tile  works  were  started  upon 
the  land  in  1870,  and  the  following  year  he 
commenced  learning  the  business  as  a  work- 
man in  the  factory.  Later  he  became  ni;ji- 
ager  of  the  plant,  and  in  1890  purchased  a 
half  interest  in  the  business,  which  was  car- 
ried on  under  the  firm  name  of  Cook  &  Hull 
until  1899,  when  Mr.  Hull  bought  out  his 
partner  and  has  since  been  alone  in  the  busi- 
ness. When  the  plant  was  first  started  it 
was  run  by  hand  and  horse  power,  but  while 
Mr.  Hull  was  manager  an  engine  of  thirty- 
horse  power  was  i)ut  in,  and  the  factory 
otherwise  improved.  There  are  now  five 
kilns,  three  with  down  drafts  and  two  with 
up  drafts  and  a  drying  shed,  one  hundred 
by  twenty-six  feet  in  dimension.  During 
the  busy  season  from  fifteen  to  twenty  men 
are  employed  in  tlie  yards.  The  product  of 
the  factory  being  of  a  superior  grade,  it  finds 
a  ready  sale  on  the  market,  and  is  shipped 
in  carload  lots  to  Stark,  Mercer  and  Rock 
Island  counties.  The  success  of  this  enter- 
prise has  been  mainly  due  to  Mr.  Hull,  who 
is  a  man  of  good  business  and  e.Kecutive 
ability.  He  owns  thirteen  acres  adjoining 
the  city  of  Cambridge,  and  is  also  engaged 
ill  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  possesses 
keen  discrimination  as  well  as  sound  judg- 
ment, and  in  business  affairs  is  prompt,  en- 
ergetic and  notably  reliable. 

On  the  I2th  of  October,  1875.  Mr.  linll 
married  Miss  Josephine  C.  I^yon,  who  was 
born  in  .\merica  in  1854.  Both  her  parents 
died  in  i8<;7,  leaving  seven  children,  name- 


ly: Tilda,  wife  of  J.  AI.  Anderson,  a  dry- 
goods  merchant,  of  Cambridge;  Ida;  Jose- 
phine, wife  of  our  subject;  John,  Alfred, 
Ludwig  an<l  Otto,  all  residens  of  Cambridge. 
Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Hull  have  four  children  :  Lettie 
v.,  Edwin,  Emma  and  Ernest.  The  two 
oldest  are  graduates  of  the  Cambridge  public 
schools  and  the  others  are  still  i)ursuing  ilieir 
studies  there. 

During  his  entire  residence  in  Cam- 
bridge Mr.  Hull  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  politics  and  has  been  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party,  serving  on  the  town 
and  county  central  committees.  For  two 
years  he  filled  the  office  of  tax  collector,  and 
in  1898  was  elected  supervisor,  which  office 
he  filled  so  acceptably  that  he  was  re-elected 
in  1900  and  is  the  present  incumbent.  Foi^ 
three  successive  terms  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  schcHil  board  of  Cambridge.  He 
is  an  active  and  i)roiiiiiient  member  of  the 
Swedisii  Lutheran  Church  of  Cambridge, 
in  which  he  has  served  as  tleacon  and  is 
now  one  of  the  trustees,  while  socially  he 
is  connected  with  the  ^lystic  &  Fraternal 
Tribune,  Xo. — ,  and  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge, 
No.  199,  in  which  he  has  held  office.  He 
is  a  ma  not  recognized  abilitv  and  sterling 
worth,  and  stands  high  in  the  community 
where  he  has  so  long  made  his  home.  Those 
who  know  him  best  are  numbered  among 
his  warmest  friends,  and  no  citizen  in  Henry 
county  is  more  hoiioreil  or  highly  respected. 


JOHX   II.   McGO\'ERX. 

This  prominent  citizen  of  Orion,  who  is 
now  li\ing  a  retired  life,  was  born  on  the 
Monongahela  river,  in  Brownsville,  Fayette 
county,  Pennsylvania,  June  20,  1834,  and  is 
a  son  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth   (Martzall) 


I04 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


^IcGovern,  the  former  a  native  of  the  nortli 
of  Ireland,  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
their  marriage  was  celebrated.  The  father 
was  reared  on  the  Emerald  Isle  and  was  a 
young  man  when  he  came  to  the  new  world. 
He  died  when  John  H.  was  but  three  years 
old.  leaving  a  widow  and  seven  children. 
He  was  engaged  in  business  in  Brownsville. 
The  mother's  ancestors  were  originally  from 
Germany.  In  1858  she  came  to  Rock  Island 
county,  Illinois,  and  in  1865  moved  to  Iowa, 
where  her  death  occurred  about  1885.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Presb}-terian  church. 
In  the  county  of  his  nativity  John  H. 
McGovern  grew  to  manhood,  and  at  Browns- 
ville, Pennsylvania,  he  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's and  joiner's  trade,  and  for  a  time  he 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building  in  the 
east.  Coming  to  Illinois  in  1855,  he  first 
located  in  Rock  Island,  where  he  followed 
the  same  pursuit  for  five  \-ears,  and  then  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Boling  township  for 
four  years.  In  1864  he  went  west  and  was 
interested  in  mining  in  Montana  and  Idaho 
for  a  short  time.  Later  we  find  him  in 
California,  but  in  1865  he  returned  to  Illi- 
nois, and  embarked  in  business  at  INIilan. 
carrying  on  operations  there  for  five  years. 
In  1870  he  removed  to  Orion,  Henry  county, 
where  he  opened  a  general  store  and  did  an 
extensive  business  for  a  number  of  years, 
being  the  leading  merchant  of  the  place.  He 
finally  sold  out  in  1885  on  account  of  ill 
health  and  has  since  lived  a  retired  life. 
He  still  owns  considerable  real  estate  in 
Orion,  including  two  store  buildings  and 
two  nice  residences.  His  success  in  life  is 
due  entirely  to  his  own  well-directed  efforts, 
diligence,  perseverance  and  good  manage- 
ment, and  he  is  to-day  one  of  the  prosper- 
ous and  substantial  citizens  of  his  com- 
munitv. 


In  i860  Mr.  ilcGovern  was  married,  in 
Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  to  Miss  Martha 
Kerr,  who  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in 
Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  Orion, 
Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  1890.  He  was  again 
married,  in  Henrj'  county.  May  15,  1894, 
his  second  union  being  'with  Miss  Lydia 
Jane  Deem,  who  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  but 
came  to  Illinois  with  her  father,  William 
Deem,  in  i860,  and  here  grew  to  woman- 
hood. 

In  politics  Mr.  McGovern  is  independent. 
He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  James 
Buchanan  in  1856,  but  has  since  supported 
the  men  and  measures  of  either  the  Re- 
publican or  Prohibition  parties,  being  a 
strong  temperance  man.  He  has  never  cared 
for  official  honors,  preferring  to  devote  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business  in- 
terests. During  his  residence  at  Milan  he 
joined  tlie  Masonic  fraternity,  and  now  holds 
membership  in  the  lodge  at  Orion.  !Mr. 
I\IcGovem  is  an  intelligent  man,  pre-em- 
inently public  spirited  and  progressive,  and 
has  done  much  to  advance  the  interests  of 
Orion  and  promote  the  public  welfare  along 
various  lines.  He  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  tliroughout  this  section  of  the  county, 
and  is  numbered  among  its  most  valued  and 
useful  citizens. 


HOXS  SHULT. 

Not  on  the  plane  of  affluence  did  Hons 
Shult  start  out  on  life's  journey,  but  in  the 
valle}'  of  limited  circumstances  with  the 
rough  and  rugged  path  of  hard  undertaking 
before  him.  He  has  met  with  many  difficult- 
ies and  obstacles  but  has  steadily  overcome 
these,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  prosper- 
ous citizens  of  his  communitv.     For  over  a 


HONS  SHULT. 


IfBRARY 
UNIVERSIIV  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBAXA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


107 


third  of  a  century  he  has  actively  engaged 
in  farming  in  Lynn  township,  but  now  in  the 
evening  of  life  is  enjoying  a  well-earned 
rest  at  his  pleasant  home  in  Orion. 

Born  in  Skepersta  Soken,  Genspeng, 
Sweden,  October  16,  1834,  !Mr.  Shult  was 
nineteen  years  of  age  when,  in  1854,  he  took 
passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  at  Guttenberg, 
and  after  what  was  then  considered  a  speedy 
voyage  of  five  weeks,  landed  in  New  York 
on  the  26th  of  July.  He  proceeded  at  once 
to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  soon  after  his 
arrival  at  Hickory  Grove,  Lynn  township, 
obtained  employment  at  grading  on  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad,  work- 
ing that  summer  and  fall  as  far  south  as 
Quincy.  He  then  returned  to  Henry  county 
an|d  spent  the  three  following  winters  in 
chopping  cord  wood  on  the  island.  Being- 
ill  with  fever  and  ague  he  was  unable  to 
work  during  the  summer  months  for  three 
years.  After  his  recovery  Mr.  Shult  rented 
land  which  he  operated  for  three  years,  and 
then  purchased  a  tract  of  seventy  acres  which 
he  still  owns,  it  being  at  that  time  wild  and 
covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  underbrush, 
which  he  at  length  grubbed  up.  In  his  farm 
ing  operations  he  met  with  most  excellent 
success,  and  was  able  to  add  to  his  landed 
possessions  from  time  to  time  until  he  now 
has  five  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of 
very  valuable  and  productive  land.  The  last 
three  hundred  acres  which  he  purchased  was 
an  improved  farm.  Upon  his  land  are  three 
sets  of  good  farm  buildings,  and  everything 
about  the  place  betokens  the  care  and  super- 
vision of  a  painstaking  owner.  Having  ac- 
quired a  handsome  competence  he  removed 
to  Orion,  where  he  built  a  fine  home  in  1894, 
and  has  since  lived  a  retired  life. 

In  1S62,  in  Henry  county,  Mr.  Shult 
married   Miss   Mary    Johnson,    a   Swedish 


lady  and  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Johnson 
who  emigrated  with  his  family  to  the  new 
world  and  settled  in  Henry  count}-,  Illinois, 
in  1 861.  iMr.  and  ]Mrs.  Shult  are  the  par- 
ents of  six  chil(dren,  who  are  still  living, 
namely :  Albert,  who  is  married  and  oper- 
ates a  part  of  the  home  farm;  Frank  Ed- 
ward, a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  who  is  married  and  is  now  located 
ai  Woodhull,  this  county;  Josephine,  wife  of 
August  N.  Johnson,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  upon  the  Shult  land ;  Oscar,  who  is 
also  married  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead ; 
Ernest,  who  assists  his  brothers  in  the  cult- 
ivation of  their  father's  farm;  and  Lydia, 
at  home.  Two  of  the  children  met  death 
very  suddenly  November  13,  1888.  while 
crossing  the  railroad  track  on  the  farm. 
Both  children  and  horses  were  killed,  though 
Oscar,  the  oldest,  who  was  driving,  was  not 
seriously  injured,  These  were  William,  aged 
ten,  and  Ida,  aged  twelve  years.  Their  death 
was  a  severe  blow  to  the  parents  and  many 
friends  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Shult's  political  support  has  ever  been 
given  the  Republican  party  since  he  cast  his 
first  presidential  ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln 
in  i860,  but  he  has  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics  aside  from  voting.  As  a 
progressive  and  enterprising  citizen  he  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  educational 
affairs,  and  with  two  others  started  the 
school  in  his  neighborhood,  of  which  he  was 
a  director  for  many  years.  Both  he  and  his 
\vife  are  earnest  members  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Orion  and  are  people  of 
the  highest  respectability.  Meeting  with 
many  discouragements  during  the  first  years 
.sjjent  in  this  country,  Mr.  Shult  once  decid- 
ed to  return  to  his  native  lanid,  but  being 
taken  with  ague  about  that  time  was  unable 
to  travel  and  so  remained  in  .\merica.    Soon 


io8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


prosperity  shone  upon  his  efforts,  and  he  is 
to-day  one  of  the  most  substantial  men  of 
the  community  in  which  he  lives. 


ANDREW  PETERSOX. 

From  Sweden  came  many  of  Henry 
county's  most  industrious  and  useful  citi- 
zens— men  who  have  borne  a  very  active 
and  prominent  part  in  the  development  and 
upbuilding  of  the  county,  and  helped  to 
make  it  one  of  the  best  agricultural 
districts  of  the  Prairie  state.  In  Andrew 
Peterson  we  find  a  worthy  representa- 
tive of  this  class.  For  a  period  of  about 
forty-four  years  he  was  successfully  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock  raising  here,  but  has 
now  laid  aside  all  business  cares  and  is  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  on  his  farm  on  section  33, 
Western  township. 

]Mr.  Peterson  was  born  in  \'ordnas, 
Sockeen,  Sweden.  December  20,  1827,  and 
was  reared  upon  a  farm  in  the  land  of  his 
birth.  His  father,  Israel  Peterson,  was  a 
land  owner  in  Sweden,  and  died  when  An- 
drew was  but  eight  j-ears  old.  In  1850  he 
crossed  the  briny  deep,  being  about  eight 
weeks  upon  the  voyage,  and  on  landing  in 
this  country  proceeded  at  once  to  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  arriving  in  Andover  Au- 
gust 7,  during  the  cholera  epidemic  here. 
For  three  months  he  worked  in  the  timber 
of  Knox  county,  and  then  went  to  Rock 
Island  county,  where  he  was  employed  as 
a  farm  hand  by  the  month  for  about  a  year, 
getting  from  five  to  eight  dollars  per  month. 
Subsequently  he  worked  in  the  shops  at 
Moline.  accepting  any  situation  by  which 
he  could  make  an  honest  living.  For  a  time 
he  worked  in  a  sawmill  at  that  place,  and 


was  engaged  in  cutting  wood  for  two  years. 
Returning  to  Henry  county.  Mr.  Peter- 
son was  married  August  28,  1857,  to  Miss 
Lena  Anderson,  a  sister  of  Swan  P.  Streed. 
also  a  native  of  Sweden,  who  came  to  Henrv 
county,  Illinois,  in  1848.  They  began  house- 
keeping in  Lynn  township  in  a  small  frame 
house  which  he  erected  upon  his  land,  hav- 
ing pre\"iously  purchased  twenty-six  acres. 
The  first  three  years  spent  here  he  suffered 
much  with  fever  and  ague — a  disease  quite 
prevalent  in  pioneer  districts — ^but  when  his 
health  improved  was  able  to  devote  more 
time  to  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  and  in 
his  farming  operations  met  with  well  de- 
served success.  His  home  farm  now  com- 
prises two  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  of 
well  improved  land,  and  he  also  has  an  ad- 
joining tract  of  sixty  acres  in  Western 
township.  This  property  has  all  been  ac- 
quired through  his  own  industry,  persever- 
ance and  capable  management,  for  on  land- 
ing in  the  new  world  he  was  without  a  dollar, 
and  has  been  dependent  entirely  upon  his 
own  resources  for  his  success  in  life. 

Mr.  Peterson  has  been  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  who 
died  ]March  i,  1883.  leaving  four  children, 
namely :  !Mary  is  the  wife  of  William 
Gabrielson,  of  Rock  Island  county,  and  they 
have  four  children,  Carl  Elmer,  Hattie 
Amelia,  Frank  Arthur  and  Arnold  \\'illiam. 
Josephine  is  the  wife  of  Charles  J.  Chinell, 
a  farmer  of  Western  township,  Henry  coun- 
ty, and  they  have  one  child,  \'iolet  Irene. 
Edmond  is  also  an  agriculturist  of  A\'estern 
township.  Henry,  a  farmer  of  Lyon  town- 
ship, is  married  and  has  one  son.  Clarence 
Henry. 

Politically  Mr.  Peterson  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party  on  national  issues,  and 
he  has  filled  the  office  of  highwav  commis- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1 09 


sioner  in  Lynn  township  for  about  ten 
years :  and  school  director  for  about  twenty- 
five  years.  Using  liis  induencc,  he  succeed- 
ed in  getting  a  school  house  built  on  his 
own  farm,  and  gave  the  lot  for  the  same. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutiieran  Churcli  of 
Orion,  and  his  upright,  honorable  life  has 
gained  for  him  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances 
throughout  Rock  Island  and  Henry  coun- 
ties. 


CARL  J.  LARSOX. 

This  well-known  painter  and  paper 
hanger  of  Cambridge,  Illinois,  was  born  in 
southern  Sweden,  on  the  17th  of  September, 
1854,  a  son  of  Lars  and  Chaste  Larson, 
who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  that  country, 
where  the  father  followed  farming.  A  man 
of  good  principles  and  business  tact,  he  was 
v.'idely  and  favorably  known,  and  was  called 
upon  to  fil.1  several  official  positions  in  his 
town.  He  was  born  April  8,  1800,  and  died 
in  1876,  while  his  wife  departed  this  life 
in  1898,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-five 
years.  Both  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  In  their  family  were  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  remained  in  the  old 
country,  namely :  Lars,  Johannes,  Carolina 
and  Sven.  Those  who  came  to  America 
were  Peter,  a  resident  of  Cambridge,  Illi- 
nois; Hannah,  wife  of  Peter  Neilson,  of 
Creston,  Iowa;  Sana,  a  resident  of  British 
Columbia;  and  C.  J.,  who  is  the  youngest 
of  the  family. 

C.  J.  Larson  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  land.  It  was  in  1880  that  he 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  and  came  to  Cam- 
bridge, Illinois,  where  he  was  met  by  his 
brother,  Peter.     For  two  vears  he  worked 


as  a  common  lalxjrer.  accepting  any  employ- 
ment which  he  could  find.  He  had  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade  in  Sweden,  but  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  obtain  work  along  that 
hne  at  Cambridge  when  he  located  here. 
In  partnership  with  a  gentleman  from  his 
native  town  he  embarked  in  his  present  busi- 
ness in  1884,  and  has  built  up  an  exceljent 
trade,  having  for  the  past  eight  years  done 
all  the  painting  for  the  leading  citizens  of 
Cambridge  and  \icinity.  About  1891  he 
bought  out  his  partner's  interest  and  now  has 
the  leading  business  in  his  line  in  this  part 
of  the  county. 

On  the  24th  of  2\Iarch,  1886,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  ^Ir.  Larson  and 
Miss  ]\Iatilda  C.  Hulting,  a  daughter  of  Per 
and  Johanna  Hulting,  of  central  Sweden. 
She  was  born  in  that  country  and  came  to 
America  November  2,  1874,  two  of  her 
brothers  having  already  located  here.  They 
were  joined  by  her  parents  in  1877,  both  of 
whom  are  now  deceased,  the  father  having 
died  in  1892,  aged  seventy-two  years;  the 
mother  in  1890,  aged  sixty-one.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  By  a 
former  marriage  the  father  had  one  son, 
Andrew.  Of  the  six  children  born  of  the 
second  union  Lottie  died  j'oung;  Lottie,  the 
second  of  that  name,  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four  years;  and  Anna  died  at 'the 
age  of  twenty-two.  Those  living  are  J.  P., 
a  resident  of  Geneseo,  Illinois;  Matilda  C, 
wife  of  our  subject;  and  Alfred  S.,  who  has 
resided  with  Mr.  Larson  since  his  mother's 
death. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larson  are  active  and  in- 
fluential members  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  which  he  has  served  as  deacon  for  ten 
years,  and  are  highly  respected  and  esteemed 
by  all  who  know  them.  His  political  sup- 
port is  given  the  men  and  nieasures  of  the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Republican  party.  One  of  the  most  reliable 
and  straightforward  business  men  of  Cam- 
bridge, he  has  demonstrated  the  true  mean- 
ing of  the  word  success  as  the  full  accom- 
plishment of  an  honorable  purpose.  Energy, 
close  application,  perseverance  and  good 
management — these  are  the  elements  that 
have  entered  into  his  business  career  and 
crowned  his  efforts  with  prosperity. 


JARED  HEMINGWAY  S^IITH. 

Almost  a  half  century  has  passed  since 
this  gentleman  arrived  in  Henry  county,  and 
he  is  justly  numbered  among  her  honored 
pioneers  and  leading  citizens.  As  an  agricult" 
urist  he  has  been  prominenth-  identified  with 
her  business  interests,  and  makes  his  home 
on  section  22,  Osco  township.  His  is  an  hon- 
orable record  of  a  conscientious  man,  who 
by  his  upright  life  has  won  the  confidence 
o:  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 

jMr.  Smith  was  born  in  Harwinton. 
Litchfield  county,  Connecticut,  November  18, 
1827,  and  belongs  to  an  old  colonial  family. 
Tracing  his  ancestry  back  four  generations 
he  is  descended  from  one  of  three  brothers, 
who  came  from  England  to  America  and 
settled  in  the  Xutmeg  state.  His  father, 
Anson  Smith,  was  also  a  native  of  Har- 
winton, and  received  a  very  limited  educa- 
tion in  the  early  schools  of  that  place.  After 
his  marriage  he  located  on  a  farm  there, 
and  was  actively  engaged  in  his  chosen  oc- 
cupation of  farming  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  when  he  was  about  seventy  years 
of  age.  He  was  twice  married  and  by 
his  first  union  had  four  children :  Anson, 
CaroUne,  Amasa  and  Esther,  all  of  whom 
died   in   Ohio,    where   thev    emigrated    to 


make  homes  for  themselves.  For  his 
second  wife  the  father  married  Abigail 
Holt,  a  native  of  East  Haven,  Connecti- 
cut, and  to  them  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Rodney  D.,  who  was  born 
in  1824  and  died  in  1864;  Roxy  A.,  who 
died  young;  Jared  H.,  our  subject;  and 
Minerva  A.,'\vho  married  Mr.  Holt  and  died 
in  1896,  leaymg  two  sons.  The  parents 
spent  their  entire  lives  in  their  native  state. 
Jared  H.  Smith,  the  onl}'  representative 
of  the  familj'  now  living,  received  but  a  com- 
mon school  education  in  Connecticut,  and  his 
early  life  was  passed  in  work  upon  the  home 
farm  and  in  the  shops  of  that  locality.  On 
leaving  the  parental  roof  in  1853,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-six  years,  he  came  to  the  prairies 
of  Illinois  and  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Osco  township. 
Henry  county,  at  which  time  there  were  only 
three  houses  between  his  place  and  Geneseo, 
and  about  the  same  number  between  there 
and  Cambridge,  while  not  a  tree  was  in 
sight.  He  has  watched  with  interest  the 
wonderful  development  of  the  country,  and 
has  materially  assisted  in  its  improvement. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  hauled  all  his  pro- 
duce to  Geneseo  and  his  wheat  to  Rock  Isl- 
and, these  being  the  nearest  markets.  As 
time  passed  acre  after  acre  of  his  farm  was 
placed  under  the  plow  until  all  was  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  and  as  he  succeed- 
ed in  his  farming  operations  he  added  to  his 
landed  possessions  until  he  owned  about  fif-. 
teen  hundred  acres.  He  has  always  retained 
the  old  homestead  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  where  he  first  settled,  and  besides  it 
has  three  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land 
elsewhere  in  the  county.  Nearly  all  of  this 
has  been  impro\ed  by  himself  or  under  his 
supervision.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  has  alwavs  followed  stock  rais- 


LIBRnPY 

UNIVERSIiy  Uh  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


J.   H.   SMITH. 


MRS.  J.   H.    SMITH. 


URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


113 


hii^.  ami  annually  feeds  from  fifty  to  two 
hundred  head  of  cattle  for  the  market.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  stockholders  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Cambridge  and  one 
of  its  directors  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
is  also  interested  in  other  business  interests. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1854,  Mr.  Smith 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane 
Amelia  W'clton,  who  was  born  July  12, 
1827,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Noah  and 
Ellen  (Coles)  Welton,  life-long  residents 
of  Litchfield  county,  Connecticut.  All  of  her 
family  are  now  deceased  with  the  exception 
of  one  sister,  Mrs.  Alvira  Potter,  of  Strat- 
ford, Connecticut,  who  is  now  over  eighty 
years  of  age.  Mr.  Smith  was  married  in 
that  state  and  brought  his  bride  to  the  home 
he  had  prepared  for  her  in  this  county,  where 
they  began  their  domestic  life.  Three  chil- 
dren came  to  brighten  their  home,  namely : 
Amelia  M.,  born  March  15,  1857,  is  now  the 
wife  of  M.  M.  Nash,  of  Osco  township;  An- 
son W.,  born  August  23,  1858,  died  Febru- 
ary 24,  1863;  and  Myra  Jane,  born  Marcli 
30,  1862,  is  the  wife  of  W.  F.  West,  who  is 
manager  for  the  grain  firm  of  Fleming  & 
Smith  at  Osco.  The  wife  and  mother  died 
of  diphtheria  at  the  home  place  February  17, 
1863. 

Mr.  Smith  was  again  married,  August 
18,  1864,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Mary  E.  Knowles,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, February  5,  1840,  and  came  to  this 
state  with  her  parents.  Her  father  died  in 
llem-y  county,  and  though  her  mother's 
death  occurred  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylva- 
nia, in  1899,  her  remains  were  brought  back 
and  interred  by  the  side  of  her  husband  in 
the  Andover  cemetery.  None  of  their  chil- 
dren now  live  in  Illinois.  'Sir.  and  jNlrs. 
Smith  became  the  parents  of  six  children,  as 
follows:  Henry  A.,  born  February  18,  1866, 


was  married  January  fi,  1892,  to  Adelia  At- 
wood,  and  is  in  the  employ  of  the  telephone 
comjjany  at  Cambridge,  though  he  makes 
his  home  in  Osco  where  he  owns  a  farm. 
Anna,  born  July  9,  1867,  is  at  home  with  her 
father.  Jared  Heber,  born  March  9,  1870, 
owns  and  operates  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Osco  township,  purchased 
from  his  father.  He  was  married,  June  17, 
1896,  to  Minnie  M.  Hadley,  and  they  have 
three  sons,  Jared  H.,  Julian  and  Thorwold. 
George  Rodney,  a  twin  brother  of  Jared 
Heber,  also  lives  on  a  farm  in  Osco  town- 
ship. He  was  married,  December  30,  1894, 
to  Clara  May  Marsch,  and  they  have  two 
children.    Charles  Edward,  born  August  17, 

1576,  and  I\Iary  Ethel,  born  September  29, 

1577,  are  both  at  home.  The  children  have 
all  received  a  common-school  education  and 
three  sons  have  attended  commercial  college 
in  Davenport  and  Chicago.  All  live  near 
the  old  homestead.  Mrs.  Smith  died  April 
27,  1895. 

Mr.  Smith  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  influential  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  Osco,  who  was  one  of  the  promo- 
ters of  and  organizers  of  the  parish,  and  con- 
tributed liberally  towards  the  building  of  the 
church.  Since  its  organization  he  has  been 
oftcially  connected  with  the  same-,  having 
served  as  senior  warden  for  about  eighteen 
years.  He  has  looked  after  all  the  improve- 
ments of  the  church,  and  has  ever  been  one 
of  its  most  active  workers.  On  national 
issues  he  always  votes  the  Republican  ticket, 
but  at  local  elections  supports  the  men  wdiom 
he  considers  best  qualified  to  fill  the  offices, 
regardless  of  party  lines.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  served  as  township  school  treasurer, 
and  for  three  years  was  supervisor  of  Osco 
towniship,  during  which  time  many  substan- 
tial improvements  were  made  in  the  county. 


114 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


During  the  long  years  of  his  residence  in  the 
county,  he  has  championed  every  movement 
designed  to  promote  the  general  welfare, 
lias  supported  every  enterprise  for  the  public 
good,  and  has  materialh^  aided  in  the  ad- 
vancement of  all  social,  educational  and 
moral  interests.  In  manner  he  is  quiet  and 
unassuming,  yet  he  makes  many  friends  and 
is  held  in  the  highest  regard  Ijy  all  who 
know  him. 


willia:\i  d.  joxes. 

William  D.  Jones,  a  practical  and  en- 
terprising agriculturist  residing  on  section 
34,  Colona  township,  owns  and  operates  one 
liundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of  land,  con- 
stituting one  of  the  valuable  and  highly  im- 
proved farms  of  the  locality.  Plis  posses- 
sions have  been  acquired  through  his  own 
efforts,  and  as  the  result  of  his  consecutive 
endeavor  he  has  won  a  place  among  the  well- 
to-do  citizens  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Jones  was  born  in  Ontario  county, 
Canada,  September  22,  1844,  and  was  there 
reared  to  manhood  upon  a  farm.  He  is  a 
self-educated  as  well  as  a  self-made  man, 
and  'deserves  great  credit  for  the  success 
tl'.at  he  has  achieved  in  life.  As  a  young 
man  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  in 
October,  1866,  took  up  his  residence  in 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  he  was  at 
first  engaged  in  teaming  and  later  in  coal 
mining.  For  about  three  years  he  worked 
by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand,  and  subse- 
quently followed  farming  during  the  sum- 
mer months,  and  mining  through  the  winter 
season.  He  also  devoted  a  part  of  his  time 
to  work  at  the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade, 
laeing  a  natural  mechanic  and  handy  in  the 


use  of  tools  of  all  kinds.  In  1877  Mr.  Jones 
made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  consisting 
of  an  eighty-acre  tract  where  he  now  re- 
sides. When  it  came  into  his  possession  it 
was  covered  with  brush  and  timber,  which 
he  at  once  began  to  clear  away,  while  he 
erected  a  small  frame  house,  fenced  the  land 
and  made  other  permanent  improvements. 
He  now  owns  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  acres,  a  portion  of  which  is  timber 
land,  but  seventy  acres  of  the  amount  is 
under  cultivation,  and  improved  with  good 
buildings. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  1869,  in  Henry 
county,  Mr.  Jones  married  Miss  Anna  jNI. 
Anderson,  who  was  born  in  Sweden,  but  was 
only  three  years  old  when  brought  to  this 
country  by  her  father,  Andrew  Anderson, 
who  in  1852  located  in  Mercer  county,  Illi- 
nois. A  few  years  later  he  removed  to 
Minnesota,  but  in  1864  returned  to  Illinois, 
and  took  up  his  residence  in  Western  town- 
ship, Henry  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones 
are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely : 
Anna  Martha,  now  the  wife  of  Daniel  Mc- 
Graw,  a  farmer  of  Colona  township;  Mabel, 
wife  of  Josephus  Evans,  of  Rock  Island 
county,  Illinois;  Carrie  C,  wife  of  Clarence 
A.  Garland,  of  Colona  township,  Henry 
county;  W^illiam  Manville,  who  assists  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  farm ;  Clarence 
Everett,  Lucinda  Marj^  and  Wesley  Davis, 
all  at  home,  and  the  last  named  still  in 
school. 

Politically  Mr.  Jones  is  a  true  blue  Re- 
publican and  has  supported  that  party  since 
casting  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  Gen- 
eral U.  S.  Grant,  in  1872.  He  has  ser\ed 
his  fellow  citizens  in  a  most  creditable  and 
acceptable  manner  as  highway  commissioner 
for  three  years ;  school  director  for  fourteen 
years,  and  president  of  the  district;  and  jus- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


"5 


tice  of  the  peace  for  seven  years.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  ^lethodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  are  held  in  high  re- 
gard by  all  who  know  them. 


MATILDA  EATOX,  M.  D. 

■    Among  the  successful  representatives  of 
the  medical  profession  in  Cambridge,  Illi- 
nois, is  Dr.  Matilda  Eaton,  a  native  of  Lu- 
zerne county,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter 
of  Hugh  and  Phebe  (JNIunson)  Eaton.    On 
the  paternal  side  she  is  of  Scotch-Irish  de- 
scent, her  ancestors  being  among  the  refu- 
gees who  left  Scotland  in  1619  to  escape 
from  religious  persecution  and  settled  in  the 
north  of  Ireland,  where  they  endured  a  per- 
secution scarcely  less  irksome  than  that  from 
which  they  had  fled.     For  a  century  they 
made  their  home  in  that  country,  and  in  1719 
their  exodus  from  Ireland  to  America  be- 
gan, since  which  time  the  emigration  of  the 
Scotch-Irish  to  America  has  been  continu- 
ous.    Sandy  Eaton,  from  whom  the  Doctor 
is  descended,  was  born  in  Scotland;  was  a 
farmer    by    inheritance  and   a  weaver  by 
trade.     His  son  Hugh  wedded  Mary  Ram- 
sey, of  Scotch  descent,  and  to  them  were 
born  three  sons  and  three  daughters.     Of 
this    family,    James    Eaton,    the    Doctor's 
grandfather,  married  Mary  Moore,  by  whom 
he  had  seven  children,  namely :  Eliza,  de- 
ceased; Hugh,  the  Doctor's    father;    Mrs. 
Matilda  Gingle;  Mrs.  Margaret  Hall;  Alex- 
ander; John;  and  Mrs.  Jemima  Adrian. 

Hugh  Eaton  was  born  in  county  Antrim. 
Ireland,  May  4,  1826,  and  completed  his 
education  at  Dublin,  where  he  studied  for 
four  years.  In  July,  1846,  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica, and  after  spending  one  year  in   New 


York,  located  in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  made  his  home  for  eight- 
een years,  Ijeing  principally  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, though  he  followed  school  teaching  dur- 
ing the  winter  months  for  five  years.  Com- 
ing west  he  located  in  Bureau  county,  Illi- 
nois, April  15,  1865,  but  a  year  later  took 
up  his  residence  in  Burns  township,  this 
county,  where  he  lived  until  1885,  and  then 
moved  to  Cambridge  to  spend  his  remaining 
days  in  ease  and  quiet.  Here  he  died  May 
16,  1893.  He  efficiently  served  as  school 
director  for  many  years,  but  would  accept 
no  other  office.  Religiously  he  was  an 
earnest  and  consistent  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  be- 
longed. In  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania, 
he  was  married,  in  January,  1850,  to  Miss 
Phebe  Munson,  and  to  them  were  born  the 
following  children:  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph 
Rogers;  Susan,  wife  of  Joseph  Brown; 
Stephen  W.,  a  resident  of  California;  James 
\V. ;  Robert  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years;  George  Munson;  Ma- 
tilda; Margaret,  wife  of  Briton  Hadley; 
iVnnie,  wife  of  Lester  H.  Hadley,  of  Chi- 
cago; Clara,  who  died  in  infancy;  Caroline; 
William  E.  C. ;  Oscar;  and  Frank,  who  died 
in  infancy.  The  mother,  who  was  always 
a  faithful  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
(lied  December  3,  189S,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
six  years. 

On  the  maternal  side  Dr.  Eaton  is  of 
English  extraction  and  traces  her  ancestry 
back  to  Thomas  IMunson,  who  came  to  this 
country  from  England  about  1637.  Her 
great-grandfather,  Walter  Munson,  was  only 
seven  years  old  at  the  time  of  the  Wyoming 
massacre  and  was  too  young  to  enter  the 
service  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  but 
liad  three  older  brothers,  Wilmot,  Stephen 
and  Daniel,  who  fought  for  American  in- 


ii6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dependence.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  Daniel  en- 
tered the  service,  becoming  one  of  General 
Green's  Hfe  guard,  and  was  serving  in  that 
capacity  at  the  time  of  the  surrender  of 
Lord  Cornwallis.  He  was  discharged  May 
24,  1778,  and  died  soon  afterward.  Stephen 
and  Wilmot  were  with  General  Washing- 
ton's army  in  the  battles  of  Brandywine  and 
Germantown,  and  during  the  terrible  winter 
at  Valley  Forge,  when  the  soldiers  were  so 
poorly  clad.  Wilmot  never  received  a  cent 
of  pay,  neither  a  pension  nor  a  bounty.  Dr. 
Eaton's  maternal  grandparents  were  \\'alter 
and  Susan  (Bodle)  Munson,  both  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  where  they  made  their 
home  throughout  life,  the  grandfather  be- 
ing engaged  in  farming.  He  always  kept 
well-posted  on  the  questions  and  issues  of 
the  day  and  was  a  supporter  of  the  Whig 
party.  His  children  were  Phebe,  the  mother' 
of  Dr.  Eaton;  Emily  E.,  wife  of  Robert 
Jones,  of  Bureau  county,  Illinois ;  Sarah, 
wife  of  Nelson  Jones,  of  the  same  county; 
Deborah,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Coleman,  of 
Bradford,  Illinois;  William  B.,  a  resident 
of  Creston,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Margaret  Ware,  a 
widow  of  Sidney,  Nebraska;  Mary  J.,  wife 
of  E.  Q.  Lovering,  of  Buda,  Illinois ;  Han- 
nah and  Giles  W.,  both  deceased;  and 
Loretta,  wife  of  Frank  Stevens,  of  Creston, 
Iowa. 

Dr.  Eaton  began  her  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  later  attended  the  high 
school  of  Kewanee,  after  which  she  success- 
fully took  up  the  study  of  medicine,  and 
was  graduated  at  Bennett  Medical  College, 
Chicago,  in  1896.  After  practicing  in  that 
city  for  six  months,  she  came  to  Cambridge 
and  opened  an  ofifice.  She  makes  a  specialty 
of  the  diseases  of  women  and  children,  and 
is  meeting  with  most  excellent  success  in  her 
chosen  profession.     She  was  the  first  lady 


physician  in  Cambridge  and  her  skill  and 
ability  have  won  for  her  a  liberal  patronage. 
Pleasant  and  agreeable  in  manner,  she  makes 
many  friends,  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all 
who  know  her,  and  stands  deservedly  high 
in  professional  circles.  Religiously  she  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church. 


JOHN  A.  LARSON. 

No  foreign  element  has  become  a  more 
important  part  in  our  American  citizenship 
than  that  furnished  by  Sweden.  The  emi- 
grants from  that  land  have  brought  with 
them  to  the  new  world  the  stabilit}',  enter- 
prise and  perseverance  characteristic  of  their 
people  and  have  fused  these  qualities  with 
the  progressiveness  and  indomitable  spirit 
of  the  west.  Mr.  Larson,  who  is  now  livingg 
a  retired  life  in  Osco,  is  a  worthy  representa- 
tive of  this  class.  He  came  to  America  in 
limited  circumstances,  hoping  to  benefit  his 
financial  condition,  and  his  dreams  of  the 
future  have  been  more  than  realized. 

Mr.  Larson  was  born  in  Uppby  hamlet. 
Recta,  L3nidkopenlane,  Sweden,  August 
17,  1826,  a  son  of  Lars  and  Engred  (Peter- 
sen) Johnson.  His  father  died  in  that 
country  and  later  his  mother  came  to  the 
new  world,  where  her  death  occurred.  He 
followed  farming  throughout  life.  Of  the 
eight  children  born  to  them  two  sons  died 
in  infancy  and  two  in  early  childhood,  while 
four  reached  years  of  maturity,  namely : 
Nels  P.,  who  is  still  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Sweden ;  John  A.,  our  subject;  Jonas 
W.,  a  farmer  of  Andover  township;  and 
Andrew  Gust,  who  lives  near  the  village  of 
Osco,  in  Osco  township. 

The  earlv  education  of  Mr.  Larson  was 


JOHN  A.   LARSON. 


UNIVtKoi-  Of  ILLINOIS 
URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


119 


such  as  tlie  boys  of  his  np.ti\-e  land  usually 
obtained  at  that  day.  He  studied  his  lessons 
at  his  mother's  spinning  wheel,  and  then 
joining  a  class  recited  them  to  the  minister 
of  the  parisli.  As  far  as  known  he  was  the 
first  person  in  his  parish  to  emigrate  to 
America.  When  twelve  years  of  age  he 
found  at  the  home  of  a  comp;'.nion  a  geog- 
raphy in  which  he  gaine<l  smne  knowledge 
of  this  country  and  the  animals  that  inhab- 
ited it,  and  resohed  to  make  this  his  future 
home.  He  saved  his  money  with  the  view 
of  carrying  out  this  determination,  and  at 
length,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  had  enough 
money  to  pa\'  his  passage,  luir  five  _\"ears 
he  had  worked,  receiving  on  an  a\'erage  of 
fifty  cents  per  month  in  American  coin.  His 
father  owned  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  he 
helped  to  improve  and  which  was  worth 
about  fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  Swedish 
money,  and  his  interest  in  this  was  about 
one-sixth,  which  he  finally  sold  to  his  older 
brother,  whose  employer,  by  ad\ancing  his 
wages,  enabled  him  to  pay.  From  this  he  re- 
ceived about  forty  dollars  in  American  mon- 
ey, and  to  it  added  the  money  he  had  man- 
aged to  save  from  his  wages.  In  1848  he 
took  passage  on  a  schooner  at  (juttenberg, 
and  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks  landed  at 
Boston,  whence  he  came  direct  to  Andover, 
Illinois.  The  first  railroad  he  ever  saw  was 
the  one  between  Boston  and  Albany,  over 
which  he  rode  to  the  latter  city,  and  from 
there  proceeded  by  the  Erie  canal  to  Buffalo ; 
by  the  Great  Lakes  to  Chicago;  by  canal  to 
Peru,  Illinois  (but  walking  most  of  the  way 
on  account  of  banks  leaking),  and  l)y  team 
to  Audover.  In  the  party  was  Gust  Johnson 
and  others  to  the  number  of  twenty. 

Mr.  Larson  obtained  a  situation  with 
Rev.  Pillsbury,  to  whose  care,  while  ill  with 
typhoid  fever,  he  owes  his  life.    He  worked 


as  a  farm  hand  until  the  fall  of  1848,  when 
with  others  he  went  to  Galesburg  to  find  em- 
ployment, and  worked  as  a  tender  to  masons 
who  were  erecting  an  academy  at  that  place. 
Subsequently  he  was  employed  in  the  wagon 
shop  of  Fuller  &  Bergen  until  the  spring  of 
1 85 1,  during  which  time  he  partly  learned 
the  business.  In  company  with  two  others 
he  then  started  for  California  across  the 
plains  and  endured  many  hardships  and  pri- 
\  ations  incident  to  such  a  journey,  including 
troubles  with  the  Indians.  At  Fort  Kear- 
ney, Nebraska,  a  comi>any  of  about  fifty 
Vi-agons  was  formed,  with  about  three  men  to 
each  wagon.  Air.  Tucker,  an  old  hulian 
trader  from  Indiana,  was  elected  captain  of 
the  train,  and  lunl  it  not  been  for  his  leader- 
ship possibly  all  would  have  perishetl.  He 
carefully  instructed  them  in  regard  to  the 
preservation  of  life,  and  years  afterward  Air. 
Larson  gratefully  remembered  a  part  of  his 
teaching.  On  the  loth  of  February,  1898, 
he  was  thrown  from  a  bridge  across  Edwards 
river  into  that  stream,  which  was  then  at 
highwater  mark  and  full  of  lloating  ice.  His 
horse  and  carriage  went  down  with  him. 
He  was  partially  stunned  by  the  fall,  and  on 
regaining  consciousness  he  remembered  Cap- 
tain Tucker  telling  iiis  men  that  when  thrown 
into  water  or  swimming  in  swift  running 
water  towing  a  line  never  to  guide  a  horse 
but  give  him  rein  and  keep  cool,  with  mouth 
closed,  breathing  through  the  nose.  This  he 
did  and  managed  to  reach  the  bank  in  safety, 
but  he  has  never  fully  recovered,  as  his  back 
was  severely  injured  in  the  fall.  Edwards 
river  has  since  been  dredged  and  converted 
into  what  is  now  known  as  the  Henry  coun- 
ty ditch,  Mr.  Larson  being  one  of  the  orig- 
inators of  the  enterprise.  On  arriving  in 
California  he  engaged  in  prospecting  and 
mining  for  little  over  a  year,  but  like  many 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


others  he  did  not  meet  with  very  gratifying 
success,  and  accordingly  returned  to  IlHnois 
I/v  way  of  San  Francisco,  tlie  isthmus  of 
I'anama,  Cu1ja,  Jamaica  and  New  York.  He 
resumed  work  at  tiie  bench  in  the  shop  of  liis 
former  employers,  and  in  the  spring  of  1853 
moved  to  Rev.  PiUsbury's  old  residence  in 
Andover,  this  county,  it  being  his  hrst 
home  in  this  country. 

That  year  Mr.  Larson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  ^liss  Martha  Hedstrom,  who  was 
born  in  Sweden  in  1830,  and  came  to  this 
country  as  one  of  Bishop  Hill's  colony.  She 
died  in  September,  1878.  To  them  were 
born  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of 
whom  reached  man  and  womanhood,  but 
two  sons  are  now  deceased.  John  O.,  the 
eldest,  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
brooms  in  California,  where  he  has  made 
his  home  since  1878.  Emily  Caroline,  a 
resident  of  St.  Louis,  is  the  widow  of  Leoni- 
das  McFarland,  a  son  of  one  of  the  old  set- 
tlers of  Andover  township,  this  county.  He 
died  in  Iowa  leaving  one  son,  Roy  A.,  who 
v/as  on  the  battleship  Boston  when  Dewey 
captured  Manila.  On  his  way  home  he  was 
taken  ill  at  Port  Said  and  has  since  been  in 
2)oor  health,  although  he  is  now  in  business 
Avith  an  uncle  at  Eldora,  Iowa.  He  brought 
Jiome  many  Spanish  and  other  relics  from 
the  places  he  visited,  and  feels  justly  pmud 
of  the  Dewey  medal  which  he  wears.  He 
.also  has  a  shell  which  came  nearly  ending 
his  life,  it  striking  four  inches  above  his 
head.  Ida  M.,  the  second  daughter  of  our 
subject,  is  the  wife  of  John  I.  Wheelan,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  advertising  business  in  St. 
Louis.  Cordelia  is  the  wife  of  Robert  P^le- 
herty,  of  New  Y<irk.  ^lary  J.  rmd  Olive  are 
both  at  home  with  their  father. 

In  1852  Mr.  Larson  purchased  a  tract  of 
-ivoodland  from  Mr.  Pillsbury,  and  convert- 


ed the  timber  into  lumber,  from  which  he 
manufactured  wagons.  He  also  bought  a 
farm  near  Andover,  and  for  many  _\-cars  was 
acti\'ely  engaged  in  farming  and  wagon- 
making,  but  since  1890  has  lived  a  retired 
life.  In  his  business  undertakings  he  met 
u  ith  excellent  success  and  added  to  his  land- 
ed i)ossessions  from  time  to  time  until  he  now 
owns  nearly  six  hundred  acres  of  improved 
pn'operty  which  he  rents.  For  some  years 
he  also  followed  auctioneering  very  success- 
fully, his  territory  extending  from  Rock 
ri\'er  into  Knox  and  Mercer  counties.  In 
May,  1900,  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Osco, 
v,'here  he  built  a  good  comfortable  dwelling 
house  and  v/here  he  is  now  living  in  ease  and 
retirement,  surrotmded  l)y  all  the  comforts 
of  life. 

^Ir.  Larson  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  and  is  one  of  its  most  lib- 
eral supporters.  He  has  always  been  liberal 
in  religious  matters  and  has  helped  toward 
building  many  different  churches.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  strong  Prohibitionist,  and  has 
served  his  fellow  citizens  faithfully  and  well 
as  commissioner  of  highways  thirty  years, 
justice  of  the  peace  twenty-eight  years,  and 
ii!  school  offices  many  years.  Public- 
spirited  and  progressive  to  an  eminent  de- 
gree, his  support  is  always  given  every 
v>orthy  enterprise  for  the  public  good.  At 
one  time  he  saved  the  Swedish  Insurance 
Company  from  failure  by  financial  aid,  and 
through  his  influence,  and  that  of  others,  the 
ccinipany  was  incorporated  and  placed  on  a 
strung  financial  basis.  Over  half  a  century  he 
has  been  identified  with  the  interests  of  Hen- 
ry county,  and  he  is  to-day  numbered  among 
its  most  valued  and  useful  citizens — a  man 
honored  and  respected  wherever  known. 
There  are  only  one  or  two  Swedes  in  the 
county  who  were  here  before  him. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


W.  PITT  WRIGHT. 

Tliis  well-known  retired  farmer  oi 
Orion,  first  came  to  Illinois  in  April,  1848. 
and  was  for  many  years  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  Rock  Island  county, 
where  he  located  in  ^lay,  1852,  but  since 
.April,  1 88 1,  has  made  his  home  in  Orion, 
Henry  county.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Goshen  township, 
Belmont  county,  that  state,  on  the  16th  of 
March,  1827.  His  father,  Benjamin  G. 
Wright,  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  in 
1798,  and  came  to  America  with  his  father, 
Joseph  Wright,  in  1802,  or  1804,  being 
among  the  first  settlers  of  Belmont  county, 
Ohio.  Joseph  \\  right  laid  out  and  founded 
the  town  of  Belmont,  and  being  a  well  ed- 
ucated man  he  became  one  of  the  pioneer 
teachers  of  that  county.  In  religious  belief 
he  was  a  Quaker.  In  Belmont  county  Ben- 
jamin G.  Wright  grew  to  manhood  and 
married  Jane  B.  Broomhall,  a  native  ~>i  Penn- 
sylvania, her  father  being  also  a  pioneer  set- 
tler of  that  county.  In  early  life  he  fol- 
lowed the  cabinet  maker's  trade,  but  later 
engaged  in  farming.  In  1851  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  after  a  short  time  spent  in  I  Ian- 
cock  county  took  up  his  residence  in  Rural 
township,  Rock  Island  county,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  there 
in  1890,  at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly 
ninety-two  years.  His  wife  passed  away  No- 
vember II,  1869. 

Upon  his  home  farm  in  his  native  coun- 
ty W.  Pitt  W'right  passed  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth,  receiving  rather  lim- 
ited educational  advantages.  On  coming  to 
Illinois  in  1848,  he  first  located  in  Hancock 
county,  but,  in  partnership  with  a  cousin,  he 
owned  and  operated  a  threshing  machine 
two  seasons,  in  Marshall  and  Bureau  coun- 


ties, Illinois,  but  working  on  the  farm  the 
remainder  of  each  year  in  Hancock  county. 
In  1852  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Coal 
\"alle\-,  now  Rural  township,  Rock  Island 
county,  where  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land,  which  he  converted  into 
a  good  farm.  In  1S73  ^^^  purchased  a  section 
of  land  in  Adams  count}-,  Iowa,  of  which 
he  gave  his  daughter  a  quarter-section.  In 
1880  he  sold  a  half-section,  and  yet  retains 
a  quarter-section  of  well  improved  land. 
Renting  his  property  he  removed  to  Orion 
in  1881  and  erected  his  present  comfortable 
residence.  Although  he  came  to  this  state 
in  limited  circumstances,  he  has  steadily 
overcame  the  obstacles  in  his  path  to  success, 
and  is  to-day  the  owner  of  two  well-improved 
and  valuable  farms  besides  his  town  prop- 
erty, and  can  well  afford  to  lay  aside  all 
business  cares  and  enjoy  the  fruits  of  former 
toil. 

Returning  to  his  old  home  in  Belmont 
county,  Ohio,  Mr.  Wright  was  married,  De- 
cember 31,  1850,  to  Miss  Mary  Eliza  Gregg, 
also  a  native  of  that  county,  of  which  her 
father,  John  S.  Gregg,  was  a  pioneer.  For 
fifty  j'ears  they  have  now  traveled  life's 
journe}'  together,  sharing  its  joys  and 
sorrows,  its  adversity  and  prosperity,  and  it 
is  their  intention  to  celebrate  their  golden 
wedding  on  the  31st  of  December,  1900. 
They  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  name- 
ly: Clara  E.,  wife  of  James  W.  Alexander, 
a  retired  citizen  of  Leno.x,  Taylor  county, 
Iowa;  Frank  G.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years;  Harry  P.,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  successfully  engaged  in  business 
in  Orion;  and  Bertha  May,  wife  of  John  H. 
Spencer,  operator  and  agent  for  the  Santa 
r-'e  railroad  at  Ottawa,  Kansas. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Wright  is 
a   Tacksonian   Democrat,  and   cast   his   first 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


presidential  vote  for  Franklin  Pierce,  in 
1852.  He  has  filled  the  office  of  conimis- 
sioner  of  highways,  and  has  also  served  as 
a  member  of  the  school  board,  but  has  never 
sought  political  honors.  For  over  half  a  cen- 
tury he  has  witnessed  the  wonderful  growtli 
and  development  that  ha\e  taken  place 
in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  in  this  work 
he  has  borne  an  active  part.  When  he  first 
located  here  deer,  geese,  turkeys  and  other 
wild  game  was  plentiful,  but  all  have  dis- 
appeared as  the  country-  has  become  more 
thickly  settled,  and  all  the  comforts  of  an 
advanced  civilization  have  been  introduced. 


S.  HEXRY  BURROWS. 

S.  Henr}-  Burrows,  an  enterprising  and 
progressive  agriculturist  of  Henry  county, 
whose  home  is  on  section  12,  Andover  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Franklin  count}^  Massa- 
chusetts, August  26,  1862,  and  came  to  this 
county  in  1868  with  his  parents,  Barnard 
H.  and  Susan  C.  (Gould)  Burrows.  The 
Burrows  family  was  founded  in  America 
about  1700,  and  the  father,  grandfather  and 
great-grandfather  were  all  natives  of  Frank- 
lin county,  ^lassachusetts.  The  last  named 
was  a  soldier  of  both  the  Revolutionary  war 
and  the  war  of  1812,  while  the  maternal 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  also  fought 
for  the  independence  of  the  colonies  in  the 
former  struggle.  His  ancestors  have  always 
been  associated  with  agricultural  pursuits. 

Barnard  H.  Burrows  was  the  eldest  of 
a  famil}-  of  five  children,  one  of  whom  is  still 
living,  Levi  Burrows,  who  resides  in  Green- 
field, ^Massachusetts.  During  his  boyhood 
and  youth  he  attended  the  common  schools 
near  his  home  and  also  took  a  course  at  an 


acadeni)'  in  Amherst.  Throughout  his  active 
business  life  he  followed  farming,  and 
owned  a  good  farm  of  ninety  acres  in  his 
native  state,  adjoining  which  is  now  locat- 
ed the  Moody  school.  December  14,  1858, 
he  married  Miss  Susan  C.  Gould,  a  native 
of  Canaan,  New  Hampshire,  and  to  them 
were  born  four  children,  namely:  Alice, 
now  the  wife  of  Frederick  ^^^  Hall,  of 
Crookston,  ^Minnesota;  ^linnie,  at  home;  S. 
Henry,  of  this  review ;  and  Leon  A.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Dillon,  Montana.  All  were  born  in 
Massachusetts.  In  1868  the  father  brought 
his  family  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Cam- 
bridge. The  following  year  he  purchased 
the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  12,  Andover  township,  which  has 
since  been  the  homestead  of  the  family,  and 
was  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising  until  called  to  his  final 
rest  April  3,  1895,  ^t  the  age  of  sixty-four 
years.  Politically  he  was  a  supporter  of  the 
Republican  part}-,  and  religiously  was  a  sup- 
porter of  the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
In  business  afifairs  he  was  upright  and  re- 
liable, and  in  all  the  relations  of  life  was 
found  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him. 
FJis  estimable  wife  still  survives  him  at  the 
age  of  sixty-four  years,  and  continues  to  re- 
side on  the  old  homestead. 

S.  Henry  Burrows,  of  this  review,  grad- 
uated at  the  Cambridge  high  school  in  1881, 
as  did  also  his  sister  ^Minnie.  He  remained 
on  the  home  farm  assisting  his  father  in  its 
operation  until  1883,  when  he  went  to  North 
Dakota  and  took  up  a  homestead  in  Benson 
count)^,  remaining  there  about  thirteen 
years,  during  which  time  he  placed  the  land 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  made 
many  impro\-ements  thereon  in  the  way  of 
buildings.  He  still  retains  the  same,  and 
derives  therefrom  a  good  income.    In  the  fall 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


123 


of  1895  he  returned  to  tlie  old  homestead 
ii.  UHnois,  but  still  visits  his  Dakota  farm 
eacii  fall  to  see  that  cveryth.iiig;  is  kej)!  in 
perfect  order.  After  the  death  of  his  fatlier 
he  assumed  charge  of  the  home  place,  which 
he  continues  to  successfully  operate,  being- 
engaged  in  general  farming.  Since  the  fa- 
ther's death  a  good  residence  lias  been  erect- 
ed and  is  fitted  up  with  all  motlern  conven- 
iences. As  a  Republican  Mr.  Burrows 
t.':kes  an  active  and  commendable  interest  in 
public  affairs,  and  while  a  resident  of  Da- 
kota served  two  terms  as  county  commis- 
sioner in  a  most  creditable  and  acceptable 
manner.  lie  is  one  of  the  most  ])ublic- 
spirited  and  enterprising  citizens  of  his 
community,  and  gives  his  .support  to  all 
AV(M-thy  objects  for  the  public  good. 


Cn.\RI.KS  M.   SAML'KI.SOX. 

l'"nr  a  ])eriod  of  about  forty  years  Charles 
AI.  Samuelson  was  one  of  the  most  active 
and  successful  farmers  of  Henry  county, 
owning  and  operating  a  well-improved  and 
valuable  place  of  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  pleasantly  located  two  miles  from  Or- 
ion, but  he  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  that 
village,  having  acquired  a  comfortable  com- 
petence that  enables  him  to  lay  aside  all  busi- 
ness cares. 

Like  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  Henry 
county,  Mr.  Samuelson  is  a  native  of  Swe- 
den, where  his  birth  occurred  November 
28,  182^).  His  parents  were  Samuel  and 
Anna  (Nelson)  Johnson,  in  whose  family 
were  six  sons  and  one  daughter,  the  latter 
being  Airs.  Alagnuson,  of  Osco  township, 
this  county.  Th.e  two  nldei-  suns  remained 
in  Sweden,  but    the    other    members  uf  the 


family  came  with  the  parents  to  the  United 
States. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  his 
native  land,  and  received  the  rudiments  of  an 
education  at  his  mother's  knee,  but  is  almost 
wholly  self-educated.  In  1S51  he  took  pas- 
sage on  a  sailing  vessel  at  \\'urlemburg,  and 
was  about  thirteen  weeks  in  crossing  the 
ocean  to  New  York,  divring  wdiich  time  the 
ship  encountered  a  number  of  severe  storms. 
In  October  of  that  year  he  went  to  Buffalo 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  river  and  the  Erie 
canal,  and  was  engaged  in  chopping  wood 
in  the  timber  until  the  following  spring, 
when  he  crossed  the  lakes  to  Chicago, whence 
he  proceeded  by  canal  boat  to  La  Salle,  Illi- 
nois, and  by  team  to  Andover,  Henry  cnunty. 
Shortly  afteiward  he  went  to  (ialesburg, 
Vvhere  he  worked  by  the  month  on  a  farm 
for  two  years,  and  ditl  not  locate  perma- 
nently in  Henry  county  until  October,  1854. 
His  father  and  three  brothers  also  located 
here,  and  the  former  entered  eighty  acres  of 
Isnd  in  Western  township,  now  uwned  by 
our  subject.  He  commenced  work  here  and 
later  succeeded  to  the  place.  Prospering  in 
liis  farming  operations,  he  purchased  more 
land  from  time  to  time,  until  he  now^  owns 
four  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  He  has 
erected  thereon  a  good  residence,  three  barns, 
sheds  and  other  outbuildings,  has  planted  an 
orchard  and  made  many  other  valuable  im- 
jirovements  f)n  the  place,  so  that  it  is  now 
one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  in  the  locali- 
ty. He  continued  the  cultivation  of  his  fields 
until  1895,  when  he  rented  the  farm  and 
moved  to  Orion,  where  he  owns  a  pleasant 
home. 

In  September,  1856,  in  Henry  county, 
Mr.  Samuelson  was  united  in  marriage  w'ith 
?\Iiss  Johanna  Swanson.  daughter  of  John 
Swanson,  who  was  linrn  ;ind  reared  in  .Swe- 


124 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


den,  but  came  to  Anchn-er  in  1853.  Tliey 
have  become  the  parents  of  the  following 
children :  All^ert,  who  is  married  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  the  home  place;  Peter 
and  Edward,  who  are  also  married  and  fol- 
low farming  in  Western  township;  X'ictor, 
at  home;  Oscar,  who  operates  a  part  of  his 
father's  land;  Hannah,  wife  of  Bert  Butler, 
a  noted  vocalist,  while  she  is  a  violinist  of 
considerable  ability,  both  haxing  studied  at 
the  conservatory  of  music  in  Berlin;  Minnie, 
wife  of  William  Westerlund,  a  business  man 
of  Chicago;  and  Mary,  who  died  in  child- 
hood. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  bal- 
lot for  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  i860,  Mr.  Sam- 
uelson  has  been  unswerving  in  his  allegiance 
to  the  Republican  party  and  its  principles, 
but  has  never  cared  for  political  preferment. 
He  has,  however,  taken  an  active  interest  in 
educational  affairs  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  earnest 
and  consistent  members  of  the  Swedish  Lu- 
theran Church, and  are  justl}'  deserving  the 
high  regard  in  which  the\'  are  uniformly 
held.  Having  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self empty-handed,  his  record  is  one  well 
worth}-  of  emulation  and  contains  many  val- 
uable lessons  of  incentive,  showing  the  pos- 
sibilities  that  are  open  to  young  men  who 
wish  to  improve  every  opportunity  for  ad- 
vancement. 


JOHN  M.  :\IAMTY. 

One  of  the  prominent  representatives  of 
the  journalistic  profession  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  brief  notice,  the 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Chronicle  of 
Cambridge.  He  was  born  in  Decatur  count}', 
Indiana,  May   14.   i86j,  a  son  of  John  A. 


and  Susan  Z.  (Wise)  Mavity,  both  natives 
of  Jefferson  county,  that  state.  His  ma- 
ternal grandfather  was  Thomas  Wise,  a 
cousin  of  Governor  Wise,  of  Virginia,  who 
hung  John  Brown.  The  grandfather  was  a 
member  of  the  first  session  of  tl^e  Indiana 
state  legislature,  which  convened  at  Corydon 
in  1824,  and  continued  a  member  for  man}^ 
years,  until  after  the  capital  was  removed  to 
Indianapolis.  He  died  at  the  extreme  old 
age  of  eighty-eight  years.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  a  soldier  of  the  war  of 
1 81 2.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Tippe- 
canoe in  181 1. 

John  A.  Mavity,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, followed  blacksmithing  until  after  the 
Ci\il  war  broke  out,  but  in  June,  1862,  he 
laid  aside  all  personal  interests  to  join  the 
boys  in  blue  of  Company  B,  Sixth  Indiana 
^"olunteer  Infantry.  He  took  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Stone  River,  Lookout  ^Mountain  and 
Chickamauga,  and  was  with  Sherman  in 
the  Atlanta  campaign  until  the  battle  of  Re- 
saca,  when  he  was  seriously  wounded  in  the 
right  leg  above  the  knee.  It  was  thought 
that  the  limb  would  have  to  be  amputated, 
but  he  had  one  of  his  comrades  get  him  a 
dull,  and  with  it  he  kept  the  surgeon  awa}'. 
After  his  recovery  he  remained  in  the  hos- 
pital as  assistant,  and  in  that  capacity  did 
excellent  service  until  discharged,  in  June, 
1865.  Returning  to  his  home  in  Indiana, 
he  followed  his  trade  for  a  few  years,  and 
then  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Christian 
Church,  with  which  he  had  united  a  number 
of  j'ears  before  the  war.  He  successfully 
engaged  in  preaching  for  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury in  different  parts  of  ^lichigan,  Indi- 
ana and  Illinois,  filling  some  of  the  best  pul- 
pits of  his  church,  but  now,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven  years,  is  living  a  retired  life  in 
^^'est   Lebanon,   Indiana.   enJDving   a   well- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


125 


earned  rest.  His  lias  lieen  an  lii'noraI)le  and 
useful  life,  in  which  he  has  labored  untir- 
jnglv  ft>r  the  good  of  his  fellow  men,  and  he 
lias  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who 
know  him.  His  estimable  wife  is  still  living' 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one.  and  is  an  active 
member  of  the  same  church.  Of  their  four 
children.  Jdhn  .M.  is  third  in  order  of  birth. 
Jesse,  the  oldest,  is  fureuian  of  a  linplate 
factorv  in  Atlanta.  Indiana,  where  he  resides 
with  his  wife  and  three  children.  Helen 
died  in  infancy.  Thomas  \\".  married  Xeltie 
Mnsick,  of  Eureka,  Illinois,  who  tlied  in 
1896,  and  he  died  in  1898,  at  the  age  of  . 
thirty-two  years,  leaving  two  children — 
]\[aurine  and  Grace. 

After  ])ursuing  a  higli-school  course  John 
^r.  Ma\it_\-  attended  I'"ranklin  College,  and 
after  com[)leting  his  education  engaged  in 
teaching  school  for  four  years  in  Johnson 
and  Bartholomew  counties,  Indiana,  and  six 
years  in  Warren  county,  that  state,  having 
charge  of  country  schools  two  years,  and 
later  serving  as  principal  of  the  schools  of 
State  Line  and  West  Lebanon  for  two  years 
each.  In  1889  he  ]nu-chascd  the  West  Leb- 
anon (iazette,  which  he  successfully  ci in- 
ducted until  tile  1st  of  August,  1900,  when 
he  sold  that  paper  and  bought  the  Chronicle 
of  Cambridge,  Illinois,  which  he  is  now  \n\])- 
lishing.  Having  studied  law,  Mr.  Mavity 
■was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1892.  and  from 
that  time  until  coming  to  L'anibrid'ge  he 
ser\ed  as  city  attorney  of  West  Lebanon, 
Indiana,  and  also  as  notary  public.  He  did, 
liowe\er,  only  an  office  practice. 

Mr.  Mavit\-  was  married  in  Jul\-,  188^), 
to  Miss  Laura  F.  Hendricks,  of  1  ledrick, 
Indiana,  a  daughter  of  John  L.  and  llethier 
Hendricks,  and  by  this  union  have  been  liorn 
two  children:  May  and  J.  h.arl.  (  )ur 
subject  and  lii>  wife  are  both  actix'e  members 


of  the  Christian  Church,  and  while  a  resi- 
dent of  Indiana  he  served  as  clerk  and  elder 
in  the  same.  He  is  also  a  jjrominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  In  the  former 
he  has  filled  every  office  and  served  as  dele- 
gate to  the  grand  lodge  of  the  state,  while 
in  the  Woodmen  Camp  he  has  serx'ed  as 
xenerable  consul,  a  tlelegate  to  the  grand 
ledge  of  Indiana,  and  to  the  supreme  lodge, 
vhich  met  at  Kansas  City  in  1899.  Through 
the  columns  of  his  paper  and  Iiy  personal 
effort  Mr.  Mavity  has  done  much  to  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  the  Republican  party 
and  insure  its  success,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Kepuljlican  central  committee  of  W  ar- 
ren  county.  Jndiana,  from  1884  to  1898, 
i!:clusi\e.  ser\ing  as  secretar\-  and  chairman 
of  the  same  from  1890  ti.i  1896.  He  has 
also  been  a  delegate  to  numerous  county 
and  state  conventions  of  his  party. 


T.   J.   UACHCS. 

For  the  past  nine  vears  T.  I.  P>achus  has 
l.een  one  of  the  most  active  and  progressive 
business  men  of  Orion,  where  at  first  he 
engaged  only  in  the  grain  and  lumber  trade, 
but  since  1895  has  also  carried  on  contract- 
ing and  liuilding  with  good  success.  Keen 
discrimination,  unflagging  industry  and 
resolute  purpose  are  numbered  among  his 
salient  characteristics  and  to  the.se  may  be 
attributed  his  success  in  life. 

.A  native  of  Henrj'-  county,  ^h.  Baclius 
v.as  born  in  Oxford  township,  February  3, 
i860,  and  is  a  son  of  James  Bachus,  who 
was  born  in  Gallipolis,  Ohio,  of  which  state 
the  grandfather  was  a  pioneer.  The  latter 
died  there  when    lames  was  a  child  of  f>iur 


126 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years.  On  leaving  the  Buckej-e  state  in  1843 
he  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  set- 
tled in  Oxford  township,  where  he  i)re- 
empted  and  later  entered  land,  making  for 
himself  a  well-improved  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres.  He  wedded  Aliss 
J\lary  James,  a  native  of  Pittshurg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, who,  like  her  hushand,  was  left  an 
orphan  in  childhood.  He  hecame  one  of  the 
prosperous  farmers  of  his  community,  as 
vt-ell  as  one  of  its  most  influential  and  prom- 
inent citizens,  and  served  as  township  trus- 
tee for  twenty-one  consecutive  years,  heing 
then  succeeded  by  our  subject.  The  father 
died  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  vears, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1874,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-tw(_)  years.  In  their  family  were 
six  children,  namely:  I\Iary,  wife  of  Sidney 
Mead,  of  Wichita,  Kansas;  Jane,  wife  of 
Harry  Light;  James,  a  resident  of  Peoria, 
Illinois;  Benjamin,  of  Buffalo,  Missouri; 
Archibald,  of  Lakefield,  Minnesota;  and  T. 
I.,  our  subject. 

T.  I.  Bachus  grew  to  manhood  upon 
his  father's  farm,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  home  school.  On  lea\-ing  the 
parental  roof  he  went  t<>  Jacksun  ci  unity, 
Minnesota,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  also  dealing  in  grain  and  hay  for  about 
six  years.  He  made  a  specialty  of  hay,  which 
he  bought  and  shipped  in  large  quantities. 
Disposing  of  his  business  there  he  returned 
to  this  county  in  1892  and  located  at  Orion, 
where  he  bought  out  an  estabUshed  grain  and 
lumber  business  with  a  good  elevator  and 
lumber  sheds  and  yard.  B}-  fair  and  hon- 
orable dealing  he  has  built  up  an'  excellent 
trade,  receiving  a  liberal  share  of  the  public 
patronage.  In  1895  Mr.  Bachus  also  be- 
gan contracting  and  building,  and  has  since 
erected  many  buildings  in  Henry  and  Rock 
Island  counties,  including  churches,  business 


houses,  elevators  and  numerous  dwellings. 
Along  this  line  he  has  done  much  to  improve 
and  benefit  the  country,  and  is  to-day  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leading  business  men 
and  most  public-spirited  citizens  of  Orion. 
At  that  place,  Mr.  Bachus  was  married, 
May  24,  1894,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Gertrude  McClosky,  who  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  in  Orion,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Edward  McClosky,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Henry  county.  In  politics 
Mr.  Bachus  is  a  stanch  Republican,  having 
affiliated  with  that  party  since  casting  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  James  A.  Garfield, 
in  1880.  For  two  years  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  town  board,  but  has  never 
cared  for  political  honors,  desiring  rather 
to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness affairs.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Master 
IMason,  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge  of 
Orion,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Eastern  Star  Chapter. 


SAMUEL  STEWART. 

For  over  thirty-two  years  Sanniel  Stew- 
art has  been  a  resident  of  Henry  county,  and 
liis  name  is  inseparably  connected  with  its 
agricultural  interests.  He  is  now  tlie  owner 
of  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundrqd  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  28,  Colona  township,  and  in 
its  operation  he  is  meeting  with  excellent 
success.  He  was  born  in  county  Down, 
Ireland,  Marcli  i,  1865,  and  on  the  paternal 
side  is  of  Scotch  ancestry.  His  father, 
Robert  Stewart,  was  liorn  in  county  Down, 
Ireland,  in  182 1,  and  on  reaching  manhood 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane 
Craig.  In  tlie  land  of  his  birth  he  contin- 
ued to  make  his  home,  being  engaged  in 
farming,  until  after  the  birth  of  all  his  chil- 


SAMUEL  STEWART. 


L 


UNIVEfiSny  OFIUINOIS 
URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


129 


dren.  On  Iiis  emigration  to  America  in 
1868,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Colona 
township,  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  his  sons  opened  up  the  farm 
on  w^hich  our  subject  now  resides,  convert- 
ing tlie  wild  tract  into  a  highly  improved 
farm.  There  he  died  in  1887,  and  his  wife 
passed  away  in  1894.  They  were  reared 
in  the  Presbyterian  faith,  and  throughout 
life  were  active  and  consistent  members  of 
that  church. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
seven  children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters, 
who  reached  years  of  maturity,  namely : 
John  went  to  Nebraska  after  reaching  man- 
hood and  there  died;  William  is  married  and 
lives  in  Red  Willow  county,  Nebraska; 
James  makes  his  home  in  Clay  county,  that 
state;  Samuel,  our  subject;  Robert  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Red  Willow  county,  Nebraska;  Eh- 
za  is  the  wife  of  William  Brown,  of  Colona 
township,  this  county;  and  Flora  is  the  wife 
of  Hugh  D.  Carey,  of  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois. 

Reared  to  manhood  on  the  old  home- 
stead farm  Samuel  Stewart  became  familiar 
with  the  common  English  branches  of  learn- 
ing in  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood. He  aided  in  the  work  of  improving 
and  cultivating  the  home  farm,  remaining 
Avith  his  father  until  theMatter's  death,  and 
continued  its  operation  for  ten  years  there- 
after. He  then  purchased  the  interests  of 
the  other  heirs  and  succeeded  to  the  home- 
stead, which  he  has  greatly  improved.  A 
well  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  feet  deep 
has  been  drilled  upon  the  place,  and  a  wind 
pump  put  in,  furnishing  an  abundant  sup- 
ply of  good  water  for  his  stock.  As  a  farm- 
er and  stock  raiser  he  has  met  with  excellent 
success,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  well-to-do 
citizens  of  his  community. 


In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Stewart  is 
an  uncompromising  Democrat,  and  an  ad- 
vocate of  the  principles  of  the  party's  laid 
down  by  W'illiam  J.  Bryan.  He  does  all  in 
his  power  to  advance  the  interests  and  insure 
the  success  of  his  party,  but  has  never  cared 
for  political  preferment.  He  has  served, 
however,  as  a  member  of  the  school  board 
and  clerk  of  the  district.  Religiously  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Warner  Baptist  church, 
and  is  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all 
who  know  him. 


LEONARD  R.  BOTHWELL. 

Among  the  most  prominent  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  Western  township  is  this 
well-known  and  prosperous  farmer,  who 
owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  of  three  hun- 
dred acres,  the  home  being  on  section  22, 
within  one  mile  of  Orion.  He  was  born 
in  Jefferson  county.  New  York,  April  28, 
1838,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  Plis  pa- 
ternal grandfather  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tiers  of  the  Empire  state,  and  his  father, 
David  Bothwell,  was  a  native  of  Washing- 
ton county.  New  York.  The  latter  married 
Jemima  Spencer,  of  Jefferson  county,  who 
died  in  1842,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
1846. 

Thus  left  an  orplian  at  an  early  age  Leon- 
ard R.  Bothwell  was  reared  by  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Mary  Scott,  and  with  her  moved  to 
I'rown  county,  Wisconsin,  in  1846,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood,  his  primary  education 
being  obtained  in  the  common  schools  of 
that  locality.  The  knowledge  there  acquired 
has  been  greatly  supplemented  by  reading 
and  observation  in  later  years.  He  aided 
ir,  the  work  of  the  farm  and  was  also  em- 
pliiycd  in  a  sawmill  for  a  time. 


I30 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  June,  i860,  Mr.  Bothwell  came  to 
Henr^-  county,  Illinois,  and  worked  b}-  the 
month  for  a  number  of  j'cars  as  a  farm  hand 
for  N.  B.  Lloyd,  who  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  from  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania, 
to  locate  here,  the  date  of  his  arrival  being 
1838.  In  August,  1861,  Mr.  Bothwell  joined 
the  bo3's  in  blue  in  the  efforts  to  crush  out 
the  rebellion,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
Eleventh  Battery,  Ohio  Light  Artillery, 
v.'hich  was  assigned  to  the  Western  army, 
and  was  organized  at  St.  Louis.  The  win- 
ter was  spent  in  Missouri,  and  their  first 
engagement  was  at  Xew  Madrid,  which  was 
followed  by  the  battle  of  luka,  Mississippi, 
September  19,  1862,  where  Mr.  Bothwell 
was  wounded,  being  twice  shot  through  the 
arm  and  also  in  the  right  side.  Being  per- 
manentl}^  disabled  he  was  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital at  Jackson,  Tennessee,  where  he  re- 
mained until  honorably  discharged  from  the 
service  in  January,  1863.  That  spring  he 
returned  to  Henry  county,  and  when  he  had 
sufficienth'  recovered  began  work  on  the 
farm  of  his  father-in-law.  During  1865 
and  1866,  he  was  simikui}-  emph.iyed  in 
Iowa,  but  since  that  time  has  made  his  home 
uninterruptedly  in  this  county. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  1867,  Mr.  Bothwell 
married  Miss  Florence  D.  Lloyd,  a  daugh- 
ter of  X.  B.  Lloyd.  She  was  born  in  Henry 
county,  ^la}-  12,  1844,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  within  one  mile  of  her  present 
home.  She  attended  the  Geneseo  high  school 
for  a  time,  and  spent  about  four  years  with 
an  uncle  in  Pennsylvania.  After  his  mar- 
riage j\Ir.  Bothwell  helped  carry  on  the 
Lloyd  farm  until  1871,  and  then  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm,  which  at 
that  time  was  all  wild  prairie,  and  which 
he  at  once  began  to  break  and  improve. 
He  bought  more  land  from  time  to  time. 


including  a  part  of  the  Lloyd  estate,  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  of  three 
lumdred  acres,  improved  with  good  buildings 
and  supplied  with  all  the  accessories  and 
con\'eniences  found  upon  a  model  farm  of  the 
twentieth  century.  Besides  this  valuable 
property  he  also  owns  residence  lots  in  Orion. 
In  connection  with  general  farming  he  is 
engaged  in  stock  raising,  and  is  meeting  with 
excellent  success  in  both  undertakings.  He 
became  a"  stockholder  on  the  reorganization 
of  the  Farmers  Bank  of  Orion,  in  1895,  and 
has  since  served  as  vice-president  of  the 
same. 

]\Ir.  and  ^Irs.  Bothwell  are  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  namely:  Ada,  the  wife 
of  Charles  Anderson,  a  farmer  of  Western 
township:  Amelia.  Esther,  Lizzie,  Herbert, 
EKvood,  Arthur,  William  and  Clarence,  all 
at  home,  while  the  three  youngest  are  still 
in  school. 

In  his  political  affiliations  ^Ir.  Bothwell 
is  an  ardent  Republican,  having  supported 
that  party  since  casting  his  first  vote  for  A. 
Lincoln,  in  i860.  He  has  taken  (|u-te  an 
active  and  prominent  part  in  local  politics; 
lias  served  as  assessor  four  years :  as  town- 
ship collector  two  years;  and  in  1887  was 
elected  supervisor,  which  office  he  filled  so 
acceptably  that  he  has  been  constantly  re- 
elected, serving  in  all  thirteen  consecutive 
vears.  He  has  served  on  a  number  of  im- 
portant committees  and  is  now  chairman 
of  the  county  building  committee  and  the 
purchasing  committee.  He  has  also  been 
a  delegate  to  various  county  conventions  of 
his  party,  and  has  made  a  faithful  and  effi- 
cient officer  in  whatever  position  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  fill.  Fraternally  he  is  an 
honored  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  the  Ancient  Order  of  L'nited 
Workmen  and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


131 


public,  and  has  served  as  quartermaster  of 
the  post  at  Orion  since  its  organization. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  honest  and  earnest 
endeavor  and  due  success  has  not  been  de- 
nied him. 


TOHX  LIX.V. 


The  expression  "dijjnity  of  labor"  is  ex- 
emplified in  the  life  record  of  this  gentleman, 
who  without  reserve  attributes  his  success 
tc  earnest  work.  He  is  a  man  of  strong 
force  of  character,  purposeful  and  energetic, 
and  his  keen  discrimination  and  sound  judg- 
ment are  shown  in  his  capable  management 
of  business  afifairs.  He  is  to-day  the  lead- 
ing merchant  tailor  of  Cambridge,  in  which 
city  he  has  made  his  home  since  February, 
1895. 

Mr.  Linn  was  born  at  Mo,  near  Smler- 
hamm,  in  the  northern  ])art  of  Sweden, 
March  12,  1841,  his  parents  being  John  P. 
and  Sarah  Foline,  wlm  never  came  to  Amer- 
ica. The  father,  who  was  born  in  1813, 
is  still  living.  He  has  served  in  the  standing 
army  of  Sweden,  though  never  engaged  in 
war,  doing  garrison  duty  most  of  the  time. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  1847, 
and  the  fatlier  subse(|uently  married  again, 
but  his  second  wife  has  also  passed  away. 
His  children  were  Foline,  who  came  to  this 
country  w  ith  our  subject,  and  is  now  engaged 
in  the  shoe  business  in  Moline,  Illinois; 
John,  of  this  review:  Andrew,  a  shoemaker 
by  tr.ule,  who  died  in  St.  Petersburg,  Rus- 
sia, in  1871,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven 
years ;   and   Charles,   who   died   in   infancy. 

On  coming  to  this  country  in  the  fall 
of  1868,  Mr.  Linn  first  located  in  Geneseo, 
Illinois,  where  he  spent  four  years,  and  then 
went  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  he  was  en- 


gaged in  the  merchant  tailoring  business 
v.ith  P.  A.  Harling  for  the  same  length  of 
time.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he  returned 
to  Geneseo.  where  he  followed  the  same 
business  alone  until  1881,  and  later  con- 
ducted a  tailoring  establishment  in  !Moline 
until  1892.  On  leaving  that  city  he  again 
returned  to  Geneseo,  and  continued  to  carry 
on  business  there  with  F.  F.  Aldeen  until 
1895,  when  he  sold  out  to  his  partner  and 
came  to  Camljridge,  where  he  has  already 
built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  trade. 

Before  leaving  his  native  land.  Mr.  Linn 
was  married  on  the  ist  of  January.  1865, 
to  Miss  Jennie  Sparman,  who  was  born  in 
L^meo,  W'esterbotten,  Sweden,  ]\ray  10, 
1842.  Of  the  eleven  children  born  to  them 
only  three  have  been  spared,  namely:  Han- 
nah, wife  of  Albert  Freeman,  of  Moline; 
Jennie,  who  married  Oscar  Boom,  of  Gen- 
eseo, and  has  three  children,  May  and  Maria, 
twins,  and  Jennie ;  and  Clara,  who  is  in  a 
store  in  Rock  Island.  Mrs.  Linn  and  her 
daughters  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church 
and  are  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
them. 

In  his  political  views  ]\Ir.  Linn  is  a 
Republican.  He  was  penniless  on  coming 
to  the  new  world  and  had  to  work  a  }-ear 
and  a  half  to  get  enough  money  to  send  for 
his  wife  and  two  children,  who  had  remained 
in  Sweden.  He  therefore  deserves  great 
credit  for  the  success  that  he  has  achieved 
in  life.  Besides  his  pleasant  and  commodious 
residence  in  Cambridge  he  is  now  the  owner 
of  one  of  the  most  highly  cultivated  and 
best  improved  farms  in  Andover  township. 
Upon  the  place  is  a  good  ten-room  residence, 
a  barn,  cribs  and  other  buildings.  Dili- 
gence has  been  the  keynote  to  his  success, 
and  his  example  is  one  that  might  be  profit- 
abljr  followed   by   all   who  ha\-e  to  depend 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


upon  their  own  exertions.  His  worth  is 
widely  recognized  and  he  enjoys  the  friend- 
ship of  the  best  people  of  Cambridge. 


PETER  C.  STEWART. 

Although  well  past  the  Psalmist's  span 
of  three  score  years  and  ten,  Peter  C.  Stew- 
art is  still  actively  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  Henrj^  county  and  ably 
superintends  the  management  of  his  fine 
farm  of  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  on 
section  26,  Colona  township.  He  was  born 
in  Somerset  count)^  Pennsyhania,  March 
22,  1818,  and  is  a  representative  of  one  of 
the  pioneer  families  of  New  York,  where 
his  father,  David  Stewart,  was  born  in  1763. 
On  reaching  manhood  the  latter  married 
Effa  Culverson,  who  was  born  in  Xew  Jer- 
sey, but  was  reared  in  the  Empire  state. 
For  a  few  years  the}-  made  their  home  in 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  then 
removed  to  Muskingiun  county,  Ohio,  be- 
ing numbered  among  its  first  settlers.  In 
1838  they  came  to  Illinois  and  took  up  their 
residence  in  fiercer  county,  where  the  father 
died  three  years  later. 

Peter  C.  Stewart  was  twenty  years  of 
age  when  he  came  with  his  father  to  this 
state,  and  he  spent  two  seasons  working  on 
the  home  farm  in  Mercer  county.  Coming 
to  Henry  county  in  1841  he  rented  land  in 
A\'estern  township,  and  commenced  farming 
on  his  own  account.  After  about  eight  or 
ten  years  spent  in  this  way  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  36,  the 
same  township,  and  at  once  began  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation.  Acre  after  acre 
was  placed  under  the  plow  until  the  entire 
amount  was  highly  cultivated.     To  the  orig- 


inal purchase  he  later  added  another  one- 
hundred-and-sixty-acre  tract,  making  a  farm 
of  half  a  section  which  he  still  owns,  and 
still  later  he  purchased  the  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  on  section  26,  Colona 
township,  which  he  now  occupies.  The 
buildings  upon  the  place  are  neat  and  sub- 
stantial and  everything  about  the  farm  indi- 
cates the  careful  supervision  of  a  painstak- 
ing owner.  He  has  engaged  in  raising  and 
feeding  stock  quite  extensively,  and  annually 
ships  to  the  city  markets  four  carloads  of 
cattle  and  two  of  hogs. 

In  Henrj^  county  'Sir.  Stewart  was  mar- 
ried, December  20,  1845,  to  Miss  Eliza  Jane 
Piatt,  who  was  born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
August  5,  1823,  but  was  principally  reared 
in  Indiana.  About  1838  or  1839  she  came 
with  her  father,  Jacob  Piatt,  to  Henr}^  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  Her  father  was  twice  married, 
his  second  union  being  wnth  Jane  Thomp- 
son. On  coming  to  Henry  county  he  bought 
land  in  Weller  township,  where  he  died  in 
1848.  His  wife  survived  him  until  1880. 
They  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart  have  five 
children  living,  namely :  Frank,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  engaged  in  fruit  growing  in  Delta, 
Colorado;  William  J.,  wdio  is  married  and  is 
now  serving  as  superintendent  of  schools  in 
Nance  count}-,  Nebraska,  being  a  teacher  of 
long  experience;  Edward,  who  is  married 
and  engaged  in  the  stock  business  in  Trini- 
dad, Colorado;  Allies  K.,  who  is  married 
and  lives  on  the  home  farm  with  his  father, 
though  he  owns  a  farm  in  Colona  township; 
Ellen,  wife  of  John  Holden,  who  lives  on 
the  Stewart  farm.  One  daughter.  Ada, 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years. 

Politically  Mr.  Stewart  is  a  Jefifersonian 
Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Martin  Van  Buren.     He  has  taken 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSI1Y  OF  ILLINOIS 

UKBANA 


p.  C.   STEWART. 


MRS.   P.   C.   STEWART. 


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URSANii(         IS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


137 


an  active  interest  in  educational  affairs, 
serving  as  school  director  some  years,  and  as 
president  and  clerk  of  the  district.  Although 
eighty-three  }'ears  of  age  he  has  the  vigor  of 
a  much  younger  man  and  in  spirit  and  inter- 
est seems  yet  in  his  prime.  Old  age  is  not 
necessaril)-  a  synonym  of  weakness  and  in- 
activity. It  needs  not  suggest  as  a  matter 
of  course  the  want  of  occupation  or  helpless- 
ness. Mr.  Stewart  stands  to-day  in  his  ma- 
ture years  a  strong  man,  strong  in  the  con- 
sciousness of  a  well-spent  life,  strong  to  plan 
an.d  perform,  strong  in  his  credit  and  good 
name,  and  a  worthy  example  for  young  men 
to  pattern  after.  For  almost  sixty  years  he 
and  his  wife  have  been  residents  of  Henry 
county,  and  are  to-day  numbered  among  its 
most  honored  pioneers  and  highly-respected 
citizens. 


JOHN  A.  BRODD. 

This  gentleman,  who  has  been  actively 
identified  with  the  farming  interests  of  An- 
dover  township  for  several  years,  was  born 
at  Broddark  Parish,  sixty-five  miles  from 
Gottenberg,  Sweden,  on  the  2nd  of  Febru- 
ary, 1850,  a  son  of  John  and  Catharine 
(Larson)  Brodd,  natives  of  the  same  coun- 
try. The  father  was  born  October  27,  1821, 
and  is  a  son  .of  Swan  and  Christine  Brodd, 
who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  Sweden,  Iioth 
living  to  an  advanced  age. 

In  his  native  land  John  Brodd,  father 
of  our  subject,  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming  until  1863,  when  he  sailed  from 
Gottenberg,  Sweden,  to  Hamburg,  Ger- 
many, and  at  the  latter  place  took  passage 
on  a  sailing  vessel  for  New  York.  He  was 
five  weeks  in  crossing  the  ocean,  that  being 
considered  a  <|uick    voyage    at    that    time. 


Coming  at  once  to  Andovcr,  Illinois,  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  the  well  known  log  house 
in  the  center  nf  the  village,  where  he  made 
his  home  until  the  following  fall,  when  he 
bought  two  and  a  half  acres  in  the  same 
place,  and  lived  there  six  years  and  a  half. 
For  thirteen  years  he  rented  the  David  Pol- 
lock farm,  and  tlicn  purchased  the  farm 
where  our  subject  now  resides,  buying  later 
thirty  acres,  which  he  improved  and  placed 
under  cultivation,  and  where  he  now  resides. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
in  religious  belief  is  a  Lutheran,  to  which 
church  his  wife  also  belongs.  They  are  still 
living  in  Andover  township  and  are  num- 
bered among  its  honored  residents.  Of  their 
seven  children  six  were  lx)rn  in  Sweden,  and 
Clara  and  Frank  G.  both  died  in  that  coun- 
try prior  to  the  emigration  of  the  family. 
Anna  Sophia  died  in  Andover  township  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  John  A.  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Frank  L.  is  a 
resident  of  Cambridge.  Theodore  died  in 
Andover  in  1863,  and  Alma,  born  in  that 
township,  in  1864,  died  in  1865. 

Our  subject  passed  the  first  thirteen  years 
of  his  life  in  Sweden,  and  then  came  with  the 
family  to  the  new  wt)rl(l,  since  which  time 
he  has  made  his  home  in  Andovcr  tinvn- 
ship.  After  completing  his  education  in  its 
pubhc  schools,  his  advantages  being  limited, 
he  took  up  the  occupation  to  which  he  had 
l)cen  reared — that  of  farming — and  in  1886 
purchased  his  present  farm  oi  eighty  acres 
of  his  father,  to  the  improvement  and  culti- 
vation of  which  he  has  since  devoted  his  en- 
ergies, tie  has  erected  thereon  good  and 
substantial  buildings,  and  has  done  con- 
siderable tiling. 

December  16,  1886,  in  Andover  town- 
ship, Mr.  Brodd  married  Miss  Catharine 
Sophia  Fair,  who  was  born  in  that  town- 


I3S 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ship,  April  8.  1856,  a  daughter  of  Gustoph 
and  Fredericka  Fair,  natives  of  Smolend, 
Sweden.  Her  parents  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1854,  and  from  that  time  until 
1897  made  their  home  in  Andover  township, 
but  are  now  residents  of  Orion,  this  county. 
Zvlr.  and  Mrs.  Brodd  have  six  children, 
namely :  Esther,  Francis,  Philip,  Delmore, 
Chester  and  Hannah.  The  parents  are  both 
active  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
with  which  Mr.  Brodd  is  officially  connected. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  takes 
an  active  and  commendable  interest  in  all 
that  will  advance  the  interests  of  his  town- 
ship and  county. 


WILLIAM  H.  KXOWLES. 

-\mong  the  representative  farmers  and 
leading  citizens  of  Osco  township  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography,  who  has  resided  here 
since  1874,  his  home  being  on  section  22. 
He  is  a  native  of  Henr^-  count)-,  his  birth 
liaving  occurred  in  Linn  township.  May  3, 
1866.  His  father,  ]\Iatthew  Knowles,  was 
born  in  Matlock,  England,  on  the  19th  of 
May,  1 82 1,  and  in  1848  came  to  the  United 
States.  Choosing  Illinois  as  a  future  home, 
he  settled  in  Henrj-  comity,  in  1856,  and 
three  years  later  was  united  in  marriage  with 
JMiss  Annie  Radburn,  the  youngest  of  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  children,  <md  who  was  born  in 
Bedfordshire,  England,  June  15,  1831,  but 
was  only  two  years  old  when  brought  to 
this  country  bv  her  parents,  who  died  of 
typhus  fever  in  Byverly,  Pennsyl.\ania,  two 
years  later.  She  was  reared  b}'  a  sister  in 
Philadelphia,  where  she  was  educated.  In 
J  859  she  came  to  Illinois,  and  December  29. 
oi  that  vear,  she  was  married.     After  com- 


ing to  this  state  Mr.  Knowles  followed  farm- 
ing continuously  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred July  10,  1882,  on  the  farm  where 
liis  widow  and  son  now  reside.  For  a  time 
he  owned  and  operated  a  farm  in  Lynn 
township,  and  on  disposing  of  some  of  his 
propert)'  there  he  moved  to  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  resided  for  about 
a  year.  On  his  return  to  this  county  he  lo- 
cated in  Osco  township  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  22,  to  the 
cultivation  and  impro^■ement  of  which  he 
devoted  his  energies  until  called  to  his  final 
rest.  He  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  his  fellow  citizens, 
recognizing  his  worth  and  ability,  called 
upon  him  to  fill  numerous  township  offices. 
Religiously  he  was  an  earnest  and  faithful 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Osco. 
In  his  family  were  five  children,  two  sons 
and  three  daughters,  of  whom  one  son  died 
ii'  infancy.  The  daughters  are  Sophia  R., 
wife  of  Walter  Christiance,  now  a  resident 
of  Nebraska,  but  formerh-  of  Henry  count}', 
Illinois;  Emma  ^^'.,  a  resident  of  Osco  and 
widow  of  F.  J.  Stoughton,  who  died  of  ty- 
phoid fever  in  October,  1900;  and  Annie 
L.,  a  graduate  of  the  Geneseo  Collegiate  In- 
stitute and  an  instructor  of  music  and  draw- 
ing in  the  public  schools  of  Portage,  Wis- 
consin. 

\\'illiam  H.  Knowles,  the  only  son  of  the 
family  now  living,  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Lynn  and  Osco  townships. 
He  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  on  the  latter's  death  he  took  charge  of 
affairs  for  his  mother.  He  is  a  thorough 
and  skillful  farmer  and  in  the  management 
of  the  place  he  has  been  quite  successful. 

In  1889  he  led  to  the  marriage  altar 
Miss  Hattie  E.  Frederick,  who  was  born  in 
Osco  township,  August  3,  1865,  a  daughter 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


J39 


of  A.  A.  and  Xancy  (Weaver)  Frederick, 
residents  of  Geneseo,  where  they  have  made 
their  home  since  1872,  tlie  father  working  at 
liis  tratle  of  liarness  making.  Mrs.  Knowles 
is  the  oldest  of  their  four  children,  the  others 
being  Kate,  wife  of  X.  E.  Sage,  of  Daven- 
port, Iowa:  \'ictor,  a  resident  of  Lexing- 
ton, Illinois;  and  Edna,  wife  of  Arthur 
Peterson,  of  Geneseo.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Knowles  are  the  parents  of  two  interesting 
children:  Kenneth  F.  and  Ethel  May.  Mrs. 
Knowles  was  a  graduate  of  the  Geneseo 
high  school  in  the  class  of  1884,  and  was 
a  successful  teacher  for  some  years. 

In  his  ix)litical  affiliations  Mr.  Knowles 
is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  as  tax  col- 
lector in  his  township.  For  the  past  five  or 
six  }-ears  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican central  committee  for  Osco  town- 
ship, and  has  been  influential  in  Republican 
circles.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  members 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Osco,  and  was 
appointed  vestryman  in  the  spring  of  igoo, 
which  office  he  is  now  filling.  His  wife  is 
also  a  member  of  the  same  church.  Frater- 
nally he  is  connected  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  Camp,  Xo.  2248,  of  Osco,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Royal  Xeighbors,  Xo.  2022,  of  the  same 
place.  They  are  widely  and  favorably 
known,  and  are  held  in  warm  regard  by 
a  large  circle  of  friends  and  ac(iuaintances. 


DAXIEL  L.  KELKHER. 

Since  the  7th  of  April.  1857.  this  gen- 
tleman has  resided  in  Henry  countv  and  his 
name  is  inseparably  connected  with  its  agri- 
cultural interests.  Coming  to  the  new  world 
in  limited  circumstanc.es,  his  enterprise,  en- 


ergy and  perseverance  have  enabled  him  to 
mount  from  a  lowly  position  to  one  of 
affluence.  One  of  his  leading  characteris- 
tics in  business  affairs  is  his  fine  sense  of 
order  and  complete  system  and  the  habit 
of  giving  careful  attention  to  details,  without 
which  success  in  any  undertaking  is  never 
an  assured  fact. 

Mr.  Keleher,  who  is  familiarly  known  by 
his  many  friends  as  Dan,  owns  and  operates 
one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  in  Western 
township,  it  being  pleasantly  located  on  sec- 
tions 14,  20,  2^  and  24,  three  and  a  half 
miles  from  Orion.  A  native  of  Ireland,  he 
was  born  in  county  Kerr}-,  August  20,  1836, 
and  received  a  good  practical  education. 
In  1853  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
and  first  located  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  peddled  apples,  butter  and 
other  farm  produce  for  some  time,  and  also 
worked  on  the  market  square  now  occupied 
by  the  public  building  in  Philadelphia. 

Coming  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  April 
7.  1857,  he  accepted  a  situation  on  the  farm 
of  M.  B.  Lloyd,  the  father  of  Western  town- 
ship, where  he  remained  two  years,  and 
then  purchased  twenty  acres  of  land  from 
that  gentleman.  After  operating  it  for  one 
year,  he  traded  it  to  Mr.  Lloyd  for  a  forty- 
acre  tract  of  raw  prairie  land,  upon  which 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  The  twenty- 
acre  tract  was  on  the  pnjposed  line  of  the 
Peoria  &  Rock  Island  railroad.  Anticipat- 
ing the  location  of  a  depot  there,  as  it  was 
the  central  jx^int  between  Coal  \'alley  and 
Orion,  he  wished  to  retain  it,  but  was  given 
an  extra  good  bargain  by  Mr.  Lloyd  and  so 
sold  it.  The  forty-acre  tract  was  fenced, 
broken  and  improved  by  the  erection  of  a 
little  house,  and  there  he  lived  alone  for  a 
tmie.  His  labors  were  at  length  crowned 
with  success,  and  to  his  landed  possessions 


I40 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  has  added  from  time  to  time  until  he  now 
owns  five  hundred  and  eighty-six  acres  of 
ver}'  vahialjle  and  productive  land,  having 
paid  as  high  as  seventy-three  dollars  per 
acre  for  a  portit)n  of  it.  This  farm  he  has 
tiled,  fenced  and  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  has  erected  thereon  a  com- 
modious residence,  a  good  cattle  barn,  the 
largest  in  the  county,  and  substantial  out- 
buildings, which  stand  as  monuments  to  his 
thrift  and  enterprise.  He  also  has  another 
well  improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  six 
acres  west  of  Orion,  and  in  connection  with 
general  farming  is  successfully  engaged  in 
the  stock  business.  He  annually  feeds  and 
ships  from  five  to  seven  carloads  of  cattle 
and  hogs,  and  has  found  this  business  profit- 
able. 

At  Rock  Island,  in  1863,  Mr.-,  Keleher 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ellen 
Currin,  a  native  of  county  Donegal,  Ire- 
land, who  came  to  the  United  States  in 
childhood  and  was  reared  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  removing  to  Cambridge,  Illi- 
nois, when  a  young  lady.  By  this  union 
have  been  born  four  children,  namely:  jNIary 
A.,  wife  of  Andrew  Long,  a  farmer  of  Osco 
township,  Henry  county;  Ellen,  at  home; 
D.  C,  who  is  married  and  follows  farming 
in  Western  township;  and  Lizzie,  who  mar- 
ried Anton  Ecksted  and  lives  in  (Jrion.  The 
son  completed  his  education  by  three  }'ears' 
attendance  at  the  Geneseo  Collegiate  Insti- 
tute. 

Being  a  strong  temperance  man,  Air. 
Keleher  supports  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Prohibition  party;  has  been  a  delegate 
to  numerous  conventions;  and  in  the  years 
1S96  and  1900  was  the  nominee  of  his  party 
for  representative  from  Henry  county.  He 
has  served  as  township  trustee  and  road 
commissioner,  and  is  now  serving  his  second 


term  as  president  of  the  Henry  County 
Farmers  Institute.  At  its  session  November 
7,  1900,  a  vote  was  taken  as  to  the  most 
popular  farmer  in  Henry  county,  and  he 
was  given  that  honor  almost  vmanimously. 
He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Farmers  Congress 
at  Colorado  Springs,  and  has  filled  other 
positions  of  honor  and  trust,  the  duties  of 
which  he  has  most  capably  and  conscien- 
tiously discharged.  He  is  a  strong  advo- 
cate of  the  township  central  public  school. 
Religiously  he  and  his  family  are  communi- 
cants of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  are  peo- 
ple of  prominence  in  the  community  where 
they  reside.  Mr.  Keleher  is  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  and  public-spirited  citizens  of 
his  township,  and  favors  the  erection  of 
a  monument  to  the  memory  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Henry  county.  He  enjoys  the  well- 
earned  distinction  of  being  what  the  public 
calls  a  "self-made  man,"  and  an  analyzation 
of  his  character  reveals  the  fact  that  enter- 
prise, well-directed  effort  and  honorable  deal- 
ing have  been  the  essential  features  in  his 
prosperity. 


JOHN  V.  SWANSON. 

For  almost  half  a  century  John  V.  Swan- 
son  has  been  identified  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Henry  county,  and  is  to-day  one 
of  its  most  prosperous  and  successful  farm- 
ers, his  home  being  in  section  36,  \\'estern 
township.  He  was  born  in  Linchpuenglan, 
Sweden,  on  the  6th  of  September,  1835,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Lena  Catherhie  Swan- 
son,  also  natives  of  that  country,  the  former 
born  June  24,  1798,  the  latter  February  4, 
1799.  In  the  land  of  his  birth  the  father 
followed  farming  for  some  years,  and  there 
all  of  his  children  were  born,  the  family  be- 


I 


IIBRARY 

UNIVtRbllY  Oh  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


1 

1 

■ 

1 

r 

Jj^SjjU,. 

1 

1 

B 

^m^-^ 

d 

i 

1 

J.  V.   SWANSON. 


MRS.  J.  V.   SWANSON. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBAN/\ 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


145 


ing  comixised  of  three  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters. In  the  summer  of  1853  tlie  parents  and 
cliildren  emigrated  to  .\merica  and  tcwk  up 
their  residence  in  Henry  county.  Illinois, 
where  the  father  improved  a  farm  oi  eighty 
acres,  making  it  his  home  until  called  to  his 
final  rest  Septemljer  15,  i86g,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one  years.  The  mother,  who  siu'- 
vived  him  a  numljer  of  years  died  at  the 
home  of  our  subject  March  28,  1887.  and 
was  laid  to  rest  by  the  side  of  her  husbaml 
in  Andover  cemetery,  where  a  substantial 
monument  has  been  erected  tn  their  mem- 
ory. 

John  \'.  Swanson  was  a  young  man  of 
seventeen  years  when  he  caiue  to  the  United 
States  with  his  parents,  and  during  early  life 
he  assisted  his  father  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof  un- 
til 1863.  On  the  28th  of  March.  1863,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  .\nna  M. 
Peterson,  also  a  native  of  Sweden,  who  was 
born  January  8,  1846,  and  was  brought  to 
America  by  her  parents  in  1 849,  being  reared 
in  this  county.  Her  father,  Xels  Peterson, 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Western 
township,  where  he  developed  and  improved 
a  farm.  He  was  born  in  Lounberga,  Swe- 
den, November  18,  1812.  and  died  in  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  August  9,  1888,  while  his 
wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Eva 
Carrie  Mannosdoter,  was  born  in  the  same 
county,  February  10,  1821,  and  died  Sep- 
tember 5,  1883. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swanson  were  born 
seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  as  follows: 
Hannah  M.,  wife  of  John  A.  Anderson,  of 
Phelps  county,  Nebraska;  Amelia,  wife  of 
Oscar  Larson,  of  Western  township,  this 
county ;  Joseph,  at  home ;  Nathan,  who  holds 
a  business  position  in  the  office  of  the  North- 
western   Railroad    Company    at    Chicago; 


Luther,  who  wedded  Mary  Johnson  and  fol- 
lows farming  on  section  34,  Western  town- 
ship; Charles  A.,  at  home;  William,  a  stu- 
dent in  an  art  school  in  Chicago;  Otto  A. 
and  \'ictor  C,  botii  at  home. 

Throughout  his  entire  business  career 
!Mr.  Swanson  has  followed  the  occupation  to 
which  he  was  reared,  and  is  to-day  one  of 
the  l)est  and  most  substantial  farmers  of 
Henry  county.  Success  has  attended  his 
well-directed  efforts,  and  today  he  is  the 
owner  of  si.x  hundred  and  thirty-four  acres 
of  valuable  land,  divided  into  three  well-im- 
proved farms.  This  property  has  all  been 
acquired  by  his  own  labor  and  enterprise 
and  the  assistance  of  his  estimable  wife,  who 
lias  proved  a  faithful  helpmate.  The  fam- 
ily are  active  and  prominent  members  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of  .\ndover.  in 
which  Mr.  Swanson  has  served  as  deacon 
for  many  years.  He  is  an  advocate  of  good 
schools  and  competent  teachers,  and  has  done 
effective  service  in  the  interest  of  education 
while  serving  as  school  director  for  a  number 
of  years.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party  and  its  principles, 
and  never  withholds  his  aid  from  any  enter- 
prise which  he  believes  calculated  to  advance 
the  moral,  .social  or  material  welfare  of  his 
township  and  county,  and  is  therefore  num- 
bered among  the  most  valued  and  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  the  community. 


ANDREW  J.   LARSON. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  the  agricultural  interests 
of  Henry  county,  and  now  operates  a  good 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  on 
section  26,  Andover  township.    He  is  a  na- 


146 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tive  of  this  county,  his  hirth  having  occurred 
in  Osco  township  on  the  28th  of  June,  1867. 
His  fatlier,  A.  G.  Larson,  was  born  in 
Sweden,  July  25,  1S37,  and  remained  in  his 
native  land  until  the  summer  of  i860,  when 
lie  came  to  America  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Henr\-  county,  Illinois.  For  four 
years  he  worked  by  the  month  in  Andover 
township,  and  then  purchased  eight)^  acres 
of  land  on  section  28,  Osco  township,  on 
which  he  erected  a  good  set  of  farm  build- 
ings. To  the  original  purchase  he  has  added 
from  time  to  time  as  his  financial  resources 
permitted  until  he  now  has  seven  hundred 
acres  of  fine  farming  land  in  this  county. 
He  is  independent  in  politics  and  is  a  man 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  him.  His  home  is  still  in  Osco  town- 
ship. He  has  two  brothers  living  in  this 
county:  Jonas,  a  resident  of  Andover  town- 
ship, and  August,  of  the  village  of  Osco. 

On  the  I  St  of  November,  1866,  in  Lynn, 
Illinois,  A.  G.  Larson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  jNIiss  Tilda  L.  Hokanson,  who 
was  born  in  Sweden,  May  18,  1846,  and 
they  have  become  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  are  now  living,  namely : 
Andrew  J.,  our  subject;  Henry  J.,  Carl  R., 
Gust  A.,  all  at  home.  May  Augusta,  who 
died  in  1899.  L.  Edward,  twin  brother  of 
our  subject,  was  accidentally  injured  by  a 
corn  stalk  cutter  and  died  from  the  effects 
of  the  same ;  Nellie  A.  died  from  the  effects 
of  an  injury  from  a  blow  given  accidentally 
by  one  of  her  schoolmates;  and  two  children 
died  in  infancy. 

Reared  on  the  home  farm,  Andrew  J. 
Larson  acquired  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  Osco  township.  In  1893  he  be- 
gan Hfe  for  himself  as  a  farmer  in  Lynn 
township,  where  he  remained  until  he  bought 
his  present  farm  of  P.  E.  Wallinein  1897. 


He  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock 
raising,  and  in  his  labors  is  meeting  with 
marked  success.  He  is  a  thorough  and  sys- 
tematic farmer,  and  the  neat  and  thrifty  ap- 
pearance of  his  jjlace  plainly  indicates  his 
careful  supervision.  As  a  Republican  he 
takes  an  active  interest  in  political  affairs. 
]Mr.  Larson  was  married,  in  Cambridge, 
March  7,  1893,  to  Miss  Carrie  Youngquist, 
a  native  of  Western  township,  Henry  coun- 
t}',  and  a  daughter  of  J.  A.  Youngquist,  of 
Cambridge,  of  whom  more  extended  men- 
tion is  made  in  the  sketch  of  Albert  Peter- 
son on  another  page  of  this  volume.  i\Ir. 
and  Mrs.  Larson  now  have  an  interesting 
family  of  three  children:  Earl  Russell,  Mil- 
dred Irene  Ruth  and  Florence  Maud.  He 
attends  and  supports  the  Lutheran  Church  of 
Andover,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member. 


JOHN  W.  STEARNS. 

Among  the  farmers  of  Henry  county 
who  have  met  with  most  excellent  success 
in  their  chosen  calling  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  review.  He  is 
now  the  owner  of  nearly  five  hundred  acres 
of  fine  farming  land  in  this  county,  which 
is  divided  into  two  well  improved  farms, 
and  upon  one  of  these,  on  section  12,  West- 
ern township,  he  now  makes  his  home. 

]\Ir.  Stearns  is  a  native  of  the  Green 
?vIountain  state,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  the  town  of  Waterbury,  ^^'ashington 
county,  Vermont,  April  28,  1835.  The 
family  to  which  he  belongs  was  founded 
in  this  country  by  three  brothers,  natives 
of  England,  one  of  whom  settled  in  Massa- 
chusetts, another  in  New  York,  and  the 
third  in  Ohio.     From  the  first  branch  our 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


147 


subject  is  descended.  His  grandfather,  John 
Stearns,  Sr.,  and  his  father,  John  Stearns. 
Jr.,  were  botli  nati\'es  of  Massachusetts,  and 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  \'ermont. 
where  the  former  improved  a  farm  of  three 
hundred  acres  on  the  side  of  a  hill.  There 
the  father  was  reared,  and  during  his  boy- 
iiood  and  j'outh  he  aided  in  the  arduous 
tssk  of  clearing  away  the  timber  and  plac- 
ing under  cultivation  the  wild  land.  In 
Massachusetts  he  married  Abigail  Hall 
Toby,  a  native  of  that  state,  and  upon  a 
farm  in  \\'ashington  county,  Vermont,  they 
juade  their  home  until  he  was  called  to 
his  final  rest  February  28,  1855.  His  wife 
survived  him  many  years  and  spent  her  last 
days  with  our  subject  in  this  county,  where 
she  died  ^klarch  26,  1896,  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  eighty-six  years. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  John  W. 
Stearns,  of  this  review,  pursued  his  studies 
in  the  common  schools,  and  he  remained  on 
the  home  farm  until  reaching  man's  estate. 
Coming  west  in  October,  i860,  he  stopped 
at  Rock  Island  for  a  short  time,  but  later 
in  the  same  season  came  to  Henry  county. 
\\  here  he  engaged  in  farming  on  a  rented 
tract  of  eiglit}-  acres  for  two  years,  and  later 
on  the  James  Glenn  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
si.xt\-  acres  for  three  years.  In  1864  Mr. 
Stearns  purchased  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres  of  wild  land,  where  he  now  resides, 
and  at  once  began  its  improvement,  his  first 
home  here  being  a  small  house.  .\s  time  ad- 
vanced and  he  prospered  in  his  undertak- 
ings, he  bought  more  land,  and  has  made 
many  valuable  improvements  upon  his  place, 
including  the  erection  of  a  large  and  pleas- 
ant residence,  two  good  barns  and  other 
outbuildings,  has  set  out  fruit  and  shade 
trees,  and  in  other  ways  has  added  to  the 
value  and  attractive  appearance  of  the  farm. 


Tiesides  this  place,  consisting  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  he  has  another  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres  ad- 
joining, and  is  to-day  one  of  the  substan- 
tial farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  his  com- 
munity.. 

^Ir.  Stearns  was  married  in  Vermont, 
October  14,  i860,  to  Miss  Albina  Stone,  a 
r.ative  of  that  state,  who  died  in  this  coun- 
ty, in  August,  1866,  leaving  one  son,  John 
-Arthur,  who  is  now  married  and  follows 
farming  in  Osco  township.  He  has  two  chil- 
dren, Bessie  and  Willis.  On  the  i8th  of 
July,  1867,  in  Henry  county,  Mr.  Stearns 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Louisa 
Glenn,  who  was  born  February  9,  1840,  and 
1  eared  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  and  came. 
to  Illinois  with  her  father,  Jacob  Glenn,  in 
1856,  locating  in  Colona  township,  Henry 
county.  No  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  but  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stearns  have  reared 
and  educated  two.  A  niece,  ^lary  Harper, 
made  her  home  with  them  from  the  age  of 
ten  j-ears  until  her  marriage,  being  now  the 
wife  of  Milton  F.  Edwards,  of  Colorado 
Springs,  Colorado.  .\  nephew,  Harry  Rue, 
w  as  only  eighteen  months  old  when  he  came 
to  live  with  them,  and  now  as  a  j'oung  man 
he  assists  in  carrying  on  the  farm. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  ilr.  Stearns 
has  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  1864.  He  has  served  t)n  the 
township  committee  of  his  party  and  has 
been  a  delegate  to  numerous  conventions, 
but  has  never  sought  political  honors,  though 
he  has  been  called  upon  to  serve  his  fellow 
citizens  as  township  school  trustee,  as  road 
commissioner,  and  as  treasurer  for  about 
eighteen  years.  He  has  ever  taken  an  active 
and  commendable  interest  in  public  affairs, 
and  gives  his  support  to  every  enterprise 


148 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


calculated  to  advance  the  moral,  social  or 
material  welfare  of  his  township  and  county. 
His  estimable  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  both  are  held  in  high 
regard  by  all  who  have  the  pleasiire  of  their 
acquaintance. 


THOMAS  M.  ROBERTSON. 

Prominent  among  the  citizens  of  Henry 
county  who  have  witnessed  the  marvelous 
development  of  this  section  of  the  state  in 
the  past  sixty-five  years,  and  who  have,  by 
honest  toil  and  industry,  succeeded  in  ac- 
quiring a  competence,  and  are  now  able  to 
spend  the  sunset  of  life  in  quiet  and  retire- 
ment, is  the  gentleman  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch.  For  many  years  he  was 
one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  the  coun- 
ty, but  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Cam- 
bridge, to  which  city  he  remo\ ed  Xo\ember 
I,  1899,  and  where  he  owns  a  desirable 
home. 

ilr.  Robertson  was  born  a  few  miles 
north  of  Galesburg,  in  Henderson  township, 
Knox  county.  Illinois,  ^la}'  2,  1835,  and  is 
a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  most 
prominent  pioneer  families  of  this  section 
of  the  state,  his  parents  being  Daniel  and 
Mary  (Maxwell)  Robertson.  The  father's 
birth  occurred  in  Perth,  Scotland,  but  he 
was  only  six  months  old  when  brought  by 
his  parents  to  America.  From  New  York 
the  familv  removed  to  Morgan  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1 81 7.  They  constructed  a  flatboat 
in  Pennsylvania,  on  which  they  loaded  their 
household  goods,  horses  and  cattle,  and  they 
floated  down  the  Ohio  river  to  Lewiston, 
near  St.  Louis.  Going  to  the  land  office,  at 
Dixon,  Daniel  Robertson  entered  a  tract  of 
government  land  at  Henderson  Grove,  which 


was  said  to  be  the  nicest  grove  in  the  state 
at  that  time.  He  secured  the  deed  to  a 
quarter-section  of  land  on  section  1 1 ,  Hen- 
derson township,  Knox  county,  and  his 
brother,  Alexander,  who  died  in  1848,  also 
obtained  at  that  time  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  and  later  entered  a  quarter-section 
more.  The  father  of  our  subject  lived  at 
v.hat  is  now  Hendersonville,  which  was  a 
thriving  village  before  the  railroad  was  laid 
out,  but  as  the  company  saw  fit  to  lay  their 
line  through  Galesburg  and  skip  Henderson- 
ville, the  latter  was  virtually  killed.  He  and 
his  brother  were  the  first  white  men  to  set- 
tie  in  Knox  county.  During  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  the  latter  entered  the  army,  leav- 
ing Daniel  to  care  for  the  home  and  family. 
He  was  well  acquainted  with  Shabbona, 
the  friendly  Indian  of  those  troublesome 
times.  Mr.  Robertson  was  reared  in  the 
Scotch  Presbyterian  faith,  but  never  united 
with  anj^  church.  \Miile  a  resident  of 
Schuyler  county.  Illinois,  he  was  appointed 
justice  of- the  peace  by  Governor  Edwards 
and  held  the  office  for  some  j-ears.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  Knox  county,  April  6,  1890, 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eight)--six  years,  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
The  mother  of  our  subject,  who  was  a  most 
e.xceljent  woman,  had  died  in  1840,  at  the 
earl}'  age  of  twenty-seven  years.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Clarkie  (Will- 
iamson) Maxwell.  Her  mother's  people 
came  from  Indiana  to  Illinois  at  a  very  early 
day  and  first  located  in  Sangamon  county, 
but  in  1829  removed  to  Knox  county.  By 
his  first  marriage  Mr.  Robertson  had  five 
children,  namely :  Elizabeth,  the  first  female 
white  child  born  in  Knox  county,  married 
Isaac  Reed,  and  is  now  fiving  in  this  county 
at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years;  Alexander 
R.  died  from  the  effects  of  an  accident  Oc- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


149 


tober  II,  1891.  at  the  age  of  titty-eight 
years;  Tiiomas  M.,  our  sul)ject.  is  next  in 
order  of  birth ;  Malissa,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  James  Smelser:  Mary  is  tlie  widow 
of  Robert  Adcock  and  a  resident  of  \\'ar- 
ren  county,  HHnois.  For  his  second  wife 
the  father  of  these  children  married  Miss 
Jane  Riddle,  who  died  in  Galesburg,  in  1895. 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  By  that 
union  were  Ix>rn  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  now  living:  John  T.,  a  resident  of  Gales- 
Inirg:  James  G..  who  died  Xovember.  1900. 
at  Marysville.  California;  Amanda,  now 
Mrs.  Briggs,  of  Oklahoma;  and  Harlen.  of 
Indian  territory,  and  Harbin  C,  twins,  liv- 
ing near  Galesburg,  Illinois. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Thomas  M. 
Robertson  were  passed  upon  tiie  home  farm 
in  Knox  county,  and  he  received  a  good  com- 
mon-school education.  \t  the  age  of  se\- 
€nteen  he  and  his  brother  Alexander  began 
breaking  prairie,  with  three  plows  and  five 
yoke  of  oxen  to  each  plow.  They  broke 
much  of  the  sod  between  W'ataga  and  Little 
York,  Mercer  county,  their  largest  day's 
work  being  ten  and  a  quarter  acres  near 
W'ataga.  getting  two  dollars  and  twen- 
ty-five cents  per  acre.  The  brother  re- 
tired from  the  business  before  our  sub- 
ject, who  continued  to  follow  it  for  about 
nine  years.  He  became  the  owner  of 
seventy-seven  acres  of  land  in  Kno.x  town- 
ship, wiiich  he  sold  on  coming  to  Henry 
county  in  1867.  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred antl  si.xty  acres  in  W'elier  town- 
ship, to  which  he  subsetiuently  added  tracts 
of  sixty-two,  eighty  and  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  but  has  since  sold  a  portion 
of  tiiis  land,  though  he  still  retains  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-six  acres  of  well  improved 
and  valuable  land  on  section  7.  and  one  hun- 
dred and  thirtv-seven  and  a  half  acres  on 


section  8.  \\  eller  tnwnshii).  Upon  tliese 
farms  he  has  erected  good  and  substantial 
buldngs,  has  placed  the  land  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivaton  and  otherwise  improved 
them,  until  they  are  now  among  the  most 
desirable  of  their  size  in  that  section  of  the 
county.  He  has  also  owned  land  in  Ne- 
braska. 

On  the  28th  of  October.  1858,  Mr.  Rob- 
ertson was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
yiary  J.  Bick,  who  was  born  in  Ohio.  May 
17,  1840,  a  daughter  of  Elias  and  Cather- 
ine (Stein)  Bick,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  in  1852  removed  to  Knox  county,  Illi- 
nois. Her  father  was  a  successful  merchant 
tailor,  who  did  a  large  business  and  em- 
ployed many  workmen.  He  was  born  -Au- 
gust 15,  1813,  and  died  February  24.  1864, 
while  his  wife  was  lx>rn  December  i.  181 5, 
and  died  February  12,  1852.  Both  were 
devout  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
])al  Church,  and  were  held  in  high  regard 
by  all  who  knew  them.  Mrs.  Robertson  was 
the  eldest  of  their  four  daughters,  the  others 
being  as  follows:  (2)  Alsetta  is  the  wife 
of  William  Collins,  a  railroad  employe  of 
Atchison,  Kansas,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren, Frederick,  William,  Forest,  Harry 
and  May.  (3)  Susie  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
Thompson,  a  farmer  of  Norton,  Kansas; 
and  they  have  seven  children,  Frederick, 
Charles,  Howard,  Florence.  Cora,  John  and 
Maii|de.  (4)  Louisa  is  the  wife  of  John 
Maxwell,  a  farmer  of  Grinnell,  Iowa,  and 
•  their  children  are  Catherine,  Jennie,  Atha, 
Cora  and  Charles. 

Eight  chiltlren  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Robertson,  but  Cora  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years,  and  three  of  the  number  died 
in  infancy.  Those  living  are  .Arthur,  on  the 
home  farm ;  Fannie,  wife  of  \'.  J.  Poppy, 
a  farmer  of  Weller  township,  this  county. 


ISO 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


by  whom  she  has  one  child,  Jessie ;  Harry 
B.,  a  grain  buyer  of  Bishop  Hill,  who  mar- 
ried Hattie  Hunt  and  has  one  child,  Mildred  ; 
and  Carrie,  wife  of  C.  \\'.  Nelson,  who  lives 
en  the  home  farm. 

For  many  years  Air.  Robertson  has  been 
identified  with  the  financial,  interests  of  Cam- 
bridge, serving  as  one  of  the  directors  of 
the  Farmers  National  Bank  since  its  or- 
ganization, in  1882,  and  as  vice-president 
during  that  entire  time  with  the  exception 
of  two  years.  He  is  now  one  of  the  oldest 
bank  officials  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
He  has  also  been  interested  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  some  ten  or  twelve  years.  His 
political  support  is  always  given  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
while  living  in  the  country  he  served  his  fel- 
low citizens  as  road  commissioner  some  time, 
and  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
nine  years.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years 
he  was  made  a  Alason  in  Hiram  Lodge, 
Henderson,  Illinois.  Being  demitted  from 
that  lodge,  he  became  one  of  the  charter 
members'  of  Oxford  Lodge,  and  later  as- 
sisted in  the  organization  of  the  lodge  at 
Woodhull,  Henry  county.  He  and  his  es- 
timable wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  They  are  widely  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  county,  and  it  is  safe 
to  say  that  no  couple  within  its  borders  are 
more  honored  or  highly  esteemed,  or  more 
justly  deserve  the  high  regard  in  which  they 
are  held  by  all  who  know  them. 


ANDREW  LINCOLN. 

The  well-known  and  ]iopular  superin- 
tendent of  the  Swedish  Orphan  Home  in 
Andover  township,  was  born  in  \'ennland, 


Kroppa  Congregation,  Sweden,  April  29,. 
1842,  a  son  of  John  and  Maria  (Olson) 
Lindgren,  also  natives  of  that  country,  where 
the  father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
died.  Tlie  mother  subsequently  came  to 
the  United  States  and  settled  in  Kansas, 
her  death  occurring  in  Linsberg,  that  state,^ 
January  7,  1893.  Our  subject  was  reared 
and  educated  in  his  native  land,  and  contin- 
ued to  make  his  home  thfere  until  his  emigra- 
tion to  America,  in  April,  1869.  On  his 
arrival  in  this  country  he  proceeded  to  Kan- 
sas, where  he  received  a  contract  for  stone 
work  on  the  Santa  Fe  railroad.  His  first 
contract  was  around  Emporia  and  Florence 
and  in  that  vicinity.  He  located  in  Linsberg, 
]\IcPherson  county,  where  he  purchased  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  and  followed 
farming  for  a  time.  For  twelve  years  he  was 
also  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  that 
place,  hauling  the  first  load  of  lumber  from 
Salina  to  that  place.  He  took  up  govern- 
ment land  there,  and  in  his  farming  op- 
erations was  fairly  successful,  though  he 
met  with  some  reverses,  caused  principally 
by  the  grasshopper  plague.  While  residing 
in  McPherson  he  was  a  member  of  the  city 
council  during  which  time  many  improve- 
ments were  made.  He  was  also  a  trustee 
of  Bethany  College,  from  the  beginning  of 
the  school,  a  period  of  sixteen  years,  and 
was  one  of  the  officers  ^\■hen  the  college 
buildings  were  erected. 

While  a  resident  of  Kansas,  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  married,  October  21,  1871,  to  Miss 
Anna  Christine  Johnson,  a  native  of  Sweden, 
and  to  them  were  born  nine  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Julius  L.,  who  was  ordained  a  Lu-. 
theran  minister  in  1893,  and  is  now  pastor 
of  a  church  at  Jamestown,  N^ew  York ; 
Da\-id,  an  undertaker  and  embalmer  at 
that  place;    Simon,    who    is   now   attending 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


151 


Rusli  Medical  College  at  Chicago;  Hannah; 
Selma,  who  is  preparing  herself  for  a  trained 
nurse  in  Chicago;  Carl,  who  is  a  student  in 
Augustana  College;  and  Luther. 

Mr.  Lincoln  contiiuied  to  reside  in 
Kansas  until  September  i,  1896,  when  he  ac- 
cepted the  superintendenc}'  of  the  Swedish 
Orphan  Home  in  Andover  township,  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  and  removed  to  this  place, 
and  has  since  most  creditably  filled  that  re- 
sponsible position.  This  institution  was  or- 
ganized in  Minnesota  and  belongs  to  the 
Augustana  Synod.  It  is  known  as  the  Swed- 
ish Evangelical  Orphan  Home  and  School 
and  was  first  located  in  Swedonia,  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  where  a  building  was  erect- 
ed in  1867  and  dedicated  the  following  year, 
but  in  1869  the  institution  was  transferred 
to  Andover,  Henry  county.  The  first  build- 
ing erected  here  answered  all  purposes  until 
1880,  when  what  is  now  known  as  tiie  main 
building  was  erected.  The  farm  consists 
of  four  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  of  which 
three  hundred  acres  are  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  The  farm  is  largely  oper- 
ated by  the  inmates  under  the  superxision 
of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  in  1899  they  raised  ten 
thousand  bushels  of  corn  upon  the  place. 
The  first  sui^erintendent,  S.  P.  Lindell,  was 
succeeded  by  John  S.  Swanson,  who  filled 
that  position  for  eight  years.  E.  Hoogner, 
of  Swedonia,  was  then  suijerintendent  for 
three  years,  and  was  followed  by  Gust  John- 
son for  two  years,  and  J.  E.  Munell  for 
eighteen  months.  Mr.  Lincoln  then  took 
charge  of  affairs,  and  has  most  capably  and 
acceptably  filled  the  office  since  Septemlier, 
1896.  There  are  now  forty  inmates  at  the 
home,  though  the  enrollment  has  been  as 
high  as  sixty-eight.  During  the  sciiool  year 
of  1 899- 1 900,  the  school  was  conducted  in 
English  for  seven  months,  and  in  Swedish 


for  three  months.  The  present  capacity  is 
forty,  and  the  inmates  receive  home  care, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  being  father  and 
mother  to  all. 


GEORGE    J.    S^^IITH. 

-Vmong  tb.c  leading  and  representative 
agriculturists  of  Western  township,  stalwart 
and  sturdy  tillers  of  the  soil,  there  is  none 
who  stands  a  more  prominent  figure  tlr.>n 
George  J.  Smith,  whose  b.ome  is  on  section 
I,  where  since  1883  he  has  successfully  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Kombach,  Ba- 
varia, Germany,  on  the  15th  of  October, 
1851,  a  son  of  jolin  P.  and  Margaret 
(Grampp)  Smith,  also  natives  of  that  coun- 
try, where  the  father  followed  farming  until 
his  emigration  to  the  new  world  in  1856. 
On  their  arrival  in  this  country  the  family 
first  located  in  Maryland,  but  a  year  later 
came  to  Illinois,  and  the  father  opened  up 
and  improved  a  farm  in  Long  Point  town- 
ship, Livingston  count)-,  on  which  he  sjjent 
his  remaining  days.  He  was  born  in  1805 
and  died  in  January,  1886.  His  wife  died 
about  five  years  later. 

George  J.  Smith  was  about  six  years  cE 
age  when  he  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents, and  in  Livingston  county  he  grew  to 
manhood,  aiding  his  father  in  the  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  the  farm,  which  he 
subsequently  purchased.  He  continued  his 
residence  there  until  after  his  marriage,  but 
ill  1883  removed  to  Henry  county  and  \n\v- 
chased  his  present  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  to  the  further  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  which  he  has  since 
devoted  his  energies  with   most  gratifying 


is: 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


results.  He  has  built  a  ucat  and  substantial 
residence,  good  barns  and  other  outbuild- 
ing-s.  has  set  out  an  orchard  and  shade  trees, 
and  has  a  gnnd  system  of  water  works  oj)- 
erated  by  a  wind  pump.  In  fact,  all  of  the 
conveniences  and  accessories  of  a  model 
farm  are  there  found,  and  the  place  is  one  of 
the  most  desirable  farms  of  its  size  in  the 
township.  Mr.  Smith  makes  a  specialty  of 
raising  and  feeding  stock  for  market,  and 
airnually  ships  about  four  carloads  of  cattle 
and  the  same  of  hogs,  being  accounted  one 
of  the  most  successful  farmers  and  stock- 
nien  of  the  county. 

On  the  i6th  of  Alarcli.  1882.  in  Henry 
county.  Mr.  Smith  married  Miss  Carrie 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  Edford  township. 
Henry  county,  a  daughter  of  William  Smith, 
who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  coun- 
ty, and  improved  the  farm  on  which  our  sulv 
ject  now  resides.  He  was  born  near  Hano- 
ver, Prussia,  in  1822.  and  wdien  about  twentv 
years  of  age  came  to  the  United  States,  first 
locating  in  Cumberland.  Maryland,  where  he 
married  Caroline  Emmert.  also  of  German 
birth.  In  1851  they  came  to  Henry  count}-. 
Illinois,  and  settled  in  Edford  townshiji. 
where  he  purchased  land  and  still  lives.  He 
is  an  extensive  land  owner,  and  at  one  time 
was  the  owner  of  eleven  hundred  acres. 

Having  no  children  of  their  own.  om- 
subject  and  his  wife  have  adopted  a  daugh- 
ter, Edna  Smith,  who  was  an  orphan.  Thev 
are  active  and  consistent  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  are  highlv  respected 
and  esteemed  by  all  who  know  them  (mi  ac- 
count of  their  sterling  worth  and  manv  ex- 
cellencies of  character.  In  his  political  views 
Mr.  Smith  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has 
supported  every  presidential  nominee  of  that 
party  since  casting  his  first  vote  for  General 


U.  S.  Grant  in  1872.  He  is  now  serving  as 
township  trustee  with  credit  to  himself  and 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 


AMOS  A.  DYAL. 

Among  the  self-made  men  and  honored 
citizens  of  Orion  who  have  laid  aside  busi- 
ness cares  to  spend  their  declining  years  in 
peace  and  quiet  is  the  subject  of  this  review, 
who  has  been  a  resident  of  Henry  county 
since  the  ist  of  October,  1856.  A  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  he  was  born  in  the  citv  of 
Pittsburg  on  the  7th  of  March,  1834.  and  is 
a  son  of  William  H.  and  Eliza  A.  (Stewart) 
Dyal,  both  natives  of  West  Virginia,  though 
their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  the  Key- 
stone state.  The  father  was  born  in  1807, 
and  in  early  life  was  engaged  in  flatboating 
on  the  Ohio  river,  running  coal  barges.  He 
finally  located  on  a  farm  in  Coshocton  coun- 
tv,  Ohio,  and  devoted  the  remainder  of  his 
life  to  agricultural  pursuits.  There  he  died 
in  1891  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-four 
years.     The  mother  died  in  1885. 

On  the  home  farm  Amos  D\al  grew  to 
manhood,  receiving  but  limite^l  school  priv- 
ileges in  his  youth.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he 
came  west,  arriving  in  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, on  the  1st  of  October,  and  for  about 
four  years  he  worked  by  the  month  on  the 
farm  of  L.  C.  W'elton.  one  of  the  early  set- 
tiers  of  Illinois,  who  came  to  Henry  county 
from  Peoria  county.  Later  he  rented  land 
and  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account 
for  three  or  four  years  in  Osco  and  Andoxer 
towmships.  'In  1862  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  14,  Western  town- 
ship, but  did  not  locate  thereon  until  two 


AMOS    DYAL. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


155 


years  later.  At  time  of  purchase  tliis  was 
a  wild  tract,  which  Mr.  Dyal  fenced,  hroke 
and  improved,  and  as  his  financial  resources 
increased  he  added  to  his  property  from  time 
t(j  time  until,  he  now  owns  two  hundred  and 
tliirty-fnur  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land, 
which  he  has  placetl  under  a  higii  state  of 
cultivation  and  improved  with  a  good  set  of 
farm  buildings,  including  a  pleasant  resi- 
dence and  two  barns.  He  raised  and  fed 
considerable  stock  for  market,  and  in  all  his 
undertakings  met  with  a  fair  success. 

In  November,  i860,  in  Henry  county, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Dyal  antl 
Miss  Isabella  McFarland.  who  was  1)orn  and 
reared  in  Holmes  county.  Ohio,  and  died 
here  in  1872,  leaving  two  children.  Ida 
Eliza,  the  older,  is  now  the  wife  of  Harry 
McCleese,  of  Hancock  county.  Iowa,  and 
the}'  have  seven  children:  Myron,  Clarence, 
Walter,  Bertha,  Isabella,  Ralph  K.  and 
Hazel.  Robert,  the  younger  child  of  our 
subject,  grew  to  manh(X)d  and  married,  but 
died  May  8,  1896.  In  1S74  Mr.  Dyal  was 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
Mrs.  Marietta  Hovey,  who  was  born  in  Xew 
York,  but  was  reared  and  educated  in  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  teaching 
school  prior  to  her  marriage.  She  died  in 
1889,  and  June  29,  1892,  in  Fayette  county 
Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Dyal  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  E.  Showalter,  a  native 
of  that  county,  educated  at  George's  Creek 
Academy  and  the  Lock  Haven  Normal 
School,  and  also  a  school  teacher.  Through- 
out his  active  business  life  her  father,  James 
Showalter,  also  followed  that  profession,  but 
is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Smithfield. 
Pennsylvania.  He  belongs  to  an  old  family 
of  that  state. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Dyal  is  inde- 
pendent, but  being  a  strong  temi)erance  man. 


he  usually  supports  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Prohibition  party.  He  and  his  wife 
attend  the  Baptist  Church  of  Orion,  with 
which  he  holds  membershi]).  but  she  is  still 
connected  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Smithfield,  I'ennsyhania,  basing  been 
reared  in  that  faith.  .\s  a  citizen  of  Henry 
county,  with  whose  interests  he  has  long 
been  identified,  he  is  highly  respected,  enjoys 
the  confidence  of  his  neighbors  and  friends, 
and  is  regarded  as  a  man  of  excellent  busi- 
ness judgment.  His  success  in  life  is  due 
entirely  to  his  own  well-directed  efforts,  dil- 
igence and  sagacity.  He  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  Orion,  to  which  [ilace  he  remoNcd  in 
October,  1895,  and  where  he  owns  a  home. 


P.  E.  OSTRAN. 

This  prominent  business  man  of  Cam- 
bridge, Illinois,  who  is  a  member  of  the  well- 
known  firm  of  Ostran,  Hunt  &  Company, 
was  born  in  Sweden  August  31,  1866,  a  son 
of  P.  Ostran  and  Catherine  Ostran.  By 
occupation  the  father  was  a  dairy  farmer, 
and  was  an  active  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belongs.  She 
is  still  living  in  Gtfle,  Sweden,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years,  but  he  died  in  that  country 
in  1878.  at  the  age  of  forty-nine.  In  their 
family  were  five  children,  namely:  Mary, 
w  ife  of  August  Peterson,  of  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut:  .\nna.  wife  of  X.  L.  W'ahlburg.  of 
Cambridge.  Illinois;  P.  E.,  our  subject; 
Christin.  wife  of  C.  Nordstrum.  of  Hart- 
ford. Connecticut;  and  Hannah,  who  lives 
w  ith  her  mother  in  Sweden. 

P.  E.  Ostran  was  reared  and  educated 
ill  his  native  land,  attending  both  the  com- 
mon schools  and  an  academy.     In  the  spring 


156 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  1882,  in  company  with  a  sister,  who  after 
landing  remained  in  Xew  York,  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  and  came  direct  to  Cambridge. 
On  his  arrival  here  he  began  clerking  in  a 
store,  and  at  the  same  time  attended  school 
that  he  might  learn  the  English  language. 
He  was  employed  as  clerk  here  until  the 
fall  of  1887,  when  he  went  to  Kearney,  Xe- 
braska,  where  he  held  a  similar  position  un- 
til July  of  the  following  year.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Cambridge  and  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  James  Mascall,  now  deceased,  in 
the  firm  of  Mascall,  ^^'alline  &  Company, 
for  whom  he  had  previously  worked.  The 
name  was  then  changed  to  W'alline,  \\'en- 
nerstrum  &  Company,  ilr.  Ostrah  being  the 
company,  and  it  remained  such  until  1894, 
when  it  was  again  changed  to  Ostran,  Hunt 
&  Company.  Theirs  is  the  largest  store  in 
Cambridge,  and  they  carry  a  full  and 
complete  line  of  general  merchandise,  in 
fact  everything  found  in  a  first  class  es- 
tablishment of  the  kind.  They  buy  all 
kinds  of  country  pToduce,  and  conduct  a 
branch  store  at  Ulah,  Illinois.  Besides  the 
members  of  the  firm,  employment  is  fur- 
nished six  or  seven  clerks,  and  they  en- 
joy a  verj-  large  country  and  city  trade, 
which  is  constantly  increasing. 

On  the  13th  of  September.  1888,  ^Mr. 
Ostran  married  ^liss  Delia  Pederson,  who 
was  born  in  ilandal,  Xorwa}',  October  3, 
1864,  a  daughter  of  Ola  and  Anna  (Olsen) 
Pederson.  She  came  with  her  parents  to 
America  in  1871,  and  located  in  Chicago, 
where  the  family  were  living  at  the  time  of 
the  great  fire  in  October,  1871.  In  1881 
they  moved  to  Kearney,  Xebraska.  where  the 
father,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  remained  until 
1895,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Cambridge,  but  her  mother  died  May 
9,   1898,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.     Mrs. 


Ostran  died  of  apoplexy,  July  18.  1900. 
She  was  a  faithful  and  consistent  member  of 
the  ilethodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  on  the 
day  of  her  death  a  committee  of  ladies  from 
the  church  met  at  her  house.  She  was 
called  to  the  door  by  a  visitor,  and  a  few 
minutes  after  her  return  to  the  parlor  the 
ladies  noticed  her  unnatural  breathing,  and 
fearing  something  serious  was  the  matter 
summoned  a  physician  and  her  husband  by 
telephone,  both  arriving  a  few  minutes  be- 
fore her  spirit  took  its  flight.  She  had 
united  with  the  church  in  1891  and  became 
an  earnest  and  zealous  worker,  who  loved  the 
church  of  her  choice  with  an  intense  devo- 
tion. Genial  and  pleasant  in  manner,  she 
made  many  friends,  and  was  highly  respect- 
ed b)'  all  who  knew  her.  After  dinner,  on  the 
day  of  her  death,  while  apparently  in  per- 
fect health,  she  sat  down  to  the  piano  and 
played  and  sang  stanzas  of  a  song,  the  last 
of  which  was : 

"In  mansion  of  glor}-  and  endless  delight. 
I'll  ever  adore  Thee  in  Heaven  so  bright.. 
I'll  sing  with  the  glittering  crown  on  my 

brow 
If  ever  I  loved  Thee,  my  Jesus,  'tis  now." 

She  was  buried  by  the  Eastern  Star,  of 
v.hich  she  was  a  member. 

Mr.  Ostran  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  and  for  several  terms 
has  been  treasurer  of  the  blue  lodge  at  Cam- 
bridge. He  is  also  a  member  of  the  chapter 
at  Kewanee.  Everts  Commandery  of  Rock 
Island,  the  Eastern  Star  Chapter  of  Cam- 
bridge, and  is  a  charter  member  of  Mo- 
hammed Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  at 
Peoria.  By  his  ballot  he  supports  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
his   fellow   citizens,   recognizing  his   worth 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


157' 


and  ability,  have  called  u])Mn  him  to  serve  as 
aklernian  for  se\eral  terms.  He  has  made 
for  himself  an  honoral)le  record  in  business, 
and  by  his  well-directed  efforts  has  acquired 
a  handsome  competence.  As  a. citizen,  friend 
and  neiglibor  he  is  true  to  e\ery  duty,  and 
justly  merits  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 


ALBERT  PETERSON'. 

Among  tile  representative  farmers  and 
l)rominent  citizens  of  Andover  township, 
none  stand  higher  in  public  e^tecnl  than  the 
gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch.  He  was  born  in  Jefferson  county, 
Iowa,  December  27,  1861,  his  parents  be- 
ing P.  M.  and  Hadda  Charlotte  (Anderson) 
Johnson,  the  former  born  in  Norravi 
Soken,  and  tiie  latter  in  Ashy  Ostergotland, 
Sweden,  where  they  were  reared  and  mar- 
ried. In  i860  they  left  the  mother  country 
and  came  to  the  L^nited  States,  locating 
at  Salina,  Jefferson  count}-,  Iowa,  where  the 
father  purchased  land  and  improved  a  farm, 
making  his  home  there  until  his  death  in 
1869.  His  widow  subsequently  married  John 
Gabrielson,  who  died  Sei)teml)er  6,  1896. 
She  is  still  living  and  yet  makes  her  home 
in  Jefferson  county,  Iowa.  By  her  first 
marriage  slie  became  the  mother  of  four 
children — Oscar  and  Peter,  who  died  in 
Sweden;  Albert,  our  subject;  aiul  William, 
a  resilient  of  ]\Ioline,  Illinois.  By  the  sec- 
ond union  there  were  no  children  born.  By 
a  former  union,  John  Gabrielson  had  two 
sons:  Alfred,  deceased,  formerly  a  physician 
and  surgeon  of  Trenton,  Iowa;  and  Henry, 
a  resident  of  Montana. 

The  primary  education  of  .Vl.bert  Peter- 
son was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of 


his  native  county,  where  he  remained  until 
he  was  eleven  years  old,  when  he  came  to 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  to  make  his  home 
with  an  uncle  and  aunt,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Carl.son,  of  Osco  township,  who  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  the  county,  and  with' 
whom  he  lived  until  his  marriage,  since 
\\hich  time  he  has  liecn  a  resident  of  An- 
dover township,  where  he  has  successfully 
engaged  in  farming.  Shortly  after  attain- 
irg  his  majority,  and  wishing  to  be  better 
prepared  for  the  active  duties  of  life,  he 
took  a  three-months'  course  in  a  business 
college  in  Da\enport,  Iowa,  and  he  feels 
that  the  time  was  well  spent. 

At  Orion,  Illinois,  on  the  i6tli  of  April, 
1884,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Peterson  and  Miss  Emma  Matilda  Young- 
quist,  a  native  of  Western  township,  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  born  April  16,  1864.  Her 
father,  Jonas  A.  Youngquist,  was  born  in 
southern  Sweden.  He  lost  his  father  when 
c|uite  young,  and  his  mother  subsec|uently 
came  to  .\merica  and  spent  her  last  days 
ill  Lvnn  townshi]),  Henry  county,  where  her 
death  occurred.  ]\Ir.  Youngquist  was  sev- 
enteen years  of  age  when  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  and  in  June,  1854,  came  to 
Andover  township,  Henry  county.  For  one 
year  he  worked  on  the  railroad  south  of 
Galesburg,  and  for  the  same  length  of  time- 
was  employed  as  a  farm  hand  by  Daniel 
Mix,  who  li\ed  south  of  Galesburg,  in  Kno.x 
c<Huity.  ,\fter  working  fourteen  months  at 
twehx  dollars  and  lifty  cents  i)er  month,  he 
came  to  Andover  and  labored  in  this  locality 
for  seven  years,  during  which  time  he  saved 
enough  from  his  wages  to  purchase  eighty 
acres  of  wild  prairie  land  in  Lynn  town- 
ship. Later  he  sold  that  place  and  bought 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in 
Western  townshij),   which   he  improved  by 


158 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tlie  erection  of  good  and  substantial  build- 
ings. Prospering  in  his  farming  operations. 
he  added  to  his  landed  possessions  from 
time  to  time  until  he  owned  six  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Western  and  Andover 
townships.  At  Andover.  he  was  married. 
February  ii,  1862,  to  Miss  Eliza  C.  Lin- 
berg,  who  was  born  in  southern  Sweden. 
September  29,  1840,  and  who  in  1842  came 
to  the  L'nited  States  with  her  parents.  Swan 
and  Catherine  Linberg.  She  was  third  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  five  children, 
of  whom  the  two  youngest  died  in  Oxford 
township,  where  the  death  of  the  parents 
also  occurred.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Voungquist 
have  five  children:  Emma  M.,  wife  of  our 
subject :  Mary  A. :  Carrie  B. :  Julia  A.,  and 
Anna  !M.  The  famil\-  all  held  membership 
in  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  and  are 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  b  yall  who 
know  them.  In  ix)litics  }^Ir.  Youngquist  is 
a  Republican.  He  and  his  wife  make  their 
home  in  Cambridge,  Illinois. 

^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  have  bne  child, 
Esther,  born  January  26,  1890.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  has  served 
as  deacon.  In  politics  he  is  a  thorough  Re- 
publican, and  an  earnest  advocate  of  the 
principles  of  the  party.  He  keeps  well  post- 
ed in  all  the  political  and  current  events  of 
the  day,  and  while  strong  in  his  political 
convictions  he  is  willing  that  others  should 
enjoy  the  same  rights  as  he  claims  from 
them.  He  has  never  been  an  office  seeker, 
but  has  served  efficiently  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board.  His  interest  in  the  public 
schools  is  shown  b\'  his  service  in  a  thankless 
position.  As  an  agriculturist,  he  has  always 
kept  abreast  of  the  times,  with  eyes  open  to 
every  invention  and  suggestion  that  will 
benefit  himself  or  those  in  his  chosen  call- 


ing. He  is  a  frequent  paid  correspondent 
of  some  of  the  leading  agricultural  jour- 
nals of  the  day,  a  fact  that  sj)eaks  volumes 
in  his  favor.  His  private  library  is  worthy 
of  sjiecial  mention,  comprising  the  best 
literature  of  the  day,  as  well  as  the  standard 
authors,  found  in  all  carefully  selected  li- 
braries. He  is  the  only  farmer  in  Andover 
township,  and  ixjssibly  in  Henry  county, 
having  a  library  of  over  five  hundred  vol- 
umes. Xo  enterprise  of  a  public  nature  that 
is  calculated  to  build  up  his  township  or 
county  but  finds  in  him  a  friend. 


PLIXY  FREEMAX. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  Pliny  Freeman 
was  one  of  the  prosperous  citizens  of  Gene- 
seo,  and  his  possessions  had  been  acquired 
entirely  through  his  own  efiforts.  He  had  also 
won  b)-  an  honorable,  upright  life  an  untar- 
nished name,  and  the  record  which  he  left 
behind  is  one  well  worthy  of  emulation.  He 
was  born  in  Sturbridge,  Worcester  county, 
Massachusetts,  April  14,  1806,  a  son  of  Pliny 
and  Delia  (Marsh)  Freeman,  and  belonged 
to  one  of  the  old  and  honored  families  of 
X'ew  England,  tracing  his  ancestry  back  to 
Samuel  Freeman,  who  came  to  America  from 
England  in  1630,  with  Governor  Winthrop, 
and  located  at  Watertown,  or  Xewtown, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  died  in  1638.  He 
left  a  son,  Samuel,  who  was  born  in  Water- 
town,  May  II,  1638,  and  married  Mary 
Southworth  of  Plymouth.  Their  son,  Sam- 
uel Freeman,  was  lx)rn  in  1662.  and  in  1684 
married  Elizabeth  Sparrow,  by  whom  he  had 
a  son  Samuel,  who  was  born  September  i. 
1688,  and  wedded  Mary  Paine.  Their  first 
son,  who  also  bore  the  name  of  Samuel,  was 


PLINY    FKEEMAN. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


i6i 


lirirn  Xovember  12.  17 iT).  and  married  Mary 
Cluihl).  He  was  the  first  of  the  family  to 
make  his  lionie  in  Sturliridge,  Massachusetts, 
locating-  in  what  is  now  the  central  portion 
of  the  village- about  the  middle  of  the  eight- 
eentii  century,  the  town  ha\-ing  been  incor- 
lX)rated  February  13.  1739.  After  Ms 
death,  his  widow-,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
cf  Mary  Chubb,  marrietl  again  and  died  in 
1807,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two 
years.  Their  children  were  Benjamin,  Com- 
fort, Jared,  Samuel,  \\'alter,  Rachel,  Mar- 
tha and  ]\lary,  twins,  and  Raney.  Of  these, 
Comfort  Freeman,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  Ixirn  August  23,  1750,  and  was 
married.  May  6.  1771,  to  Lucy  Walker,  who  , 
was  Ixirn  in  Sturbridge,  February  13.  1749, 
and  died  August  5,  1S3J,  while  his  death 
occurred  Deceml)er  4,  1806.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  nine  children. 

Pliny  Freeman,  the  seconil  son  and  fifth 
child  of  this  family  and  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Sturbridge,  Massachu- 
setts, September  24,  1780,  and  lived  in  the 
vicinity  of  his  birth  place  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  During  his  active 
business  career  he  followed  the  occupations 
of  farming  and  carpentering.  He  was  one 
of  the  prtiminent  and  successful  men  of  the 
community,  served  as  selectman  of  his  town 
for  several  years,  and  was  captain  in  the 
home  militia.  Politically  he  was  identified 
with  the  old  Whig  'party.  On  the  5th  of 
October,  1802,  he  married  Miss  Delia  Marsh, 
a  daughter  of  Silas  and  Deliverance  (Fisk) 
Marsh,  fanning  people  and  life-long  resi- 
dents of  Sturbridge,  where  the  former  died 
in  June,  1836,  the  latter  in  December,  1842. 
Mr.  Marsh  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  Mrs.  Freeman  was  Ixjrn  .\pril  2, 
178:,  and  died  on  the  old  hoiuestead  in  Stur- 
bridge, March  19,  1839.     The  father  of  our 


subject  died  at  the  himie  of  a  daughter  in 
Webster.  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts, 
October  10,  1855.  In  their  family  were  the 
following  chiUlren  :  (  1  )  Silas  Marsh.  Ijorn 
.\ugust  7,  1803,  married  Maria  Upham  of 
Sturbridge,  and  died  at  Millbury.  Massachu- 
setts, Xovember  4,  1880.  His  wife  died  at 
the  same  place.  Their  children  were  .\ndre\v 
Silas,  Sarah  M.  and  Mora  B.  (2)  Pliny, 
our  subject,  was  next  in  order  <if  birth.  (3) 
Beulah,  lx>rn  in  1807,  married  \\'alter  L. 
Rosebrooks,  a  fanner  of  O.xford,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  was  killed  by  lightning  July  5, 
1835.  Their  two  children,  Walter  F.  and 
Mary  11.,  are  both  deceased.  (4)  Delia,  born 
April  4.  1810.  became  the  wife  of  J.  S.  W. 
l\lav.  fo  Holland.  Massachusetts,  and  ihey 
ha\-e  had  three  children.  Laura,  Pliny  and 
Comfort.  (5)  I'lcirilla,  born  May  26,  1812, 
was  married  in  1833  tt)  Bradford  Bayliss.  of 
Southbridge,  Massachusetts,  and  died  at 
Bristol,  PennsyKania,  Xovember  22,  1876. 
(6)  Augusta,  lx)rn  December  25,  1815,  was 
married  in  1841  tn  H.  .\.  F'errin,  nf  Massa- 
chusetts, and  died  January  14,  1873.  Their 
children  were  .\mbrose  D.,  Charles  H.  and 
Myra.  (7)  Dwight,  born  in  Worcester 
county,  Massachusetts.  January  15,  18 19, 
is  the  only  mem1)er  of  the  family  now  living, 
his  home  being  in  Geneseo,  Illinois.  In  1852 
he  married  Mrs.  Sarah  Lincoln  Xegus,  who 
died  in  (Jeneseo.  Their  children  were  Isa- 
dora, wife  of  Joseph  .\.  McLaughlin,  of  (ien- 
eseo;  Arabella,  wife  of  Robert  T.  Smith,  of 
Lincoln,  Xebraska ;  Florence  L.,  wife  of  R. 
W.  Wing,  of  Oakland  California;  and  Fran- 
ces L.,  deceased  wife  of  William  B.  Hunter. 
Reared  on  his  father's  farm,  Mr.  Free- 
man of  this  review  was  given  the  advantages 
of  the  common  schools  of  his  day,  which 
can  hardly  be  compared  to  the  educational 
institutions   which   are  now  the   pride   and 


«l62 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


boast  of  New  England.  He  was  early  in- 
ured to  hard  work,  and  during  his  youth 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  completing  his 
apprenticeship  with  Loren  Merrick.  Believ- 
ing that  the  West  furnished  better  opportu- 
nity for  avancement  than  the  older  states  of 
the  east,  he  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three,  having  friends  residing 
in  that  city.  There  he  found  employment 
at  his  chosen  occupation,  but  not  long  after 
locating  there  he  was  seriously  injured  in  the 
left  knee,  and  was  confined  to  his  bed  for 
.  some  months.  He  then  resumed  work  where 
he  had  left  off,  and  for  forty  j-ears  was  iden- 
tified with  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Cleveland, 
h.is  specialty  being  inside  finish.  In  the 
meantime  he  saved  some  capital  which  he  in- 
vested in  a  small  piece  of  land  near  the  city, 
selling  it  afterward  to  an  advantage. 

During  this  period  Dwight  had  settled 
in  Geneseo,  and  Air.  Freeman  paid  him  a  vis- 
it in  1853,  ^^  which  time  he  bought  property 
near  the  village  with  the  intention  of  making 
it  his  future  home,  but  it  was  not  until  the 
fall  of  1869  that  he  located  here.  He  at  once 
identified  himself  with  the  local  interests  and 
assisted  materially  in  building  up  the  city. 
Among  the  permanent  improvements  that 
he  made  was  a  business  block  and  hall  which 
bears  his  name. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  1835,  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Freeman  and  Miss  Marcia  A.  Prichard, 
v.ho  was  born  in  W^aterbury,  New  Haven 
county,  Connecticut,  April  11,  1816,  a 
daughter  of  Gaines  and  Mary  (Bronson) 
Prichard.  In  1820  her  family  removed  from 
tliat  state  to  Ohio,  the  journey  being  made 
with  an  ox  team  and  occupying  six  weeks. 
The  mother  died  in  August,  1821,  and  a 
month  later  the  father  also  passed  away  at 
the  age  of  twentv-seven  vears.     Her  ances- 


try, however,  were  noted  for  longevity,  and 
during  her  infancy  she  had  six  grandmothers 
living.  'Her  grandmother  Prichard  was 
ninety-six  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her 
death,  while  her  maternal  great-grandmother 
lacked  only  a  few  weeks  of  being  one  hun- 
dred when  she  passed  away.  At  the  age  of 
ninety  the  latter  was  as  \'igorous  as  a  per- 
son thirty  years  younger.  She  had  her  sec- 
ond sight  and  could  read  and  sew  without 
glasses.  The  male  representatives  of  both 
families  were  principally  farmers,  though 
two  of  Airs.  Freemen's  cousins  were  Episco- 
pal clergvmen,  and  one  a  ph3'sician.  Her 
maternal  grandfather.  Gates  Bronson,  was 
born  during  the  Revolutionary  war  and  was 
named  for  the  celebrated  General  Gates.  His 
father,  Alichael  Bronson,  served  as  a  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Continental  army  and  also  did 
the  duty  of  an  adjutant.  He  never  applied 
for  a  pension,  but  after  his  death  his  wife  re- 
ceived about  two  hundred  dollars  annually 
from  the  government. 

On  coming  west  it  was  the  intention  of 
Mr.  Freeman  to  lay  aside  business  cares  and 
live  a  retired  life,  but  he  was  much  too  ener- 
getic a  man  to  enjoy  such  a  life,  and  became 
actively  identified  with  different  enterprises. 
He  took  considerable  interest  in  fruit  cult- 
ure. Although  he  was  intensely  a  public- 
spirited  man  and  an  advocate  of  all  that  tends 
to  advance  and  impro\e  the  community  in 
which  he  lived,  he  did  not  care  for  public 
office.  He  died  in  Geneseo  on  Friday,  No- 
vember 2,  1894.  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight 
years,  six  months  and  eighteen  days.  He 
was  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  good  business 
ability  and  great  energ}%  and  commanded 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact,  either  in  business  or  so- 
cial life.  He  was  an  active  and  prominent 
member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


163 


and  a  constant  attendant  upon  its  services. 
His  widow  is  also  a  commi-nicant  of  that 
church,  and  takes  an  active  part  in  its  work. 
She  is  a  woman  of  many  excellent  traits  of 
character  which  have  endeared  her  to  the 
entire  community,  and  she  is  held  in  high  re- 
gard by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. 


FRANK  W.  l)Uim.\XX. 

This  well-known  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 28,  Colona  township,  Henry  county,  is 
a  native  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  occiu'red 
in  Rock  Island  county  Octnljer  Ji.  1847. 
His  father.  Joseph  Durmann.  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  Germany,  December  15,  1813,  and 
when  a  young  man  emigrated  to  .\nierica. 
In  April,  1845,  he  was  married  in  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  to  Miss  Amanda  Killing,  also  a 
native  of  Germany,  though  she  was  reared  in 
Davenport.  Mr.  Durmann  followed  the 
cooper's  trade  in  Rock  Island  fnr  smne  years, 
and  then  located  i>n  a  farm  in  Rock  Island 
county,  to  the  cultixatinn  nf  which  he  de- 
voted his  time  and  attention  until  1867, 
when  he  removed  to  Colona  township.  Henry 
county,  and  purchased  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  making  it  his  home  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  in  March,  1805. 
Irj  his  family  were  five  chikhxn.  four  sons 
and  one  daughter,  of  whom  uur  subiect  is 
the  eldest.  Jo.seph,  John  and  William  are 
all  substantial  farmers  of  Colona  townshi]); 
and  JNIary  is  the  wife  of  Patrick  McKee,  a 
farmer  of  Rock  Island  counlv . 

F.  W.  Durmann  was  a  young  man  of 
about  eighteen  years  when  he  came  to  Henry 
county  with  his  father,  and  in  the  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  the  home  farm  he 
•bore  an  active  part.     On  Thanksgiving  day, 


November  24,  1870,  be  was  married  in  Rock 
Island  county  to  Miss  Josephine  Davis,  who 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Rock  Island  on  the 
same  street  where  our  subject's  birth  oc- 
curred. Her  father  was  John  C.  Davis,  a 
native  of  New  York,  and  a  son  of  Garry. 
Davis,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Rock 
Island  county,  and  built  and  conducted  the 
first  hotel  at  Milan,  then  Camden  Mills. 
There  her  father  grew  to  manhood  and  mar- 
ried Jane  Renfrow,  who  was  born  in  Illinois, 
her  father,  Absolam  Renfrow,  being  also  an 
early  settler  of  Rock  Island  county,  and  the 
first  cabinet  maker  and  undertaker  of  Rock 
Island. 

Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Durm.inn  began  their  do- 
mestic life  on  a  farm  where  they  now  re- 
side, and  consisting  of  eighty  acres  of  well- 
improved  land.  He  has  built  a  neat  and  com- 
fortable residence,  and  is  successfully  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 
The  marriage  of  our  subject  and  wife  has 
been  blessed  with  five  sons,  namely :  Burd 
C,  Louis  A.,  Ray,  John  D.  and  Harry  W. 
In  politics  Mr.  Durmann  is  a  Jefferson- 
ian  Democrat,  and  at  national  elections  al- 
ways supports  that  party,  though  he  usually 
votes  independent  of  party  lines  in  local  af- 
fairs where  no  issue  is  involved.  He  served 
two  terms  as  township  collector,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board  some  years, 
but  has  never  sought  ]X)litical  honors,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  undivided  attention  to 
bis  business  interests.  b'raternallv  he  is 
connected  with  the  Home  I'orum.  and  relig- 
iously both  he  and  his  wife  are  earnest  and 
consistent  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
They  have  witnessed  almost  the  entire 
growth  and  development  of  this  section  of 
the  state,  and  are  justly  deserving  of  promi- 
nent mention  among  its  honored  pioneers 
and  worthy  citizens. 


164 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


SWEDISH  EVANGELICAL  CHURCH. 

At  an  early  day  a  large  Swedi.'^li  culuny 
was  founded  at  Andover,  and  it  soon  be- 
came necessary'  to  found  a  church  at  that 
place.  Accordingly  the  Swedish  Evangeli- 
cal Church  was  organized  on  the  i8th  of 
March,  1850.  with  ten  communicants.  The 
first  of  the  Swedish  colony  to  locate  in  An- 
dover was  Swan  Xelson,  who  took  up  his 
residence  here  in  1840,  but  in  1847  ^^e  find 
that  only  a  few  families  had  settled  here. 
When  John  A.  Larson  arrived  in  1848  land 
could  still  be  purchased  at  the  government 
price  of  one  d(illar  and  a  quarter  per  acre, 
and  ten  acres  was  considered  sufficient  fur  a 
family.  The  village  was  laid  out  at  that 
time. 

The  Re\'.  L.  P.  Esbgorn  arrixed  in  An- 
dover Octdber  24,  1849.  being  sent  as  a 
missionary  from  Sweden.  He  was  a  well- 
educated  man.  and  the  first  winter  spent  here 
he  instructed  the  young  people  in  algebra  and 
other  studies.  The  church  was  organized  by 
him  on  the  i8th  of  ^larch.  1850.  with  twenty 
members,  as  previously  stated,  but  five  days 
later  the  membership  was  increased  to  thirty- 
five.  He  served  as  pastor  until  1856,  dur- 
ing which  time  a  small  brick  building  was 
erected  acconling  to-  plans  given  by  the 
company  in  Xew  York  who  located  the  col- 
ony here  and  <gave  to  the  diurch  ten  acres  of 
land.  The  church  was  built  by  donations, 
Jenny  Lind.  the  famous  singer  known  as 
the  Swedish  nightingale,  giving  the  most 
towards  its  erection.  When  Mr.  Esbgorn 
left  the  church  had  a  membership  of  three 
hundred,  but  being  without  a  pastor  for  two 
years  the  membership  decreased.  Acce])t- 
ing  a  call  from  the  church  Rev.  Jonas  Swen- 
son  became  resident  pastor  in  the  fall  c»f 
1858,  and  being  a  strong  man  the  congre- 


gation increased  so  rapidly  that  it  was  found 
necessary  to  build  a  more  commodious 
church  edifice  in  1867.  It  is  to-day  the  larg- 
est Protestant  church  in  Henry  county,  the 
seating  capacitv  being  twelve  hundred.  At 
that  time  the  memliership  was  over  one 
tliiiusand.  but  since  railroads  have  been  laid 
out  in  all  directions  other  churches  have 
sprung  up  at  different  places  which  ha\e 
taken  members  from  the  parent  church, 
though  the  congregation  at  Andover  still 
numbers  o\'er  eight  hundred. 

In  1863  Rev.  Esbgorn  returned  to  Swe- 
den, where  he  was  given  a  large  pastorate 
over  about  eight  thousand,  and  there  he  dietl 
in  1870.  Rev.  James  Swenson,  who  was 
also  a  highly  educated  man,  was  pastor  of 
the  church  at  Andover  for  fifteen  years,  and 
died  at  this  place  on  the  20th  of  December, 
1873.  The  congregation  here  reared  a  mon- 
ument to  his  memory,  costing  five  hundred 
dollars.  On  the  13th  of  October,  1875,  Rev. 
E.  Carlson  became  pastor,  and  was  in  charge 
here  for  twelve  years.  He  was  promoted  and 
given  the  degree  of  D.  D.  in  1892.  and  during 
the  vacancy  from  1873  to  1875  the  congre- 
gation wVis  given  a  supply.  In  1887,  Rev. 
\".  Setterdahl  became  pastor,  and  is  yet  serv- 
ing the  church  in  a  most  acceptable  manner. 


ANDREW  PETER  FRAGD. 

Among  Andover  township's  most  intlu- 
ential  and  prominent  citizens  is  A.  P.  Fragd 
who  is  now  so  efficiently  serving  as  super- 
visor of  the  township.  He  was  born  in  Kal" 
n^.erlan.  Central  Sweden,  on  the  22nd  of 
Sejitemljer,  1852,  and  was  five  years  old 
when  he  came  to  America  with  his  parents, 
John  and  Ann   (Peterson)   Fragd,  also  na- 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

UKBANA 


A.  P.  FRAGD. 


MRS.  A.   P.    FRAGD. 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBAMA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


169 


lives  of  Sweden.  The  family  took  passage 
on  a  sailing  vessel  at  Liverpool,  and  after  a 
voyage  of  seven  weeks'  duration  landed  in 
Kew  York,  whence  they  came  direct  to 
Henry  county,  Illinois.  locating  in  Andover 
township,  where  the  father  followed  farm- 
ing throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
In  his  native  country  he  served  tifteen  years 
in  the  standing  army,  serving  up  to  the  time 
of  his  emigration  to  the  Uniteil  States,  in 
1857.  He  was  an  ardent  Republican  in  pol- 
itics and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  earnest 
and  consistent  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  The  father  died  the  latter  part  of 
May,  1 89 1,  and  the  mother  ten  weeks  later. 
They  were  among  the  honored  pioneers  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Andover  town- 
ship. Their  children  were  Caroline,  now 
deceased ;  Sophia,  wife  of  Captain  Anderson" 
of  Iowa;  Lottie:  Augusta;  Christine,  de- 
ceased ;  Andrew  P.,  and  August,  a  resident 
of  Chicago. 

Reared  in  Andover,  our  subject  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  that  village,  and  since 
starting  out  in  life  for  himself  has  success- 
fully engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising 
in  Andover  township.  In  1875  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emma  Ander- 
son, also  a  native  of  Sweden,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Anderson,  who  lives  at  Osco. 
By  this  union  were  born  eight  children, 
namely:  Sherman,  who  died  October  8, 
1900;  Anna,  Esther,  Elmer,  Walter  and  Eda, 
all  at  home;  and  Mary  and  b'sly,  Ivith  de- 
ceascid.  The  wife  and  mother  ilied  in  .\n- 
dover  in  1896,  and  two  years  later  Mr. 
Fragd  wedded  ^Irs.  Mary  Davis,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  widow  of  William 
Davis,  who  was  an  early  settler  and  large 
land  owner  of  Andover  township,  where  he 
made  his  home  until  his  death,  August  17, 
1894.     Mrs.  Fragd  was  born  in  Kiskimini- 


tus,  Armstrong  county.  Pennsylvania,  De- 
cember 18,  1836,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
George  W.  and  Rachel  (Starry)  Dun- 
Uiire.  Her  father  was  a  son  of  Sojunion 
Dunmire,  a  native  of  Germany,  while 
lier  mother  was  a  native  of  .\rmstrnng 
county,  I'ennsylvania.  but  of  German  an- 
cestry. In  1850  her  lather  came  to  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  and  located  in  Wiestern 
township,  where  he  purchased  unimproved 
land  and  opened  up  a  farm,  which  was  his- 
home  until  his  removal  to  Butler  county, 
Kansas,  in  1875,  where  his  death  occurred 
some  seven  years  ago.  His  wife  died  in 
Pennsylvania  when  Mrs.  Fragd  was  an  in- 
fant. The  latter  accompanied  her  father  to 
Henry  county  and  remained  with  him  until 
her  marriage  tt)  \\  illiam  Davis,  in  March, 
iS6j.  Pier  education  was  principally  ob- 
tained in  the  schools  of  her  native  state,  but 
she  attended  the  schools  of  Western  town- 
ship for  a  time  after  the  removal  of  the 
family.  William  Davis  was  born  in  Ireland, 
and  when  less  than  eighteen  years  old  came 
to  the  United  States  and  direct  to  .Vndover 
township,  Henry  county,  where  he  first 
worked  as  a  farm  hand.  Later  he  purchased 
land,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  August 
14,  1894,  he  was  a  well-to-do  man.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

As  a  Republican  I\Ir.  Fragd  has  ever 
taken  a  very  active  and  prominent  part  in 
local  politics,  and  has  been  honored  with 
several  official  positions  of  responsibility  ami 
trust.  For  the  long  period  of  twenty  years 
he  has  been  a  public  official  of  Andover 
township.  He  v»as  commissioner  of  high- 
ways fourteen  years,  during  which  time 
many  iron  bridges  were  constructed  in  his 
township,  and  the  first  road  graders  owned 
by  the  township  were  purchased.     He  wa.s 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


assessor  some  seven  or  eight  years,  and 
since  1897  has  held  the  office  of  supervisor 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 
He  takes  a  commendable  interest  in  county, 
state  and  national  politics,  and  gives  his 
support  to  all  measures  which  he  believes 
will  prove  of  public  benefit.  As  a  member 
of  the  township  central  committee  of  his 
party  he  has  rendered  considerable  service. 
Socially  he  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  Lodge  of  Cambridge,  and  re- 
ligiously holds  membership  in  the  Lutheran 
Church  of  Andover. 


REV.    \'ICTOR    SETTERDAHL. 

For  thirteen  years  Rev.  \"ictor  Setter- 
dahl  has  been  pastor  of  the  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran Church  at  Andover,  during  which 
time  he  has  ministered  faithfully  to  the  spir- 
itual needs  of  his  people  and  given  powerful 
and  effective  aid  to  all  influences  which  work 
for  the  advancement  of  the  community. 
He  was  born  in  Ostergoetland,  Sweden, 
January  20,  1844,  a  son  of  M.  Anderson  and 
his  wife  Catherine  Larson,  who  lived  and 
died  in  that  country.  Our  subject  took  his 
name  from  his  old  home  in  Sweden,  where 
he  was  reared  and  educated. 

In  1864  Mr.  Setterdahl  came  to  the 
United  States,  and  the  following  year  en- 
tered Augustana  College  at  Paxton,  Illinois, 
■where  he  took  the  seminary  course  and  was 
graduated  in  1873.  From  June  of  that  year 
until  June,  1874,  he  was  pastor  of  a  church 
ai  Rock  Island.  He  then  took  charge  of 
the  church  at  Orion,  Henry  county,  becom- 
ing its  first  pastor,  and  built  up  the  congre- 
gation until  it  numbered  three  hundred  and 
forty-five  communicants.     Prior  to  coming 


to  Andover  he  was  connected  with  the 
churches  at  Lockport  and  Joliet,  Illinois,  as 
pastor,  for  three  years,  and  before  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  churches  did  mission  work 
in  those  cities.  In  1887  he  accepted  a  call 
from  the  church  at  Andover,  and  has  since 
remained  at  this  place.  The  church  here  has 
had  a  remarkable  career,  and  from  it  seven 
churches  have  branched  off — Swedonia, 
Xew  A\"indsor,  \\'oodhull,  Orion,  Cam- 
bridge, Oppheim  and  Cable.  Its  elegant 
house  of  worship  here  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars.  It  was  sup- 
plied with  a  pipe  organ  in  1874,  at  a  cost 
four  thousand  dollars.  In  1875  the  par- 
sonage was  built.  This  is  the  oldest  church 
in  Augustana  Sjniod,  and  one  of  the  largest 
countr}-  churches  in  the  countr}^  A  summer 
school  of  two  months  is  held  here  each  year. 
There  are  ten  acres  of  land  attached  to  both 
church  and  parsonage. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1874,  in  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  ^Ir.  Setterdahl  married  Miss 
Albertina  Larson,  who  was  born  in  that 
county  in  1853,  and  after  her  graduation  at 
the  high  school  in  Galesburg  she  success- 
fully engaged  in  teaching  in  her  native  coun- 
ty for  a  time.  Her  parents  were  Gustaf  and 
Catharine  Larson.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Sweden,  and  became  a  resident  of  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  in  1850.  He  died  in  1870, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1893.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Setterdahl  have  five  children.  \'ictor 
E.,  now  engaged  as  a  bookkeeper  in  Chicago, 
is  a  graduate  of  Augustana  College.  He  was 
married  February  2,  1898,  to  Miss  Edith 
Hanaway,  of  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  but 
of  Scotch  descent.  Etta,  also  a  graduate  of 
Augustana  College,  was  for  a  time  a  stu- 
dent of  music  of  the  Conservatory  of  Music 
of  Rock  Island,  Illinois.  She  is  now  a  teach- 
er in  the  village  school  in  Andover,  and  is 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


171 


■organist  for  the  churcli.     Fred,  \'iolet  and 
Naomi  complete  the  family. 

For  twenty-three  year.s  Mr.  Setterdahl 
l.as  been  connected  with  ministerial  work  in 
Henry  county,  and  his  labors  have  been 
crowned  with  success.  RcNcred  and  loved 
by  his  iiwn  congregation,  he  has  also  won 
the  honor  and  esteem  of  all  others  who  ha\e 
.seen  his  devotion  to  his  noble  calling. 


PETER  WESTERLUXD. 

One  of  the  early  settlers  of  Henry  coun- 
ty is  Peter  Westerlund,  now  retired  from 
business  activities  and  quietly  enjoying  the 
income  which  he  accumulated  in  former 
years.  I'or  many  years  he  was  successfully 
engaged  in  farming  in  Western  township. 
V,  here  he  still  owns  a  valuable  place  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  within  three  miles 
of  Orion,  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
that  village. 

Mr.  Westerlund  was  born  in  Sweden, 
August  21,  1839,  and  was  eleven  years  of 
age  when,  in  1850,  he  came  with  his  father 
to  the  new  world  and  took  up  his  residence 
ill  Henry  county,  .\fter  living  for  two  years 
in  Andover  township  the  father  bought  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  go\-ernment  land 
in  Lynn  township,  in  the  improvement  and 
cultivation  of  which  our  subject  bore  an  act- 
ive part  until  reaching  man's  estate.  He  be- 
gan his  education  in  his  native  land,  and 
Icter  attended  the  schools  of  .\ndover  and 
Lynn  townships  for  a  time. 

Leaving  home  in  1859,  Mr.  Westerlund 
went  to  Pikes  Peak  with  ox  and  mule  teams, 
and  after  prospecting  in  the  mountains  for 
some  time  went  to  Denver  September  4  of 
the  same  year.    The  first  house,  where  now 


stands  the  city,  was  then  being  erected. 
From  there  he  proceeded  south  to  Fort  Albu- 
querque, New  Mexico,  but  not  being  pleased 
with  the  country,  he  and  his  companions 
sold  their  three  wagons  and  oxen  and  float- 
ed down  the  Rio  Grande  river  to  El  Paso, 
Mexico,  passing  numerous  rapids  and  hav- 
ing exciting  adventures.  Selling  their  skiffs 
thev  went  with  some  freight  trains  to  San 
Antonio,  and  then  started  for  Jefferson  City 
on  foot,  carrying  with  them  their  luggage, 
;i  distance  of  one  thousand  miles.  On  reach- 
ing Quitman  Mr.  \\'esterlund  secured  work 
ai  getting  out  timber  for  the  sawmills,  and 
was  thus  employed  for  two  months.  He 
then  went  to  Jefferson,  Texas,  where  he  spent 
the  summer  at  work  in  a  brick  yard,  and  in 
the  fall  of  i860  he  and  his  associates  started 
north,  arriving  home  in  November  of  that 
year. 

The  following  spring  Mr.  ^^'ester!und, 
with  others,  established  a  brick  yard  at 
Woodhull,  which  they  operated  one  season, 
but  he  then  sold  his  interest  in  the  business 
and  took  charge  of  the  old  home  farm,  which 
he  carried  on  until  1865.  He  then  bought  his 
first  property,  consisting  of  eighty  acres  of 
uild  prairie  land,  to  which  he  subsequently 
added  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  has 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  all 
in  one  body.  This  he  has  divided  into  two 
farms,  has  erected  thereon  two  sets  of  good 
farm  buildings,  and  has  placed  the  land  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation.  These  places 
are  now  successfully  operated  by  his  sons, 
v.hile  he  practically  lives  a  retired  life  in 
Orion,  where  he  has  made  his  home  since 
the  spring  of  1897,  owning  a  good  residence 
in  that  place.  He  is  now  vice-president  and 
one  of  the  stockholders  of  the  State  Bank 
of  Orion,  having  been  elected  to  that  office 
on  the  reorganization   of  the  bank.     The 


172 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


bank  was  first  started  by  our  subject  and  his 
sons,  associated  with  two  others,  as  a  private 
bank. 

On  the  i/th  of  February,  1863,  in  Henry 
county,  Mr.  W'esterlund  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Eleanora  HuUman,  who  was 
also  born  in  Sweden,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  when  a  j'oung  lady.  The)'  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  five  children,  namely: 
William,  who  is  married  and  engaged  in 
business  in  Chicago:  John  A.,  a  business  man 
of  Alabama;  ^lay,  wife  of  Dr.  Magnuson, 
a  dentist  of  Orion;  Arndt  L.,  on  the  old 
homestead;  and  Perry  E.,  also  on  the  farm; 
both  are  married. 

^Ir.  W'esterlund  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864,  being  in 
Texas  in  i860,  and  has  since  been  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and  its 
principles.  Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Lutheran  Church  of  Orion, 
and  enjoy  the  hospitality  of  many  of  the  best 
homes  of  the  village.  His  success  in  life 
has  been  worthily  achieved,  and  his  career 
demonstrates  what  may  be  accomplished 
through  energy,  careful  management,  keen 
foresight  and  the  utilization  of  the  powers 
with  which  nature  has  endowed  one,  and 
the  opportunities  with  which  the  times  sur- 
round him. 


DAVID  CLIXTOX  TOMLIXSOX. 

Among  the  successful,  energetic  and  pro- 
gressive farmers  of  Henry  county  is  D.  Clin- 
ton Tomlinson,  who  has  been  a  resident  of 
the  county  since  1857,  and  now  resides  on 
section  20,  Osco  township.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Hollv,  Oakland  county,  Michigan, 
August  17,  1844,  his  parents  being  D.  S.  and 
Hannah    (W'inegar)    Tomlinson,   both  na- 


tives of  Xew  York,  the  former  born  in  1810, 
the  latter  in  1807.  After  their  marriage 
they  moved  to  Michigan  about  1837.  and 
first  located  in  Genesee  county,  but  later  set- 
tled in  Oakland  county,  where  the  father 
owned  and  operated  a  farm.  On  disposing 
of  that  place,  in  1857,  he  came  to  Henry 
count}',  Illinois.  ^Ir.  Tomlinson  purchased 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Osco  township, 
which  he  improved,  and  throughout  life  fol- 
lowed general  farming.  He  died  on  his  farm 
ir  October,  1883,  having  survived  his  wife 
twelve  years,  as  her  death  occurred  April 
14.  1 87 1.  By  his  ballot  he  always  supported 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  took  an  active  interest  in  edu- 
cational affairs.  His  children  were  Jennie 
H.,  now  the  widow  of  William  Perkins  and 
a  resident  of  Buffalo,  X'ew  York ;  Catherine, 
wife  of  George  Thomas,  a  fanner  of  Shelby 
county,  ^Missouri;  Ellen,  deceased  wife  of 
John  Beers,  a  resident  of  Osco  township, 
this  count}-;  D.  Clinton,  our  subject;  and 
William  H..  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead 
on  section   1 1 .  Osco  township. 

ilr.  Tomlinson,  of  this  review,  began  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  ilichi- 
gan,  and  after  coming  to  this  county  with 
his  parents,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  he 
attended  school  for  a  time.  He  was  reared 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  while  assisting 
liis  father  in  the  work  of  the  farm  acquired 
an  excellent  knowledge  of  its  labors.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  began  work  for  himself, 
though  he  made  his  home  with  his  parents 
until  his  marriage,  October  i,  1871.  Mrs. 
Caroline  D.  (Harper)  Geer  becoming  his 
wife.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  three 
children,  namely:  (i)  Pearl  G.  is  the  wife 
of  William  McXeill,  who  is  running  a  cream- 
ery in  Prophetstown,  Illinois,  and  they  have 
four  children,  June,  Leola,  Arneda  and  A'a- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


173 


da.  (2)  Jessie  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Pur- 
viance,  proprietor  of  a  laundry  and  bottling 
works  at  \\  yoming.  Illinois,  and  they  have 
five  children.  Leroy,  Edith,  Grace.  Carol  and 
Charles.  (3)  Grace  is  the  wife  of  George 
Reese,  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Proph- 
etstown.  and  they  have  two  children,  Ralph 
and  Avis.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tomlinson  are  as  follows  :  ( i )  Albert 
C  who  is  engaged  in  fanning  on  his  father's 
land  in  Cambridge  townsliip,  married  Sarah 
Neville,  and  they  have  two  children.  Gwen- 
dolin  and  Duane  C.  (2)  ilabel  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Arnett.  a  fanner  of  Penora.  Guth- 
rie county.  Iowa.  (3)  Duane  S.  married 
Esther  C.  Fragd  and  lives  at  home.  Mrs. 
Tomlinson  was  born  in  Xew  York,  April 
13,  1839,  and  died  on  the  home  place  in 
Osco  township,  this  county.  Xovember  6. 
1899.  On  leaving  her  native  state  she  went 
to  Wisconsin,  and  after  spending  one  year 
there  came  to  Illinois  in  1857.  living  for  a 
time  in  Whiteside  county,  and  later  in  Gen- 
eseo.  this  county.  She  was  of  a  willing  dis- 
position, and  to  her  our  subject  attributes 
much  of  his  success  in  life,  for  she  aided  him 
much  hy  her  encouragement  and  supix)rt. 
Pleasant  anil  agreeable  in  manner,  she  made 
many  friends,  and  was  higlily  respected  and 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  her. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tom- 
linson located  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides,  his  wife  there  owning  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  20,  Osco  township. 
He  has  made  many  improvements  upon  the 
place,  and  has  added  to  his  landed  posses- 
sions, having  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  rich  and  arable  land  on  sections  13  and  24, 
Cambridge  township.  He  has  always  fol- 
lowed general  farming  and  stock  raising, 
making  a  specialty  of  hogs,  and  in  his  busi- 
ness undertakings  has  steadily  prospered  un- 


til he  is  now  one  of  the  most  substantial  men 
of  his  community. 

As  a  Republican  Mr.  Tomlinson  has  been 
quite  prominently  identified  with  political 
affairs,  and  is  a  recognized  leader  of  the  party 
in  his  community.  For  nine  consecutive 
years  he  served  as  supervisor  of  his  town- 
ship, and  later  filled  the  same  otifice  for 
four  years,  always  serving  the  people  to 
the  best  of  his  ability.  While  he  held 
that  office  the  court  house  was  in  course 
of  construction.  He  was  also  officially 
connected  with  the  schools  of  his  town- 
ship for  a  number  of  years,  and  has  al- 
ways given  his  support  to  church  work. 
Over  his  life  record  there  falls  no  shadow  of 
wrong;  his  public  service  was  most  e.xem- 
plary;  and  his  private  life  has  been  marked 
l)v  the  utmost  fidelitv  to  dutv. 


ANDREW  P.  JOHNSON. 

Andrew  P.  Johnson  is  a  successful  con- 
tractor and  builder  of  Orion,  of  whose  skill 
many  notable  examples  are  to  be  seen 
throughout  Henry  and  Rock  Island  coun- 
ties. Thoroughly  reliable  in  all  things,  the 
quality  of  his  work  is  a  convincing  test  of 
his  own  personal  worth  and  the  same  ad- 
mirable trait  is  shown  in  his  conscientious 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  different  positions 
of  trust  and  responsibility  to  which  he  has 
been  chosen  in  business  and  i)olitical   life. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  born  on  the  30th  of 
August,  1843.  '"  Sweden,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood  and  learned  the  carpenter's 
and  joiner's  trade,  which  he  followed  in 
that  country  for  some  jears.  In  1869  he 
emigrated  to  America,  his  destination  being 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  some  friends  of  his 


174 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


from  Sweden  having  previously  located  in 
Western  township.  For  about  nine  years 
he  engaged  in  farming  upon  rented  land, 
and  then  turned  his  attention  to  his  trade, 
being  engaged  in  contracting  and  building 
for  the  past  twenty  years.  He  has  erected 
many  of  the  business  houses,  residences, 
barns  and  other  buildings  in  this  section  of 
the  state.  In  1895  he  also  opened  a  lumber 
yard,  which  he  has  since  successfully  con- 
ducted, carrying  a  good  supply  of  lumber  and 
all  kinds  of  building  material,  as  well  as 
coal,  tile,  etc.,  and  he  has  already  built  up 
an  excellent  trade. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  1873,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Johnson  and  Miss  Au- 
gusta Magdalina  Lunguin,  who  was  also 
born  and  reared  in  Sweden.  They  have  a 
family  of  three  children :  Louise,  now  the 
wife  of  B.  S.  ^lillett,  of  Jewell  Junction, 
Iowa;  Marie,  at  home;  and  Arthur  C,  who 
assists  his  father  in  business. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Johnson 
is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  cast  his  first 
presidential  ballot  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes, 
but  has  never  taken  a  very  active  part  in 
political  affairs,  though  he  is  now  most 
capably  serving  as  a  member  of  the  town 
board.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  and  are  held  in 
high  regard  by  all  who  know  them.  He 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  village  board 
April,  1900,  since  which  time  the  electric 
light  has  been  installed. 


REGINALD  HEBER  HIXMAX. 

For  many  years  this  gentleman  was 
prominently  identified  with  the  agricult- 
ural interests  of  this  countv,  but  is  now  liv- 


ing a  retired  life  in  Cambridge,  where  he- 
is  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life, 
which  were  secured  by  former  years  of  toil. 
He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bristol,  Hart- 
ford county,  Connecticut,  February  4,  1828, 
and  comes  of  good  old  colonial  stock.  His 
parents,  ^^'illis  and  Olive  (Atwater)  Hin- 
man,  were  also  natives  of  the  Xutmeg  state, 
as  were  also  his  grandparents.  His  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  Isaac  Atwater.  fought 
for  American  independence  as  a  private  in 
the  Continental  army  during  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  The  paternal  grandfather.  Phile- 
mon Hinman,  spent  his  entire  life  as  a  house 
carpenter  in  Connecticut. 

Willis  Hinman,  our  subject's  father,  also 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  clock  mak- 
ing in  Connecticut,  from  which  state  he  re- 
m.oved  to  Miami  county,  Ohio.  With  the 
view  of  locating  farther  west,  he  came  to 
Henry  coimty,  Illinois,  in  December,  1850. 
and  being  pleased  with  this  region,  he  re- 
turned for  his  family,  who  took  up  their 
residence  in  Osco  township  the  following 
IMay.  Most  of  the  county  at  that  time  was 
government  land,  and  deer,  prairie  chickens 
and  other  wild  game  was  plentiful.  Willis 
Hinman  engaged  in  farming  in  Osco  town- 
ship until  1858,  when  he  removed  to  Gen- 
eseo,  and  later  to  Cambridge.  He  was  borrr 
July  8,  1798,  and  died  September  18.  1888, 
while  his  wife  was  born  February  8,  1799^ 
and  died  April  21,  1889.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  were  high- 
ly respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
them.  Of  their  seven  children  three  reached 
years  of  maturity,  namely:  Clarissa,  wha 
married  Xelson  Gaines,  of  Geneseo.  and  died 
in  1877,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years;  Reg- 
inald H.,  our  subject;  and  William,  who 
was  bom  in  1833,  and  died  in  1892.  He 
served  as  sergeant  in  the  One  Hundred  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


175 


Twelftli  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry  during 
the  Civil  war,  and  married  Elizabeth 
Townsend,  now  a  resident  of  Cambridge. 

In  the  town  of  his  nativity  Reginald  H. 
Hinman  sfjent  the  first  j'ears  of  his  life  and 
then  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Miami  county,  Ohio.  He  attend- 
ed school  in  Troy,  that  state,  and  when 
his  education  was  completed  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade  with  his  father.  At  the 
age  of  nineteen  he  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  and  to  that  pursuit  he  devoted  the 
greater  part  of  his  active  business  life. 
Coming  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1 85 1,  he  has  since  resided  here,  and 
was  actively  engaged  in  farming  in  Osco 
township  for  many  years,  raising  princi- 
pally com,  oats  and  stock,  but  is  now  rest- 
ing from  his  labors  at  his  comfortable  home 
in  Cambridge,  though  he  still  owns  a 
quarter-section  of  land  in  Osco  township, 
which  was  entered  from  the  government 
by  his  father  in  185 1,  and  also  has  one 
hundred  acres  in  Cambridge  township. 

Mr.  Hinman  was  married,  October  8, 
1852,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Miller,  of  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Christley  and 
Hannah  (Wright)  IMiller,  of  Troy,  that 
state.  13y  this  union  were  born  three  chil- 
dren, namely :  ( i )  William  Elliott,  who  car- 
ries on  a  fruit  ranch  and  is  also  engaged 
in  the  feed  and  grain  business  at  Pamona, 
California,  married  Xora  Xolind,  and  has 
three  children,  Frances  E.,  Susan  and  Harry 
H.  (2)  Frank  M.,  a  resident  of  Allentown, 
Pennsylvania,  married  Lilly  ^Miller  and  has 
three  children,  May,  Ralph  and  Ethel.  (3) 
Jennie  M.  died  in  March,  1877,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-three  years,  and  the  mother  of 
these  children  passed  away  September  20, 
1867,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three.  Both 
mother  and  daughter  were  active  and  con- 


sistent members  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
On  the  8th  of  October,  1868,  Mr.  Hin- 
man was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Susan 
Corl,  who  was  born  in  Germantown,  Bucks 
county,  Pennsylvania,  j\Iay  2,  1832,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Fraley)  Combs, 
natives  of  the  same  place.  Her  father,  who 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1852,  and  died  here  in  1859,  at  the 
age  of  fifty  years,  while  his  wife  died  in  the 
spring  of  1852,  at  the  age  of  forty-eight. 
Both  were  earnest  members  of  the  Society 
of  Friends  and  most  estimable  people.  Be- 
sides Mrs.  Hinman  they  had  another  daugh- 
ter, Leah,  now  the  widow  of  Reese  Xolind 
and  a  resident  of  Iowa.  For  her  first  hus- 
band ilrs.  Hinman  married  Henry  Corl, 
with  whom  she  came  to  the  Prairie  state 
in  1850,  locating  first  in  Bureau  country, 
but  in  1857  removing  to  Cambridge,  this 
county.  In  September,  1862,  ^Ir.  Corl  en- 
listed in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
Twelfth  Illinois  X'olunteer  Infantry,  of 
which  company  our  subject's  brother  was 
also  a  member.  Mr.  Corl  served  as  a  non- 
commissioned otVicer,  and  was  instantly 
killed  during  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  Xo- 
vember  18,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years. 
In  religious  belief  he  was  a  ^lethodist. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hinman  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
and  before  coming  to  Cambridge  he  served 
as  warden  in  the  church  at  Osco.  He  is 
a  prominent  member  of  Cambridge  Lodge, 
Xo.  49,  F.  &  A.  M.,  which  is  one  of  the 
oldest  lodges  in  the  state,  and  in  which  he  has 
filled  all  the  offices.  He  is  also  secretary  of 
the  Old  Settlers  Association.  The  Demo- 
ocratic  i)arty  has  always  found  in  Mr.  Hin- 
man a  stanch  supporter  of  its  principles,  and 
he  has  been  honored  with  several  important 
official  positions,  having  served  as  supervisor 


176 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


nianj-  years  and  as  cliainnan  of  the  county 
board.  He  also  filled  the  positions  of  town- 
shij}  collector  and  justice  of  the  peace  for 
some  time.  For  the  long  period  of  tvven- 
t}'-two  consecutive  years  he  has  been  secre- 
tary of  the  Henry  County  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, and  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest 
in  its  affairs  and  has  done  much  to  insure  its 
success.  Public-spirited  and  progressive  to 
an  eminent  degree,  he  has  ever  been  num- 
bered among  the  most  valued  and  useful 
citizens  of  his  community — one  willing  to 
give  his  support  to  any  enterprise  for  the 
public  good. 


CHAUNCEY  E.  WASHBURX. 

In  the  pioneer  epoch  in  the  history  of 
this  section  of  Illinois  Chauncey  E.  Wash- 
burn came  to  Henry  county,  and  has  been 
an  important  factor  in  its  substantial  de- 
velopment and  permanent  improvement.  He 
has  seen  its  wild  lands  transformed  into  fine 
farms,  while  industrial  and  commercial  in- 
terests have  been  introduced.  In  the  work 
of  progress  he  has  borije  his  part  and  has 
been  particularly  active  as  a  representative 
of  the  agricultui'al  interests  of  the  commu- 
nity. He  is  to-day  the  owner  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  section  _', 
\\'estern  township,  where  he  makes  his 
home. 

J\Ir.  Washburn  was  born  in  Springfield, 
Massachusetts,  May  17.  1834,  and  on  the 
i6th  of  May,  1837.  was  brought  to  this 
county  by  his  parents,  .\bisha  and  Isabella 
(Clapp)  Washburn.  The  former  was  a  na- 
tive of  \'ermont.  the  latter  of  Connecticut, 
^nd  their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  Spring- 
field. Massachusetts,  where  the  father 
•worked  as  a  mechanic  in  the  armorv  until 


coming  west.  The  journey  was  made  by 
way  of  the  Connecticut  river,  Long  Island 
sound,  the  Erie  canal,  and  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  rivers  to  Hampton,  Illinois.  His 
destination  was  Henry  county,  which  his 
brother.  Nathan  Washburn,  had  helped  to 
survey  the  year  previous.  He  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now  Colona 
township,  but  the  first  season  spent  here  he 
engaged  in  farming  upon  rented  land,  while 
the  family  lived  in  a  little  old  outbuilding 
about  ten  feet  square  through  the  summer. 
Jn  the  meantime  a  good  log  house  was 
built  upon  the  land,  and  he  began  to  break 
and  improve  his  place,  adding  to  it  another 
eighty-acre  tract.  Later  he  purchased  more 
land  and  erected  a  good  set  of  frame  build- 
ings, making  it  his  home  until  his  death, 
August  31.  1873.  He  was  the  first  super- 
visor of  Colona  township,  and  was  active 
in  establishing  its  schools.  In  politics  he 
was  always  a  Democrat. 

Amid  pioneer  scenes  in  this  county 
Chauncey  E.  Wasiiburn  grew  to  manhood 
His  first  lessons  were  taught  by  his  mother, 
and  for  a  time  he  attended  the  district 
schools;  but  he  is  mostly  self-educated,  as 
the  countr\'  afforded  but  limited  educational 
privileges  during  his  boyhood.  He  assisted 
his  father  in  the  arduous  task  of  breaking 
the  land  and  converting  the  wild  tract  into 
<i  highly  cultivated  farm.  After  reaching 
manhood  his  father  gave  him  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  \\'estern  town- 
ship, only  about  twenty-five  acres  of  which 
had  been  broken.  A  year  or  two  later  he 
sold  that  place  and  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  where  he  now  resides,  of  which 
one  hundred  acres  had  previously  been 
broken  and  a  small  house  erected  thereon. 
To  its  further  improvement  and  cultivation 
lie  has  since  devoted  his  energies,  and  has 


C.   E.   WASHBURN. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


179 


added  to  it  an  adjoining  quarter-section. 
making  a  good  farm  of  three  iiundred  and 
twenty  acres  and  also  two  hundred  and  ten 
acres  in  Colona  township.  When  a  young 
man  he  engaged  in  breaking  prairie  two 
seasons  with  a  team  of  five  yoke  of  cattle, 
breaking  as  high  as  five  acres  in  one  day. 
and  has  ever  taken  a  \ery  acti\e  part  in  tiie 
de\-elo])ment  of  tlie  county. 

^larch  28,  1858,  in  Cojona  townsiiip. 
Henry  county,  Mr.  \\'ashl)urn  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Emily  Piatt,  who 
was  born  .\pril  5,  1833,  near  Covington, 
Indiana,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  childhood 
with  her  father.  Joshua  Piatt,  locating  south 
of  Cambridge,  where  lie  opened  up  and  im- 
proved a  farm.  By  this  union  were  born 
the  following  children:  Ida,  wife  of  Rob- 
ert McLeese,  a  farmer  of  Western  town- 
ship; Lettie,  wife  of  William  Durmann,  a 
farmer  of  Colona  township ;  George,  a  sub- 
stantial farmer  of  Western  township;  Otis, 
a  teacher  of  typewriting  and  shorthand  in 
Chicago;  Edward,  a  farmer  of  Colona  town- 
ship; Jane  and  Emma,  lx)th  at  home.  The 
wife  and  mother,  who  was  an  earnest  and 
consistent  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  passed  away  .\pril  jo,  1893,  leaving 
many  friends  as  well  as  her  immediate 
family  to  mourn  her  loss. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Washburn  is 
a  Jacksonian  Democrat,  and  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  James  Buchanan  in 
1856,  though  he  supjiorted  Cieneral  (}rant 
in  1872.  He  has  for  the  long  period  of 
twenty  years  efficiently  served  as  school  di- 
rector, having  done  much  in  build  new 
school  houses.  For  over  sixty-three  years 
he  has  now  been  identified  with  the  interests 
of  Henry  county,  and  has  witnessed  almost 
its  entire  growth  and  development.  He  has 
seen  great  prairie  fires  sweep  over  the  coun- 


try, where  now  are  waving  fields  of  grain. 
W'hen  he  first  located  here,  deer,  turkey  and 
other  wild  game  was  found  in  abundance, 
and  furnished  many  a  meal  for  the  early  set- 
tlers. Swamps  have  been  drained  and  con- 
verted into  highly  cultivated  fields ;  rail- 
roads, telegraphs  and  telephones  have  been 
introduced ;  and  now  all  of  the  conveniences 
and  comforts  of  an  advanced  civilization 
can  here  be  found.  Mr.  Washburn  can  re- 
late many  interesting  incidents  of  pioneer 
days,  and  wrote  a  very  able  article  on  front- 
ier life  which  was  published  in  the  papers 
of  the  county  and  was  read  with  interest  by 
all  the  old  settlers.  With  his  two  sons,  be 
introduced  between  their  homes  the  first 
telephones  in  his  section,  getting  at  first 
much  ridicule  from  his  neighbors.  As  others 
saw  the  convenience,  more  'phones  were  add- 
ed, the  lines  exten,ding  to  Orion,  and  now 
hardly  a  land  owner  in  the  western  part  of 
the  countv  is  witlii>ut  one. 


JOHN  O.  AXDERSOX. 

Among  Orion's  most  honored  and  highly 
esteemed  citizens  is  this  retired  farmer,  who 
for  almost  half  a  century  has  been  identified 
with  the  interests  of-  Henry  county.  His 
early  home  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  At- 
lantic, for  be  was  burn  in  Jonkopingland, 
X'estra  liared.  Sweden,  March  25,  1830, 
and  was  there  reared  upon  a  farm.  It  was 
ir.  1854  that  he  emigrated  to  the  new  world, 
taking  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  at  Gutten- 
Ijerg,  and  arriving  in  New  York  after  a 
rather  pleasant  voyage  of  six  weeks.  He 
landed  and  at  once  proceeded  west  by  train 
to  Buffalo,  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  and  train 
to  (jeneseo.   where  he  joined    his    brother 


i8o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Malcolm  Anderson,  who  had  located  here 
ill  May,  1854. 

Renting  land  in  Andover  township,  'Sir. 
Anderson  engaged  in  farming  there  for  five 
3'ears,  and  being  unfamiliar  with  the  methods 
and  customs  of  America,  had  many  new 
experiences  during  those  years.  Being 
economical,  industrious  and  ambitious,  he 
saved  some  money  and  in  1861  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land  in  Lynn 
township,  which  he  commenced  at  once  to 
fence,  break  and  improve.  His  first  home 
was  a  good  frame  residence,  though  rather 
small,  but  it  has  since  been  replaced  by  a 
more  commodious  and  pretentious  dwelling. 
Good  barns  and  outbuildings  have  also  been 
erected,  and  the  place  converted  into  a 
highly  improved  farm.  Mr.  Anderson  added 
to  the  original  tract  from  time  to  time,  and 
now  has  a  valuable  farm  of  four  hundred 
acres.  He  continued  its  operation  until 
1895,  W'hen  he  retired  from  active  labor  and 
has  since  lived  in  Orion,  where  he  has  built 
a  fine  residence. 

In  Andover  township,  ]\Ir.  Anderson  was 
married  August  4,  1854,  to  Miss  Sophia 
Youngquist,  who  was  also  born  and  reared 
ill  Sweden,  and  came  to  the  L'nited  States 
on  the  same  vessel  as  her  future  husband. 
Six  children  bless  this  union,  namely :  John, 
who  is  married  and  follows  farming  in 
Webster  county,  Iowa;  Charlotte,  wife  of 
Peter  Samuelson,  a  farmer  of  Western  town- 
ship, this  county;  Carl  A.,  who  is  married 
and  lives  in  Orion ;  Albert,  who  married  and 
died  August  i,  1896;  Amanda,  who  is  now 
her  father's  housekeeper;  and  Cordelia,  wife 
of  Edwin  Linquist,  w-ho  operates  Mr. 
Anderson's  farm  in  Lynn  township.  The 
\vife  and  mother  died  May  20,  1898,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  Orion  cemetery.  Mr.  Ander- 
son has  several  times  visited    his    son    in 


\\'ebster  cduiUv,  Iowa,  si)en(liiig  two  weeks 
with  him  in  September,  1900.  He  and  his 
daughter.  Miss  Amanda,  are  members  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of  Orion. 
He  was  first  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Lu- 
theran Church  in  Andover,  and  there  served 
as  deacon  for  six  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
church  officials  when  the  large  church  build- 
ing was  erected.  He  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party,  which  he  has  always  sup- 
ported since  casting  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860.  Empty- 
handed  he  came  to  America  in  search  of 
home  and  fortune,  and  his  ambitious  dreams 
have  been  realized,  for  he  has  acquired  a 
comfortable  competence  and  handsome  prop- 
erty, which  now  enables  him,  in  his  declin- 
ing years  to  lay  aside  all  business  cares  and 
enjoy  a  well  earned  rest,  surrounded  by  a 
host  of  warm  friends  and  acquaintances. 


THOMAS  H.  JOHNSTON. 

Among  the  prominent  and  influential 
citizens  of  Cambridge,  Illinois,  is  Thomas 
H.  Johnston,  who  is  now  efficiently  serving 
as  county  treasurer.  He  is  a  native  of 
Henry  county,  born  December  25,  1865,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Lucy  M.  (Selon)  Johns- 
ton, the  former  a  native  of  County  London- 
derry, Ireland,  the  latter  of  Stark  county, 
Illinois.  In  1854  the  father  came  from 
Connecticut  to  this  state  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  Henry  county,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  farming  through- 
out the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  ac- 
tively interested  in  educational  affairs  and 
served  as  school  director  for  many  years, 
but  aside  from  this  he  never  took  any  part 
in  public  affairs.     Religiously    he    was    in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


early  life  a  Scotch  Presbyterian.  He  died 
May  5.  1889,  at  the  age  of  si.xty-three  years, 
but  iiis  wife  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
si.x,  and  now  makes  her  honie  in  Galva. 
Thomas  H.  is  the  oldest  of  their  six  chil- 
dren, the  others  being  Edward  I.,  assistant 
cashier  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ke- 
wanee,  Illinois;  Phoebe  J.,  who  was  formerly 
a  teacher  of  this  county,  but  is  now  at  home 
with  her  mother;  William  J.,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  restaurant  business  in  Ke- 
wanee;  Robert  E.,  manager  of  the  E.  W. 
Houghton  Lumber  Company  branch  at  Al- 
tona,  Illinois;  and  George  E.,  bookkeeper 
for  the  same  firm  at  Galva. 

Thomas  H.  Johnston  remained  upon  the 
home  farm  until  twenty-six  years  of  age, 
and  his  primary  education  was  obtained  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  locality.  Later  he 
attended  the  Galva  high  school  and  the 
Davenport  Business  College,  graduating 
from  the  latter  institution  with  the  class  of 
1887.  On  leaving  the  farm  in  1892  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  traveling  salesman, 
and  was  with  two  different  firms  before  he 
became  connected  with  the  banking  establish- 
ment of  L.  M.  Yocum  &  Company,  at  Galva. 
He  remained  with  the  bank  until  his  elec- 
tion  to  his  present  office. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  1895,  Mr.  Johns- 
ton was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Susie 
E.  Calhoun,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Calhoun, 
of  Henry  county,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  two  children :  ^lary  Janet  and  Will- 
iam C.  Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnston 
are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  on  his  party  ticket  was  elected 
treasurer  of  Henry  county  in  1898  by  a  ma- 
jority of  twelve  hundred  and  eighty.  His 
fellow  citizens  speak  in  unqualified  terms  of 
his  abilitv  for  that  office,  the  duties  of  which 


he  is  now  so  capably  and  satisfactorily  per- 
forming. His  genial,  pleasant  manner  makes 
him  quite  popular,  and  he  has  a  host  of  warni 
friends  throughout  his  native  county. 


JOHN   SAMUELSOX. 

Since  1852  John  Saniuelson  has  been  a 
resident  of  Henry  county,  and  was  for  many 
years  successfully  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising  in  Western  township,  two  and 
a  half  miles  from  Orion,  where  he  still  owns 
a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
Orion.  Although  of  foreign  birth  his  duties 
of  citizenship  have  ever  been  performed 
with  a  loyalty  equal,  to  that  of  any  native 
son  of  America,  and  when  the  country  be- 
came involved  in  Civil  war  he  went  to  the 
defense  of  the  Union  and  protected  its  in- 
terests on  many  a  southern  battle  field. 

Mr.  Saniuelson  was  torn  in  Askerland, 
Sweden,  November  25,  1835,  and  with  his 
parents,  Samuel  and  Anna  (Nelson)  John- 
son, crossed  the  briny  deep  to  the  new  world 
in  1 85 1.  After  spending  one  season  in 
Buffalo,  New  York,  the  family  came  to  this 
county,  in  the  spring  of  1852,  and  the  fa- 
ther, Samuel  Johnson,  took  up  land  in  what 
is  Western  township,  where  he  improved 
a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres,  making  his 
home  thereon  until  his  death  in  1865. 

Being  a  young  man  of  seventeen  years 
upon  his  arrival  in  Henry  county  John  Sani- 
uelson was  of  much  assistance  to  his  fa- 
ther in  developing  the  farm,  and  remained 
with  him  until  the  latter's  death.  In  i86i 
he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Forty-third  Illi- 
nois \'olunteer  Infantry,  which  became  a 
part  of  the  Western  army.     The  first  im- 


l82 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


portant  battle  in  whicli  he  participated  was 
that  of  Shiloh,  which  was  followed  by  nu- 
merous battles  and  skirmishes.  He  took 
part  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  the  cap- 
ture of  that  strongly  fortified  place,  and 
later  went  to  Little  Rock,  Arkansas.  He 
was  also  in  the  engagement  at  Jenkins  Ferry. 
He  entered  the  service  as  a  private,  but  was 
promoted  to  corporal  and  later  to  sergeant. 
Losing  no  time  from  illness  or  other  causes 
when  his  term  of  enlistment  had  expired  he 
was  honorably  discharged  in  the  fall  of 
1864  and  returned  home. 

For  one  season  Air.  Samuelson  worked 
on  the  old  home  farm,  and  then  commenced 
farming  on  his  own  account,  having  previ- 
ously purchased  forty  acres  of  land.  He 
and  three  brothers  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land,  which  they  improved  and 
operated  together  for  a  few  j-ears,  but  finally 
divided  the  land,  each  taking  forty  acres. 
Subsequently  our  subject  purchased  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  more  and  now 
has  an  excellent  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  upon  which  he  has 
made  many  substantial  impro\ements,  in- 
cluding the  erection  of  good  buildings, 
and  the  planting  of  fruit  and  ornamental 
trees.  He  continued  to  actively  engage  in 
the  cultivation  of  his  land  and  in  stock  rais- 
ing until  i8g8,  when  he  removed  to  Orion 
and  laid  aside  all  business  cares  to  spend  his 
remaining  years  in  ease  and  quiet,  owning 
a  good  home  in  the  village.  He  was  early 
identified  with  the  Swedish  Insurance  Com- 
pany and  served  as  a  trustee  in  the  same. 

In  ilay,  1866,  in  Henry  county,  Mr. 
Samuelson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Aliss  Mary  Lawrence,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Sweden,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  six  children,  four  sons  and  two 
<laughters,    namelv :    John    W.    and   Arthur 


H.,  who  are  engaged  in  farming  on  the  old 
homestead ;  William,  who  is  married  and 
follows  farming  in  Andover  township; 
Guy,  who  is  at  home;  and  Alabel  and  Esther, 
who  are  now  attending  school  in  Orion. 
The  wife  and  mother  passed  away  March 
17,  1893,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Andover 
cemetery. 

Mr.  Samuelson's  political  support  has  al- 
ways been  given  the  Republican  party  since 
he  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  in  i860,  and  has  done  all  in 
his  power  to  insure  its  success.  For  nine 
years  he  served  his  fellow  citizens  as  school 
trustee,  discharging  his  duties  with  prompt- 
ness and  fidelity,  and  in  days  of  peace  as  well 
as  in  time  of  war  has  been  found  a  true  and 
loyal  citizen  of  his  adopted  country.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post  at  Orion,  ilr.  and  Mrs. 
Samuelson  were  members  of  the  Swedish 
Methodist  Church  of  Andover. 


XELS  M.  XELSOX. 

Xels  ]\I.  Xelson,  who  for  over  half  a 
century  has  been  an  honored  resident  of 
Henry  county,  and  who  is  now  practically 
living  a  retired  life,  was  born  in  Sweden 
on  the  1st  of  January,  1829,  and  in  that 
country  grew  to  manhood.  In  1 849  he  em- 
igrated to  America,  and  on  landing  on  our 
shores  proceeded  at  once  to  Henry  county, 
Illinois.  About  i860  he  sent  for  his  father, 
Xels  Samuelson,  his  mother  having  died 
when  he  was  quite  young.  One  sister,  Chris- 
tina, the  widow  of  Charles  A.  Rosell,  lives 
in  \\'oodhull,  this  count)-.  His  brother, 
Peter,  died  at  the  home  of  our  subject  in 
Henrv  countv. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVIRSIlt  Qi  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


NELS  M.  NELSON. 


MRS.   NELS   M.    NELSON. 


LIB9ARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

L'RE.WA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


187 


During  the  first  year  of  his  residence  here 
our  subject  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  Jolm 
Jennings  for  six  dollars  per  month,  and  then 
went  to  the  northern  part  of  the  county 
where  he  was  in  the  employ  of  several  farm- 
ers at  different  times.  In  1854  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Anna  Johnson,  who  was  born 
in  Sweden  July  22,  1837,  and  at  the  time  of 
their  marriage  was  living  in  Andover  town- 
ship with  her  parents,  both  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  The  others  of  her  family 
were  Mailta,  wife  of  August  Swanson,  of 
W'oodhull,  Illinois;  John  \'.,  a  resident  of 
Linn  township,  this  county ;  and  Jacob,  who 
makes  his  home  in  Nebraska. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nel- 
son located  on  the  farm  on  section  31,  .Vn- 
dover  township,  which  is  still  occupied  by 
them.  In  partnership  with  another  gentle- 
man our  subject  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  which  was  still  in  its 
primitive  condition  and  at  once  began  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation.  At  first  he  car- 
ried on  general  farming  on  a  small  scale,  but 
as  time  advanced  he  steadily  prospered  and 
was  able  to  add  to  his  landed  possessions 
until  he  now  owns  two  hundred  and  ten 
acres,  all  acquired  through  industry,  tlili- 
gence  and  good  management;  When  a  boy 
Mr.  Nelson  received  only  a  common-school 
education,  but  was  early  inured  to  hard 
work,  and  is  a  self-educated  as  well  as  a  self- 
made  man.  Throughout  his  active  business 
career  he  always  followed  general  farming 
and  stock  raising,  feeding  both  hogs  and  cat- 
tle for  market,  and  in  both  branches  of  his 
business  he  was  quite  successful. 

Of  the  ten  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Nelson  four  died  between  the  ages  of  four 
and  fifteen  years.  Those  living  are  as  fol- 
lows :  John  A.,  who  works  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  and  makes  his  home  with  his  par- 


ents; Louisa,  wife  of  A.  A.  Nelson,  a  farm- 
er of  Lynn  tov.nshi]j,  by  whom  .she  has 
three  children  livinp^.  Edwin,  Delia  and  El- 
mer, and  one  deceaseil ;  Edward,  wlm  as- 
sists in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm :  Ida, 
wife  of  Z.  C.  Johnson,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  a  part  of  her  father's  place,  and 
by  whom  she  has  two  children,  Roy  and 
Mabel :  Otto,  also  at  home,  who  was  mar- 
ried in  Minneapolis  and  has  one  son,  Au- 
gust L. ;  and  Gust  Emil,  who  heips  his 
brothers  carry  on  the  home  farm. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  one  of  the  very  early  set- 
tlers of  Henry  county  remaining  to  tell  to 
the  present  generation  the  story  of  pioneer 
life  in  this  region.  His  political  support  is 
always  given  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  most  efficiently 
served  his  fellow  citizens  as  county  conmiis- 
sioner  for  twelve  years  and  as  school  direc- 
tor for  fifteen  years.  He  has  always  been  in 
favor  of  maintaining  good  schools,  and  has 
given  a  liberal  support  to  all  worthy  enter- 
prises that  would  refiect  credit  on  the  people 
and  the  county  in  which  he  makes  his  home. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  are  members  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of  Andover, 
of  which  he  is  now  one  of  the  trustees,  and 
they  take  an  acti\e  part  in  promoting  good 
work.  He  had  no  special  advantage  in  his 
youth,  and  without  the  assistance  of  influen- 
tial friends  in  his  early  business  career,  has 
steadily  advanced  step  by  step  until  he  now 
occupies  a  creditable  position  as  one  of  the 
prominent  and  well-to-do  men  of  his  town- 
ship. 


RE\'.  WILLIAM  M.  PURGE. 

.\s  the  rector  of  Grace  Episcopal  Church 
at  Osco,  Rev.  William  M.  Puree  has  become 
widely    and     favorably   known   throughout 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Henry  count)^  where  he  has  now  made  his 
home  for  over  four  years.  He  was  born  in 
Davis  county,  Iowa,  on  the  ist  of  Novem- 
ber, 1865,  and  is  a  son  of  John  A.  and  De- 
Jilah  Jane  (ColHns)  Puree,  natives  of  New 
York  and  Ohio,  respectively.  The  father, 
wlio  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  died  at 
Chariton,  Iowa,  May  24,  1886,  but  the 
mother  is  still  living  and  continues  to  make 
her  home  at  that  place. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  William  M. 
Puree  spent  his  boyhood  removing  with  his 
parents  to  Chariton,  Iowa,  when  but  thirteen 
years  of  age.  He  there  attended  the  public 
and  high  school,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1885.  In  September  of  that  year  he 
became  a  student  at  Griswold  College,  Dav- 
enport, Iowa,  where  he  pursued  the  classical 
■course  for  two  years  and  received  the  degree 
of  B.  S.  in  1891.  He  was  then  engaged  in 
editorial  work  as  cit}^  editor  of  the  Daven- 
port Tribune  for  four  years,  and  for  two 
years  took  an  active  part  in  political  affairs 
as  political  editor  of  that  paper.  While  en- 
gaged in  newspaper  work  he  was  reading 
preparatory  to  entering  the  ministry  of  the 
Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Puree  took  the  e.x- 
amination  for  the  deaconship,  and  was  or- 
dained a  deacon  by  Bishop  Perry  at  Daven- 
j)ort,  September  23,  1892.  He  began  pas- 
toral work  at  Christ  Church  ^Mission,  West 
Davenport,  in  Xo^•ember,  1S93,  where  he 
remained  one  year,  and  from  November, 
1894,  until  accepting  his  present  charge  at 
•Osco,  Henry  county,  Illinois,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1896,  was  rector  of  St.  George's  Church 
at  Farley,  Iowa.  He  was  ordained  a  priest 
on  the  30th  of  December,  1895,  by  Bishop 
Perry.  As  rector  of  Grace  Episcopal 
Church  at  Osco,  he  succeeded  Rev.  Mr. 
Brown,  who  was  only  there  for  ten  months, 
Jiowever.    The  church  at  this  place  was  built 


in  1873,  "i""^  J^ow  has  forty-five  communi- 
cants. Under  the  pastorate  of  our  subject 
it  is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Mr.  Puree  has  always  been  an  active 
missionary  worker.  While  at  Farley,  he 
had  charge  of  the  mission  work  at  Dyers- 
ville  and  Bellevue,  and  also  started  a  mission 
at  ilonticello,  Iowa,  which  he  continued 
as  long  as  he  remained  at  Farley.  On  coming 
to  Osco,  he  took  charge  of  the  work  at  Cam- 
bridge, Geneseo  and  Galva,  at  which  places 
he  holds  regular  services.  He  is  particularly 
interested  in  the  Galva  mission,  from  the 
fact  that  when  he  first  commenced  holding 
services  there  the  attendance  was  but  from 
five  to  ten.  The  services  were  first  held  in 
a  hall,  but  the}-  now  meet  in  their  own  church 
building,  have  a  good  congregation,  a  lay 
reader,  Sunday  school,  and  are  well  equipped 
for  effective  work.  He  has  charge  of  all 
the  work  of  his  church  in  Henry  county, 
with  the  exception  of  the  churches  in  Ke- 
wanee  and  Woodhull. 

ilr.  Puree  was  married  at  Davenport, 
June  28,  1892,  to  Miss  Jessie  J.  Cook,  a 
daughter  of  William  L.  and  Amanda  AI. 
(Fletcher)  Cook.  The  father  died  in  that 
city  in  1886,  but  the  mother  is  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Davenport.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Puree 
have  one  child,  Jessie  Grace  B. 

Mr.  Puree  is  quite  an  enthusiastic  chick- 
en raiser,  and  is  also  starting  a  rabbitry, 
owning  only  pedigreed  Belgian  hares,  but 
the  greater  part  of  his  time  is  devoted  to 
church  work.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board 
of  missions,  and  publishes  at  the  rectory  a 
twelve-page  paper  called  the  Church  News, 
which  is  issued  each  month  in  the  interest  of 
diocesan  and  parochial  work.  There  is  a 
parochial  school  conducted  in  connection 
with  his  church  at  Osco.  Mr.  Puree  is  thor- 
oughlv  familiar  with    conditions    of    both 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


189 


church  and  state  in  Iowa  and  IlHnois^  and 
still  takes  an  interest  in  politics,  supporting 
and  advocating  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  is  a  man  of  thoughtful, 
earnest  purpose,  of  strong  intellectual  en- 
dowments, of  broad  charity  and  kindly  na- 
ture, and  by  all  denominations,  as  well  as 
his  own  people,  is  held  in  high  regard. 


THEODORE  BOLTEXSTERX. 

.Vniong  the  representative  business  m;n 
of  Cambridge  is  the  subject  of  this  review, 
who  is  now  at  the  head  of  the  ice  trade  in 
that  city.  He  is  a  native  of  Henry  county, 
born  in  Lynn  township,  April  15,  1858,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Anderson) 
Boltenstern,  natives  of  Germany  and 
Sweden,  respectively.  At  an  early  day  the 
mother  came  to  this  country  with  her  par- 
ents and  the  father  arrived  here  in  1852, 
their  marriage  being  celebrated  in  Lynn 
township,  where  he  purchased  land  and  fol- 
lowed farming  for  many  years.  He  was  a 
recognized  leader  in  the  Republican  party 
in  his  locality,  served  as  recruiting  officer 
during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  filled 
the  office  of  highway  commissioner  for  the 
long  period  of  thirty-six  years.  In  1893  he 
moved  to  Cambridge,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred the  same  year,  but  his  widow  is  still 
a  resident  of  that  place.  They  were  among 
the  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  were  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
them.  Their  children  were  Theodore,  of 
this  sketch;  Morris  A.,  who  resides  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Lynn  township;  Edward 
A.,  who  died  in  that  township  in  1867; 
Henry  E.  and  Victor  F.,  who  are  at  home 
Avilh  their  mother. 


Theodore  Boltenstern  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm  and  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  Lynn  township.  On 
starting  out  in  life  for  himself  he  com- 
menceil  farming  in  Andover  township, 
where,  in  1887,  he  purchased  a  partially 
improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy 
acres,  which  he  placed  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  and  on  disposing  of  that  he 
l)ought  the  well-known  Davenport  farm  ad- 
joining the  city  of  Cambridge,  on  which  he 
lived  for  eight  years,  and  which  he  still 
owns.  While  carrying  on  farming  he  was 
also  largely  engaged  in  the  stock  business. 
In  1892  he  became  interested  in  the  ice 
business,  and  now  has  the  exclusive  trade 
of  Cambridge,  to  which  city  he  moved  in 
1899.  He  is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  busi- 
ness man  of  known  reliability,  and  in  his 
undertakings  has  met  with  well-deserved 
success. 

In  Andover  township,  Mr.  Boltenstern 
was  married,  in  1891,  to  Miss  Ernestine 
Longshore,  a  native  of  that  township,  and 
a  daughter  of  S.  J.  Longshore,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Cambridge,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. By  this  union  have  been  born  two 
children,  namely:  Nellie  M.,  aged  seven 
years;  and  Wihiam  S.,  aged  four. 

Mr.  Boltenstern's  father  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Fair  Association,  and  our 
subject  has  been  connected  with  it  through- 
out life.  He  has  also  served  as  secretary  of 
the  Henry  county  agricultural  board  for 
nine  years,  and  is  still  filling  that  office.  He 
is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  Cambridge,  and  takes 
an  active  and  commendable  interest  in  pub- 
lic affairs.  By  his  ballot  he  supports  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  for  years  has  been  secretary  of  the 
countv   central   committee.      While  a   resi- 


I  go 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dent  of  Andover  township  he  served  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  some  time  with  credit 
to  himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
his  constituents. 


LARS  BEXSOX. 

Tliis  well-known  retired  farmer  of  Cam- 
bridge, Illinois,  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
that  Sweden  has  furnished  to  the  new  world. 
He  was  born  on  the  13th  oi  August,  1826, 
in  Brearede  Socken,  near  Halmstead,  Swe- 
den, in  which  country  his  parents,  B.  Alun- 
son  and  Engarg  Swanson,  spent  their  entire 
lives.  The  mother  died  at  the  age  of  forty 
years  when  our  subject  \\as  only  seven  years 
old.  She  was  twice  married  and  by  the  first 
union  had  one  daughter,  Charste.  Lars  is 
the  oldest  of  the  four  children  born  of  the 
second  marriage,  the  others  being  Botelle,  a 
widow,  who  resides  with  her  youngest 
daughter  in  Chicago;  and  Andrew,  a  resi- 
dent of  Cambridge.  The  father  dieil  in 
1890  at  the  extreme  old  age  of  ninety-six 
years.  He  was  (|uite  an  extensive  and  suc- 
cessful farmer,  was  a  devout  and  wortliy 
Christian,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  was  well  and  favorably  known  through- 
out his  communitv. 

Lars  Benson  was  educated  in  his  nati\e 
land,  and  when  his  school  days  were  over 
he  left  home  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  In 
1854  he  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel,  and 
after  a  stormy  voyage  of  seven  weeks  antl 
four  days  landed  at  Boston.  The  ship  en- 
countered a  tornado,  during  which  the  iron 
stored  in  the  bottom  of  the  vessel  broke  loose. 
but  no  li\es  were  lost,  though  one  person  died 
during  the  storm  and  two  others  during  the 
voyage.  Mr.  Benson  spent  about  twenty- 
four  hours  in  Boston,  and  then  proceeded  to 


Moline,  Illinois.  b\-  way  of  Chicago.  He 
worked  in  a  sawmill,  blacksmith  shop  and 
foundry  at  Aloline,  and  one  _\-ear  in  a  hotel 
at  Aledo,  after  which  he  came  to  Henry 
county,  arriving  here  March  14,  1S61.  For 
eleven  3-ears  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Mrs. 
Jennings,  of  Cambridge  township,  as  mana- 
ger of  her  large  farm,  having  from  four  to 
se\'en  hands  working  under  Him.  His  first 
purchase  of  land  consisted  of  one  hunilred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  15,  Cambridge 
to\\^^ship.  to  which  he  later  added  eighty 
acres,  and  now  has  a  fine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty-six  acres,  besides  fi\'e  lots  in 
the  city,  where  he  makes  his  home.  On 
coming  to  America  he  had  but  twenty  dol- 
lars, and  the  property  he  has  acquired  has 
been  gained  bj-  hard  work,  good  manage- 
ment and  strict  economy.  Because  of  these 
sterling  qualities  he  has  succeeded  where 
many  others  would  ha\e  failed.  After  be- 
ing here  for  three  }ears  and  a  half,  INIr. 
Benson  had  saved  five  hundred  dollars  with 
which  to  return  to  Sweden,  but  was  taken 
ill,  and  being  unable  to  work  for  a  year,  it 
required  that  amount  and  fifty  dollars  more 
to  pay  his  expenses  during  that  time.  He 
has  never  returned  to  his  native  land. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  \'ote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  Air.  Benson  has  al- 
ways affiliated  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  is  a  stanch  advocate  of  its  principles. 
He  remembers  how  in  the  "505  the  money  in 
circulation,  especiall}-  that  issued  by  state 
banks,  was  very  uncertain,  and  he  was  well 
schooled  in  the  disadvantages  of  carrying 
money  "which  is  good  now  as  far  as  we 
know,  but  whether  it  will  be  good  and  pas- 
sable in  an  hour  from  now  no  man  know- 
eth."  Air.  Benson  lost  much  bv  being  com- 
pelled to  take  money  for  which  he  had  no 
use  at  the  time,  taking  it  because  his  cred- 


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LARS  BENSON. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I  93 


itors  tliil  in)t  wish  to  carry  it.  Having 
passed  tliroiigh  tliat  crisis  he  lias  a  keen  ap- 
preciation of  what  it  is  to  liave  a  sound  mon- 
ey  basis. 

Mr.  Benson  is  unniarrietl  and  liis  fani- 
iiy  consisted  of  an  adopted  son,  Edward  Le- 
ander  Benson,  wlio  was  born  in  St.  Louis, 
November  27,  1884.  and  has  hvcil  with 
our  subject  for  tliirteen  years.  His  parents, 
JMartin  and  Hannah  (Olson)  Johnston, 
were  both  natives  of  Sweden,  and  the  latter 
died  March  6,  1899.  Edward  is  a  steady, 
reliable  i)oy,  who  finds  a  plea.sant  home  with 
Mr.  Benson,  antl  gives  a  wonderful  amount 
of  happiness  to  his  benefactor. 

Mr.  Ben.son  has  been  a  life-long  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  holding  member- 
ship first  in  Moline,  and  later  in  Geneseo. 
He  is  a  consistent  Christian  man  and  carries 
his  religion  into  all  the  affairs  of  life. 


JOIiX  M.  HUNT. 

This  thrifty  and  progressive  farmer,  re- 
siding on  section  20,  Colona  township, 
where  he  has  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  was  born  upon  that 
place  February  12,  1842,  and  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  the  oldest  and  most  highly 
respected  pioneer  families  of  Henry  county. 
His  father,  Anthony  Hunt,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  Germany  in  1802,  crossed  the 
ocean  in  1829  and  first  located  in  Louisiana, 
where  he  spent  six  years  on  a  plantation. 
He  then  came  to  Illinois  with  the  Glenn 
brothers  in  1835,  and  pre-empted  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  what  is  now  Colona  town- 
ship, Henry  county,  where  our  subject  now 
resides.  Later  he  entered  the  tract  and 
built  thereon  a  little  cabin,  in  which  he  and 


Thomas  and  John  (ilenn  lived  alone  for 
some  time,  doing  their  own  house  work. 
In  the  first  election  held  in  Henry  county, 
he  was  one  of  the  first  voters.  Mr.  Hunt 
was  subsequently  married  in  St.  Louis  to 
Miss  Catherine  Rider,  also  a  native  of  Ger- 
man}-, where  she  was  reared.  They  be^an 
their  domestic  life  in  the  log  house  which  he 
had  erected  upon  his  farm,  and  which  in 
1856  was  replaced  by  a  good  frame  resi- 
dence. Besides  his  home  farm  consisting 
of  one  hundred  and  forty-four  acres  Mr. 
Hunt  owned  another  place  of  eighty  acres 
and  a  good  home  in  Geneseo,  where  he  re- 
sided for  a  number  of  years  prior  to  his 
death,  which  occurred  October  6,  1875, 
when  he  was  seventy-three  years  of  age. 
His  wife  survived  him,  passing  away  ten 
years  later. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple 
were  eight  children  who  reached  years  of 
maturity,  but  John  M.  is  the  only  son. 
Nothing  occurred  to  vary  the  routine  of 
farm  life  during  his  youth.  He  attended  the 
district  schools  and  worked  with  his  father 
on  the  farm  until  grown,  when  he  purchased 
the  place  and  has  since  successfully  carried 
it  on.  At  Geneseo  he  was  married  February 
9,  1867,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Caroline  Garland,  who  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, October  25,  1844,  and  in  childhood 
came  to  Illinois  with  her  father,  Daniel  Gar- 
land," locating  in  Marshall  county,  where 
she  was  reared.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt 
was  born  one  son,  James  C,  who  grew  to 
manhood  upon  the  home  farm  and  received 
a  good  practical  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  Colona.  He  died  March  29, 
1900.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent  young 
men  of  the  neighborhood,  and  had  served 
on  the  school  board  and  as  clerk  of  the  dis- 
trict for  about  seven  years. 


194 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Hunt's  political  support  has  always 
been  given  the  Republican  party  since  he  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  1864.  His  fellow  citizens,  recog- 
nizing his  worth  and  ability,  have  called 
him  to  ofiice,  and  he  has  most  capably  served 
as  road  commissioner  and  path  master  and 
as  school  director  for  about  twenty  years. 
As  a  native  son  of  the  county  he  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  its  agricultural 
interests  throughout  life,  and  has  done 
much  to  promote  the  general  welfare.  He 
is  widely  and  favorably  known,  and  his 
commendable  Ufe  has  won  for  him  the  con- 
fidence of  all  with  whom  lie  has  been  brought 
in  contact. 


ERIC  HEDBLOOM. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  and  en- 
terprising agriculturists  of  Andover  town- 
ship is  Eric  Hedbloom,  who  owns  and  op- 
erates a  valuable  and  well-improved  farm 
on  section  25,  where  he  has  made  his  home 
since  1877.  He  was  born  in  northern 
Sweden,  on  the  12th  of  December,  1849, 
and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Breta  Peterson, 
also  natives  of  Sweden,  where  the  father 
followed  the  occujiation  of  farming  until  his 
death  about  i860.  The  mother  came  to 
America  in  1876,  and  died  at  the  home  of 
our  subject  in  188 1.  To  this  worthy  couple 
were  born  eight  children,  namely :  Peter, 
who  came  to  Andover,  Illinois,  in  1857  and 
located  upon  the  farm  where  our  subject 
now  resides,  was  burned  to  death ;  Jonas  was 
drowned  in  Sweden;  Catherine  resided  for 
a  time  in  Kewanee,  Illinois,  but  now  makes 
her  home  in  Nebraska;  Lars  is  living  with 
our  subject;  Lena  died  in  infancy;  Betsy  is 
now     Mrs.     Nordstrum,     of    Bishop    Hill, 


this  county ;  Lena  died  in  Sweden ;  and  Eric, 
our  subject,  completes  the  family. 

Reared  in  his  native  land,  Eric  Hedbloom 
i.:  indebted  to  its  public  schools  for  his  edu- 
cational advantages.  In  1868  he  crossed  the 
broad  Atlantic  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  Kewanee,  Henry  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  began  work  as  a  laborer  on  a  construc- 
tion train.  In  1876  he  visited  Sweden,  but 
returned  to  this  country  the  same  fall,  bring- 
ing his  mother  with  him.  He  then  located 
at  Bloomington,  Illinois,  where  he  worked 
in  the  coal  mines  for  a  short  time,  but  in 
1877  removed  to  his  present  farm,  having 
purchased  it  from  his  brother's  heirs.  It  is 
a  well  improved  place,  having  a  good  house 
and  barn,  and  is  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. 

In  1876,  at  Bloomington,  Mr.  Hedbloom 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Betsy 
Peterson  Berg,  also  a  native  of  Sweden, 
where  her  parents,  Eric  and  Catherine 
(Larson)  Berg,  still  reside.  Nine  children 
were  born  of  this  union  and  with  one  ex- 
ception all  are  still  living,  namely :  Peter 
Emil;  Ida;  Hulda,  who  died  in  1880; 
George;  Inez;  Hulda;  Oscar;  \'ictor;  and 
Alice. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Hedbloom  is 
independent,  and  he  has  efficiently  served  as 
a  member  of  the  school  board  in  his  district. 
He  is  one  of  the  honored  and  representative 
citizens  of  Andover  township,  and  is  highly 
respected    and    esteemed  by  all  who  know 


HENRY  JOHNSON. 

This  well-known  merchant  and  leading 
business  man  of  Orion,  Illinois,  has  shown 
in   his  successful  career  that    he    has    the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


>95 


ability  to  plan  wisely  and  execute  with  en- 
ergy, a  combination  which,  when  possessed 
by  men  in  any  walk  of  life,  never  fails  to 
effect  notable  results. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  born  on  the  22nd  of 
July,  1832,  in  Linkuping,  Kisa  Socken, 
Sweden,  of  which  country  his  parents,  Sam- 
uel and  Christina  (Lawson)  Johnson,  were 
also  natives.  In  1846  the  family  crossed  the 
■ocean  to  America,  and  first  located  in  Buf- 
falo, Xew  York,  where  they  spent  about  two 
years,  coming  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  in 
1848.  The  father  purchased  a  Mexican 
war  land  warrant  which  he  located  on  sec- 
tion 36,  Western  township,  and  for  some 
jears  successfully  engaged  in  the  operation 
of  his  land,  but  tinally  sold  the  land  and  re- 
moved to  Orion,  where  he  spent  his  last  days, 
dying  there  in  1888,  at  the  advanced  age 
•of  over  eighty  years.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  passed  away  many  years  previous, 
dying  of  cholera  in  1853.  In  her  loving 
jiature,  she  took  into  her  home  several  emi- 
grants suffering  with  that  dread  disease, 
and  after  caring  for  them  she,  too,  was  taken 
sick  and  died.  After  her  death  he  again 
married.  By  his  first  union  he  had  three 
sons :  John  M.,  who  married  and  located 
in  Orion,  where  his  death  occurred ;  Hem-y, 
of  this  review ;  and  Andrew,  who  followed 
the  river  for  many  years  as  clerk  anil  steward 
on  different  steamers  and  died  in  St.  Louis. 

Henry  Johnson  was  brought  by  his  par- 
ents to  the  new  world  and  since  1848  has 
"been  a  resident  of  Illinois.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  began  his  business  career  as  an 
employe  in  a  hotel  at  Rock  Island,  where 
he  remained  for  about  two  years,  and  for 
four  years  worked  in  a  brick  yard  there. 
Returning  to  Henry  county,  he  was  next 
employed  in  a  brick  yard  in  Andover  for 
■two  years,  and  then  accepted  a  position  as 


clerk  in  the  general  store  of  Peterson  & 
Anderson,  at  Andover,  remaining  with  them 
until  their  failure  during  the  commercial 
crash  of  1857-57.  After  assisting  in  set- 
tling up  the  business,  Mr.  Johnson  was  em- 
ployed as  clerk  by  V.  M.  Ayers  for  about 
two  years,  and  then  was  for  one  year  farm- 
ing in  Western  township.  He  next  took 
charge  as  manager  for  V.  M.  Ayers  in  the 
milling  business,  taking  charge  of  the  grist 
and  custom  mill  belonging  to  him,  and  oper- 
ating it  successfully  for  five  years.  Itwas  then 
sold  to  Morrison  Francis,  and  Mr.  Johnson 
managed  for  him  twn  years.  Purchasing  a 
tract  of  wild  prairie  land  in  Osco  township, 
Henry  county,  he  was  next  engaged  in  its 
improvement  and  cultivation  for  about  a 
year,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  rented  the 
place  and  removed  to  Orion,  in  1870,  where 
he  built  a  good  residence.  Later  he  erected 
a  flouring  mill  in  partnership  with  Lloyd 
&  Peterson,  and  under  the  firm  name  of 
Johnson,  Lloyd  &  Company  carried  on  the 
milling  business  most  successfully  for  sev- 
enteen and  a  half  years,  when  the  plant  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  In  1882  he  had  purchased 
a  half  interest  in  the  established  mercantile 
business  of  John  Owen,  and  while  he  contin- 
ued to  engage  in  milling  he  employed  John  S. 
Smith  as  clerk  to  take  his  place  in  the  store. 
-After  the  death  of  Mr.  Owen  he  purchased 
his  interest  from  the  administrators  of  the  se- 
tate,  and  then  sold  a  fourth  interest  in  the 
business  to  his  old  and  faithful  clerk,  John  S. 
Smith.  This  partnership  was  continued  un- 
til 1894.  when  Mr.  Smith  was  elected  county 
treasurer  and  Mr.  Johnson  bought  his  in- 
terest, and  has  since  been  alone  in  business. 
He  has  been  actively  connected  with  the 
store  since  1890,  and  by  fair  and  honorable 
dealing  and  courteous  treatment  of  his 
patrons   has    succeeded    in   building   up   an 


196 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


excellent  trade.  In  years  of  continuous 
service  he  is  now  the  oldest  business  man 
in  Orion,  and  his  success  has  been  most 
worthily  achieved,  being  due  to  his  own  dili- 
gence, enterprise  and  straightforward  busi- 
ness course,  foT  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  with  no  capital  and  from  the  age 
of  fifteen  years  has  been  dependent  upon 
his  own  resources  for  a  livelihood. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1858,  in  Andover, 
Mr.  Johnson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Catherine  Olson,  who  is  also  a  native 
of  Sweden,  and  was  a  miss  of  about  ten  sum- 
mers when  she  came  to  the  United  States. 
Her  father  died  during  the  voyage.  On 
landing  she  and  her  mother  proceeded  at 
once  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  she  grew 
to  womanhood  in  Andover  township.  Unto 
Mr.  and  INIrs.  Johnson  were  born  two  chil- 
dren. Lineas  was  accidentally  killed  in  an 
elevator  in  1886,  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years;  and  Oliver  B.,  a  young  man  of  good 
business  ability  and  sterling  character,  now 
assists  his  father  in  the  store. 

Mr.  Johnson  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856,  but  is 
now  independent  in  politics,  voting  for  the 
men  whom  he  believes  best  qualified  to  fill 
the  offices,  regardless  of  party  lines.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  Lodge  of  Orion,  in  which  he 
has  filled  all  the  chairs  and  is  now  past 
grand,  and  is  also  one  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men, which  he  has  represented  in  the  grand 
lodge  of  the  state.  His  life  has  been  an 
active  and  useful  one,  in  which  he  has  not 
only  won  success  but  has  also  gained  for 
him  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of 
those  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact 
either  in  business  or  social  life. 


WILLIAM  N.  GLENN. 

If  one  desires  to  gain  a  vivid  realization 
of  the  rapid  advance  in  civilization  which 
the  last  few  decades  have  brought  about^  he 
can  listen  to  the  stories  of  men  who  are  still 
living  among  us  and  by  no  means  overbur- 
oened  with  years,  and  who  can  tell  of  their 
boyhood.  As  a  native  of  Henry  county  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  can  relate  many  inter- 
esting incidents  of  pioneer  days  w"hen  this 
region  was  all  wald  and  unimproved,  when 
deer,  turkeys  and  other  wild  game  was 
plentiful,  before  the  days  of  railroads,  tele- 
egraphs  and  telephones. 

yiv.  Glenn  was  born  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Colona  township,  on  the  i8th  of  May, 
1838,  a  son  of  James  Glenn,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Kentucky,  and  in  1835  came 
to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  being  one  of  the 
first  to  locate  here.  He  pre-empted  a  claim 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  later 
entered  the  land,  wdiich  he  made  his  home 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Pros- 
pering in  his  farming  operations,  he  became 
the  owner  of  four  good  farms,  and  was 
numbered  among  the  well-to-do  and  sub- 
stantial men  of  his  community,  as  well  as 
one  of  its  highly  respected  and  honored  citi- 
zens. In  this  county  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Nancy  Kincaid,  a  sister  of 
G.  W.  Kincaid,  whose  sketch  appears  on 
another  page  of  this  volume.  She  died  May 
10,  1896,  and  his  death  occurred  August 
26,  1896. 

Reared  on  the  home  farm  amid  pioneer 
scenes,  William  N.  Glenn  obtained  his  liter- 
ary education  in  the  district  schools,  and 
gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his  labors  until 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  About  1856  he 
bought  one   hundred  and    sixty    acres    of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


197 


■wild  land  on  section  31,  Colona  township, 
where  he  now  resides,  and  to  its  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  he  at  once  turned  his 
attention.  Acre  after  acre  was  placed  un- 
der the  plow  until  the  entire  amount  was 
highly  cultivated,  and  all  the  improvements 
found  thereon  are  of  a  substantial  character. 
As  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  he  has  met  with 
excellent  success,  and  is  to-daj-  the  owner  of 
a  most  desirable  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
eighty-five  acres  pleasantly  located  within 
two  miles  of  Coal  Valley.  He  was  one  of 
the  promoters  of  the  telephone  line  and  had 
one  of  the  first  'phones  in  his  vicinity.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  a  stockholder  in  the 
Mutual  Insurance  Company.  He  is  a  large 
stock  feeder  and  has  fine  cattle  upon  his 
farm. 

In  1866,  in  Henry  county,  was  celebrat- 
ed the  marriage  of  Mr.  Glenn  and  Miss 
Ellen  R.  Reynolds,  who  was  born  in  Moline, 
Illinois,  but  was  principally  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Henry  county,  attending  the  com- 
mon and  high  schools  of  Geneseo,  and  suc- 
cessfully engaging  in  teaching  prior  to  her 
marriage.  By  this  union  was  born  a  son, 
James  X.,  who  married  Lina  Lease  and  as- 
sisted his  father  in  the  operation  of  the  farm 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  December 
30,  1897.  He  left  a  wife  and  two  children, 
Lois  and  Jean  Neva,  all  of  whom  live  with 
our  subject. 

By  his  ballot  -VIr.  Glenn  supports  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  partv, 
and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  in  i860.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  county  central  committee,  and  has 
taken  quite  an  active  and  influential  part  in 
local  politics.  For  three  years  he  most  effi- 
ciently served  as  supervisor,  has  also  served 
as  township  trustee,  and  has  filled  other  po- 
sitions of   honor  and   trust  with  credit   to 


himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his 
constituents.  Fraternally  he  is  an  honored 
member  of  Coal  \'alley  Lodge,  No.  547, 
F.  &  A.  M..  and  lioth  lie  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  in  the  Eastern  Star  Chapter. 
They  are  people  of  prominence  in  their 
community  and  enjoy  the  hospitality  of  its 
best  homes.  Mrs.  Glenn  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Coal  X'alley,  of 
which  Mr.  Glenn  is  an  attendant  and  sup- 
porter. 


DANIEL  S.  MASCALL. 

Prominent  among  the  business  men  of 
Cambridge  is  numbered  the  subject  of  this 
review,  who  is  one  of  the  leading  liverymen 
of  that  place.  No  one  in  the  vicinity  is  better 
known,  for  his  entire  life  has  been  spent 
here,  and  all  his  interests  from  boyhood  have 
been  closely  associated  with  those  of  this 
locality.  In  his  special  line  of  business  he 
has  met  with  success,  and  by  the  energy  and 
zeal  which  he  has  manifested  he  has  won 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  public. 

A  native  of  Henry  county,  Mr.  Mascall 
was  born  in  Cambridge  township  March 
10,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Mary 
A.  (Lilly)  Mascall,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  He  is  the  third  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  five  children. 

In  early  life  Daniel  S.  Mascall  acquired 
a  fair  knowledge  of  the  common  English 
branches  of  learning  in  the  public  schools 
of  Cambridge,  in  which  city  he  grew  to 
manhood.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  left 
home  to  make  his  own  w-ay  in  the  world. 
He  married  Miss  Julia  Perkins,  who  was 
born  in  Virginia,  and  they  have  become  the 
parents  of  six  children,  two  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.     Those  living  are:  Mary  J.  and 


198 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


James  D.,  both  attending  the  Cambridge 
schools;  and  Eva  A.  and  Ralph,  at  home. 
On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  Mr. 
Mascall  embarked  in  the  horse  business,  buy- 
ing for  shipment  to  the  northern  markets. 
Some  years  ago  he  purchased  a  livery  stable 
in  Cambridge,  which  he  conducted  success- 
fully, and  as  he  conducted  the  business  on 
strictly  business  principles  he  built  up  an 
excellent  trade  and  received  the  confidence 
of  the  entire  comunity.  Since  then  he  has 
bought  and  sold  the  business  several  times, 
but  for  the  past  thirteen  years  he  has  had 
charge  of  the  stable  uninterruptedly.  Be- 
sides his  city  property  he  now  owns  three 
hundred  acres  of  fine  farming  land  in  Cam- 
bridge township,  which  he  rents.  Since  at- 
taining his  majority  he  has  affiliated  with 
the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  taken 
an  active  part  in  political  affairs  aside  from 
voting.  Socially  he  is  quite  popular  with 
a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge 
of  Cambridge. 


WILLIAM   DURMAXX. 

The  subject  of  this  personal  narrati\e  is 
one  of  the  most  successful  and  progressive 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  within  the  borders 
of  Colona  township,  his  place  of  residence 
being  the  old  Durmann  homestead  of  two 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  ^t,.  He 
has  made  his  special  field  of  industry  an 
eminent  success.  He  is  a  native  of  Illinois, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Black  Hawk 
township,  Rock  Island  count v,  March  15. 
1856. 

His  father,  Joseph  Durmann.  was  born 
and  reared  in  Germany,  wh.ere  he  learned 
the  cooper's  trade,  and  as  a  young  man  he 


came  to  the  L'nited  States,  first  locating  in 
St.  Louis,  where  he  pursued  that  vocation  for 
a  time.  In  1836,  he  removed  to  Rock  Island, 
Illinois  (then  called  Stephenson),  where  he 
and  John  Staubach  started  the  first  cooper 
shop.  In  partnership  with  August  Littig 
he  also  established  the  first  brewery  at  that 
place.  There  he  married  Miss  Amanda 
Killing,  a  German  lady,  and  they  continued 
to  make  their  home  in  Rock  Island  and  Milan 
for  some  years.  They  finally  located  on  a 
farm  one  mile  west  of  Coal  Valley,  where 
they  resided  for  four  years,  and  on  disposing 
of  that  place  Mr.  Durmann  bought  the  farm 
in  Colona  township  where  our  subject  now 
lives.  He  built  a  good  residence  on  the 
place,  and  made  many  other  improvements 
which  enhanced  its  value  and  attractive  ap- 
pearance. L'pon  this  farm  he  passed  away 
March  4,  1896,  and  his  wife  died  July  26,. 
1898. 

\\"illiam  Durmann  was  reared  in  much 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys  of  his  dajv 
and  his  early  education,  acquired  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  was  supplemented  by  a  year's- 
attendance  at  the  Davenport  Business  Col- 
lege. He  aided  his  father  in  the  operation- 
of  the  farm  until  thirty-two  years  of  age, 
and  for  his  services  his  father  gave  him  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixt}-  acres  near 
Cordova,  in  Rock  Island  county. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's 
journey  Mr.  Durmann  diose  Miss  Lottie 
\\'ashburn,  their  marriage  being  celebrated 
in  Henry  county,  on  the  i6th  of  March. 
1892.  She  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  count}-,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
C.  E.  \\'ashburn,  whose  sketch  and  portrait 
appear  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Two- 
children  bless  this  union,  Dorsey  and  Chaun- 
cey. 

For  a  year  or  more  after  his  marriage,. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


"99 


Mr.  Durmann  continued  to  engage  in  farm- 
ing on  the  old  homestead,  and  tlien  renu)ved 
to  liis  own  farm  in  Rock  Island  county,  to 
the  further  improvement  and  cultivation  of 
which  he  devoted  five  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  period  he  purchased  the  interests  of 
the  other  heirs  in  the  old  homestead  in  Co- 
lona  township,  and  has  since  resided  thereon, 
\\hile  he  rented  his  farm  in  Rock  Island 
county.  He  feeds  considerable  stock  for 
market,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful farmers  and  stock  raisers  in  Colona 
township.  Politically  Mr.  Durmann  is  a 
Jeflfersonian  Democrat,  and  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  serve  his  fellow  citizens  as 
township  collector  four  years;  assessor  one 
year ;  and  school  -director  fifteen  years.  He 
is  still  a  member  of  the  school  board,  and 
has  done  much  to  secure  better  schools  and 
more  competent  teachers  in  his  <listrict.  He 
is  progressive  and  enterprising,  and  gi\cs  his 
supiJort  to  all  measures  which  he  believes 
calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit. 


JAMES  :\IASCALL. 

Among  the  honored  early  settlers  and 
highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Henry  county 
was  James  Mascall,  who  took  a  very  active 
and  prominent  part  in  the  development  of 
this  region.  He  was  born  in  East  Kent, 
England,  on  the  29th  of  January,  18 14,  and 
in  1830  accompanied  his  ixirents,  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Xeeves)  Mascall,  on  their  emi- 
gration to  America.  The  family  first  lo- 
cated in  Litchfield,  Pennsylvania,  where  they 
spent  eight  years,  and  then  came  to  Illinois. 
After  a  short  time  passed  in  Stark  couny, 
they  located  in  Henry  county  the  same  year 
— 1838.     At  that  time  there  were  but  few 


setlements  on  the  [irairie,  and  most  of  the 
land  was  still  in  its  primitive  condition, 
very  few  improvements  having  been  made 
throughout  the  country. 

Our  subject  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  15,  Cam- 
bridge township,  and  was  interested  in  farm- 
ing during  his  active  business  life.  Although 
he  met  with  many  misfortunes  he  steadily 
pros[)ered,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
owned  about. fifteen  hundred  acres  of  land. 
Eighteen  years  after  coming  to  Henry 
county  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  and  pro- 
vision business  in  Cambridge,  and  in  that 
enterprise  was  \ery  successful.  His  capital 
on  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  was  less 
than  fifty  dollars,  but  by  judicious  invest- 
ments and  the  rise  in  \alue  of  land  as  the 
country  become  more  thickly  settled  he 
prospered,  and  in  all  his  undertakings  met 
with   success. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  1848,  Mr.  Mascall 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  A. 
Lilly,  who  was  born  in  Oneida  county.  New 
York,  August  1,  i8_'7,  a  daughter  of  Carlo 
H.  and  Wealthy  (Laddj  1-illy,  also  natives 
of  the  Empire  state,  where  her  father  died. 
In  1846  ^Irs.  Lilly  came  to  Henry  county, 
Illinois,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  her  life 
with  her  eight  children,  her  death  occurring 
in  Andover  township.  The  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  lilrs.  Mascall  were  as  follows: 
John  1\.,  who  grew  to  manhood  in  Henry 
county,  but  is  now  a  resident  of  What  Cheer, 
Iowa;  Jennie,  wife  of  I'ctcr  Walline,  of  Cal- 
ifornia; Daniel  S.,  who  is  represented  on 
another  page  of  this  volume;  Annie,  wife  of 
Seth  Perkins  of  Chicago,  Illinois;  and  Mary, 
wife  of  Robert  Melloy,  of  Cambridge.  The 
children  were  all  reared  and  educated  in  this 
county.  The  mother  of  this  family,  who 
was  a  very  acti\e  member  of  the  Methodist 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Episcopal  Churcli,  died  in  Cambridge,  in 
April.  1900.  loved  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  her. 

Mr.  ]^Iascall  was  never  a  very  healthy 
man  and  unfortunately  met  with  a  number 
of  accidents,  which  finally,  as  a  very  great 
affliction,  caused  him  to  lose  his  eye-sight 
about  1879.  His  was  a  varied  career  with 
many  ups  and  downs,  but  with  indomitable 
energy  he  conquered  fate,  and  he  became  one 
of  the  wealthiest  and  most  substantial  men 
of  Cambridge,  where  his  death  occurred. 
For  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  buying  grain 
quite  extensively,  and  was  prominently  iden- 
tified with  a  number  of  business  enterprises. 
As  a  citizen  he  was  always  true  and  faith- 
ful to  e\'ery  trust  reposed  in  him,  and  an 
of  the  community,  he  was  well  worthy  of 
the  high  regard  in  which  he  was  uniformly 
held. 


JOHN  H.  LIPPLXCOTT. 

The  deserved  reward  of  a  well-spent  life 
is  an  honored  retirement  from  business  in 
which  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  former  toil. 
To-day,  after  a  useful  and  beneficial  career. 
John  H.  Lippincott  is  quietly  living  at  his 
pleasant  home  in  Orion,  Illinois,  surrounded 
bj-  the  comfort  that  earnest  labor  has  brought 
him. 

ilr.  Lippincott  was  born  in  Springboro, 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  on  the  loth  of  Aug- 
ust, 1837.  and  is  a  son  of  Pennington  Lip- 
pincott, who  was  born  at  Moorstown,  New 
Jersey,  in  1808.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
Thomas  Lippincott,  was  also  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  in  which  state  the  family  was 
founded  at  an  early  day  by  English  emi- 
grants. Reared  in  his  native  state,  Pen- 
nington Lippincott  there  learned  the  black- 


smith's and  wagonmaker's  trades,  at  which 
ht  subsequently  worked  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
when  a  young  man.  Later  he  located  in 
\\'arren  county,  Ohio,  and  opened  a  shop  at 
Springboro.  which  he  conducted  some 
years.  There  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Susan  Haines,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  Xew  Jersey,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
Haines,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Ohio. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  during  the  child- 
hood of  our  subject,  about  1843,  3"^  the  fa- 
ther afterward  married  Mar\-  J.  Haines, 
who.  though  of  the  same  name,  was  no  rela- 
tive of  his  first  wife.  In  1850  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  purchased  a  farm  near  what  is 
now  Sherrard.  Mercer  comity,  to  the  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  which  he  de- 
voted his  attention  for  some  vears,  but  spent 
his  last  days  with  our  subject  in  Orion, 
where  he  died  December  20.  1896,  at  the  ad- 
\anced  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  lacking 
four  days. 

John  H.  Lippincott  was  a  lad  of  thirteen 
vears  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  father 
to  Illinois,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  upon 
the  home  farm  in  ^Mercer  county.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  near  his  boy- 
hood home,  but  is  mostly  self-educated  by 
reading  and  study  in  subsequent  years. 
Feeling  that  his  country  needed  his  services 
during  the  Civil  war,  he  enlisted  in  Aug- 
ust, 1862,  in  Company  C.  One  Hun.dred  and 
Second  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry,  which 
became  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  oi  Resaca  and 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  all  of  the  engage- 
ments of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  after 
the  surrndcr  of  that  city  went  with  Shennan 
on  his  celebrated  march  to  the  sea.  He  also 
took  part  in  the  last  engagement  of  the  war 
— the  battle  of  Bentonville,  Xorth  Carolina 
— and  then  marchetl  through  Richmond  to 


LIBRARY 
UNIV&RSIIY  OF  ILLINOIS 


JOHN    H.   LIPPINCOTT. 


MRS.  JOHN   H.   LIPPINCOTT. 


LI8'?ARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  iillNOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


205 


Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  participated  in 
the  grand  review.  The  war  having  ended 
and  his  services  being  no  longer  needed,  he 
was  mnstered  out  at  \\'ashington.  and  hon- 
orabiv  discliarged  at  Chicago,  in  June,  1865, 
after  wliich  lie  returned  to  his  home  in  Mer- 
cer county. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  1865,  at 
Orion,  Henry  county,  Mr.  Lippincott  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ehzabeth  T. 
Biackfan,  of  Orion,  who  was  born  in  Green- 
ville, Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  Septem- 
ber 2,  1839.  Her  ancestors  were  from 
England  and  were  among  the  Quakers  who 
first  settled  in  the  Keystone  state,  where  the 
birth  of  her  grandfather,  Samuel  Biackfan. 
occurred.  Her  parents,  William  and  Eliza- 
beth (Trego)  Biackfan,  were  also  natives  of 
Bucks  county,  where  they  were  married 
September  lO,  1835,  and  where  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  their  removal  to  Illi- 
nois in  1 84 1.  They  located  at  Orion,  Hen- 
ry county,  then  known  as  West  La  Grange, 
where  Mr.  Biackfan  died  in  the  fall  of  1843. 
His  wife  long  survived  him  and  in  the  man- 
agement of  her  affairs  and  in  rearing  and  ed- 
ucating her  ciiildren  she  proved  a  most  ca- 
pable and  successful  person,  adding  materi- 
ally to  the  small  farm  left  by  her  husbantl. 
Her  death  occurred  in  Orion  January  16. 
1871.  She  had  a  private  sc1uh)1  in  her  home 
for  three  winters.  During  her  girlhood  Mrs. 
Lippincott  attended  both  private  and  public 
schools  of  Orion,  and  the  Genesee  Sem- 
inary. The  first  school  in  the  school  house 
at  Orion  was  when  she  was  sixteen  years 
old  and  which  she  then  attended.  Prior 
to  her  marriage  she  successfully  engaged 
in  teaching  for  some  time.  Our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  one  son,  Charles  H.,  who  is 
assistant  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Mo- 
line  Plow   Company,    of    Moline,     Illinois. 


He  married  Miss  Nellie  M.  Stevens,  young- 
est daughter  of  George  Stevens,  president 
of  the  Moline  Plow  Compau}-.  and  they  ha\e 
one  child,  Mary  Stevens  Lippincott. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  success- 
fully engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising  in  Mercer  county  for  seven  years,  and 
became  owner  of  a  valuable  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres.  Renting  his  place 
in  1873.  he  moved  to  Orion,  where  he  pur- 
chased residence  property  and  has  since  lived 
retired  life.  As  he  succeeded  he  added  to 
his  farm  until  he  now  ov.mis  a  fine  farm  of 
five  hundred  and  twenty  acres  with  three 
sets  of  farm  buildings.  Politically  he  has 
been  a  life-long  Republican,  having  cast  his 
first  presidential  ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln 
in  i860,  but  he  has  never  sought  nor  desired 
ofticial  honors,  though  he  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  village  board  of  Orion  and 
commander  of  the  Grand  Army  post  at  that 
place.  Both  Mr.  and  IVIrs.  Lippincott  were 
reared  in  the  belief  of  the  Society  of  Friends^ 
and  still  adhere  to  that  faith,  though  they 
I'.ow  attend  and  give  to  the  supptirt  of  the 
Alethodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Orion.  They 
are  widely  and  favorably  know  11,  and  are 
held  in  high  regard  on  account  of  their  ster- 
ling worth  and  true  nobility  of  character. 


GEORGE  W.  BUCK. 

.Among  tile  honored  pioneers  of  Henry 
county  and  the  brave  defenders  of  the  Union 
during  the  Civil  war  was  George  \\'.  Buck, 
whose  home  is  on  section  6,  Western  town- 
ship, where  he  owns  and  operates  an  excel- 
lent farm  of  two  hundred  and  ten  acres.  He 
also  has  an  adjoining  tract  of  three  hundred 
and  ten  acres  in  Rock  Island  countv,  and  in 


2o6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  management  of  his  property  is  meeting 
with  most  gratifying  success. 

Mr.  Buck  was  born  in  Cliautauqua  coun- 
ty, New  York,  April  9,  1834,  and  is  a  son 
of  Roswell  and  Harriet  (Meech)  Buck,  na- 
tives of  Massachusetts,  where  their  marriage 
was  celebrated.  They  were  early  settlers 
of  Chautauqua  county,  Xew  York,  where 
both  died,  the  mother  when  he  was  but  three 
weeks  old,  and  the  father  in  1861.  On  the 
death  of  his  mother  he  was  taken  and  reared 
by  Isaac  Stanbro,  with  whom  he  came  to 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  in  May,  1838,  locat- 
ing in  Hanna  township.  As  soon  as  old 
enough  to  be  of  any  assistance  he  com- 
menced to  help  in  the  work  of  the  farm,  and 
continued  to  aid  in  its  operation  until  1851, 
v\-'ien  he  staited  out  in  life  for  himself,  being 
engaged  in  rafting  on  the  Mississippi  river 
for  about  two  years.  For  a  few  years  fol- 
lowing this  he  worked  by  the  month  on 
farms  in  Henry  county,  and  then  purchased 
eight  yoke  of  cattle  and  engaged  in  breaking 
prairie  for  three  seasons.  In  1859  he 
crossed  the  plains  to  California  with  oxen, 
the  journey  occupying  the  entire  summer, 
and  for  about  two  years  followed  mining 
and  other  occupations  on  the  Pacific  slope, 
returning  home  by  way  of  the  Istlimus  and 
New  York. 

In  the  meantime  the  country  had  become 
involved  in  Civil  war,  and  on  the  15th  of 
August,  1862,  Mr.  Buck  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany C,  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Illi- 
nois \"olunteer  Infantry,  being  mustered 
into  service  as  sergeant.  He  was  on  de- 
tached duty  most  of  the  time  as  wagon  mas- 
ter, and  while  in  Xorth  Carolina  was  made 
master  of  transportation  of  the  Third  Divi- 
sion, Twenty-third  .Army  Corps.  On  the 
cessation  of  hostilities  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Greensboro,  Xorth  Carolina,  in 


June,  1865,  and  after  being  paid  off  at 
Chicago,  July  7,  returned  to  his  home  in 
Henry   count}-. 

^Ir.  Buck  then  purchased  a  farm  of 
sixty-six  acres  on  section  6,  Western  town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
^^'hen  he  located  thereon  it  was  but  slightly 
improved,  and  to  its  further  development 
and  cultivation  he  has  since  devoted  his  en- 
ergies. He  has  added  to  the  original  pur- 
chase from  time  to  time  and  now  owns  fi\e 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  very  valuable 
and  productive  land  in  Henry  and  Rock 
Island  counties,  which  he  has  placed  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  For  many  years 
he  has  rented  other  propert}-,  and  for  some 
years  operated  about  one  thousand  acres, 
\\hich  under  his  careful  management  is  made 
to  yield  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for  the 
care  and  labor  bestowed  upon  it.  He  is  ac- 
counted one  of  the  most  skillful  and  thor- 
ough farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  his  com- 
munity, and  his  success  has  been  worthily 
achieved  as  he  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self empty-handed,  and  his  prosperity  is  but 
the  just  reward  of  continuous  labor,  hon- 
orable dealing  and  good  management. 

On  the  8th  of  July,  1863,  while  home 
on  a  furlough,  Mr.  Buck  was  married  to 
iliss  2^Iary  A.  Glenn,  a  native  of  Henry 
county,  and  a  daughter  of  James  Glenn,^ 
who  located  here  as  early  as  1835,  and  built 
the  first  house  in  the  county.  He  was 
widely  and  favorably  known  throughout  this 
section  of  the  state,  and  was  always  a  good 
friend  of  Mr.  Buck.  Our  subject  has  beea 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  estima- 
ble wife,  who  died  June  26,  1897,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  Glen  wood  cemetery.  By  tliat 
union  he  had  four  children:  George  B.,  who- 
is  married  and  lives  in  ^loline.  Illinois; 
Marv  Eliza,  now  the  wife  of  George  Miller; 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


207 


Cliarles  G.,  at  home;  and  James  Dana,  who 
was  married  and  died  in  this  county  June 
16,    1895. 

On  attaining  liis  majority,  Mr.  Buck 
supported  John  C.  Fremont  for  the  presi- 
dency in  1856,  and  has  since  been  unswerv- 
ing in  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party 
and  its  principles.  His  fellow  citizens  rec- 
ognizing his  worth  and  ability  have  often 
called  him  to  positions  of  public  trust,  and 
he  has  most  capably  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  township  collector  and  trustee,  and 
supervisor  for  eight  years.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  numerous  committees,  and  was  chair- 
man of  the  committee  that  erected  the  sol- 
diers' monument  at  Cambridge.  For  tlie 
long  period  of  twenty-one  years  he  served 
as  school  director,  and  for  some  time  was 
president  and  clerk  of  the  district.  He  is 
past  command  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at 
Orion,  and  is  one  of  the  most  honored  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  his  community. 
As  a  pioneer  of  the  county  he  has  witnessed 
almost  its  entire  growth  and  development, 
and  in  the  work  of  improvement  he  has  ever 
borne  his  part. 


JOHN  A.  FORS. 

Among  the  native  sons  of  Henry  county 
is  numbered  John  A.  Fors,  who  belongs  to 
one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Andover  town- 
ship, where  he  now  makes  his  home  on  sec* 
tion  4,  though  he  was  born  in  Linn  township, 
December  22,  1866,  a  son  of  Andrew  M.  and 
Johanna  (Falk)  Fors,  both  natives  ©f  Swe- 
den. The  mother  died  in  Andover  April 
14,  1899,  at  about  the  age  of  sixty-eight 
years,  and  since  her  deatli  the  father  has 
made  his  home  with  his  children  in  Moline 


and  Andover  township.  He  was  born  in- 
1828,  and  in  early  life  learned  the  tailor's 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  Sweden,  but  in 
this  country  he  engaged  in  farming  tln'ough- 
out  his  active  business  career.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  his  native  land  and  about  1859  came 
to  the  United  States,  his  destination  being 
Henrv  county.  Illinois.  He  purchased  cightv 
acres  of  land  in  Lynn  township,  a  part  of 
which  was  raw  prairie,  the  remainder  timber 
land,  and  soon  improved  the  same.  Subse- 
quently he  bought  the  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixtv  acres  on  section  4,  where  our  sub- 
ject now  resides,  and  located  there<-in  about 
1875,  being  actively  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  here  for  several  years.  He  then 
lived  a  retired  life  in  the  village  of  Andover, 
where  his  wife  died.  His  father,  Mr.  Fors- 
borg,  came  to  Henry  county  and  settled  near 
the  present  site  of  Andover,  being  one  of  its 
first  settlers,  at  which  time  there  was  not  a 
house  between  his  home  and  Geneseo.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  to  locate  on  the  prairie. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  his 
wife  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five,  and 
both  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  Andover  ceme- 
tery. They  had  three  daughters  who  are 
still  living,  namely:  Mrs.  Christina  Stein- 
holm,  of  Cambridge;  Clara,  wife  of  Otto 
Johnson,  of  Opheim ;  and  Anna.  Our  sub- 
ject's mother  and  two  sisters  were  the  only 
members  of  her  family  to  come  to  the  new 
world,  the  latter  being  Mrs.  Eva  Nelson,  a 
resident  of  Andover;  and  Mrs.  Clara  Lind- 
love,  of  WoodhuU,  Illinois.  Both  her  par- 
ents lived  to  an  advanced  age,  one  of  them 
being  about  ninety-six  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  death. 

Of  the  seven  children  born  to  Antlrew 
M.  and  Johamia  Fors  two  are  now  deceased. 
Those  living  are  Peter,  a  successful  farmer 
of  Iowa;  Frank  O.,  a  member  of  the  police 


208 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


force  of  Pueblo,  Colorado;  John  A.,  our  sub- 
ject; Julia,  wife  of  Frank  Palm,  of  Moline. 
where  he  is  employed  in  a  machine  shop ; 
and  William  C.  a  farmer  on  section  20,  An- 
dover  township.  All  were  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  district  and  have  be- 
come useful  and  respected  members  of  so- 
ciety. The  father  is  a  valued  member  and 
supporter  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
of  Andover,  and  in  politics  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican. 

On  the  home  farm  John  A.  Fors  grew  to 
manhood  and  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  his  marriage,  December  19,  1894, 
]Miss  Ella  Florence  Burgman  becoming  his 
wife.  She  was  born  in  Burlington,  Iowa, 
December  7.  1873.  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Fred  and  Tillie  (Johnson)  Burgman,  who 
were  born  in  Sweden  and  are  now  residents 
of  Moline,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Fors  is  the  old- 
est of  their  three  children,  the  others  being 
Hattie  and  Emil,  both  at  home.  On  coming 
to  the  United  States.  Mr.  Burgman  first  set- 
tled in  Iowa.  This  was  in  1865,  when  he 
was  about  twenty  }-ears  old.  He  made  his 
home  in  various  places  until  after  his  mar- 
riage, January  19.  1872,  when  he  located  in 
Burlington,  Iowa,  where  he  was  employed  as 
a  plumber  of  the  gas  works.  However,  he 
soon  moved  to  ]Moline,  Illinois,  and  for  twen- 
ty years  was  a  salesman  in  the  Keator  lum- 
ber yards,  retaining  his  position  there  until 
the  yards  were  destroyed  by  fire.  He  then 
secured  a  position  with  the  Dimmock  & 
Gould  Lumber  Compaii}'.  with  whom  he 
yet  remains.  His  wife  came  to  the  United 
States  with  her  parents,  John  F.  and  Johanna 
Johnson,  the  family  locating  in  New  Sweden, 
Iowa,  which  was  her  home  until  her  mar 
riage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fors  have  two  children  ; 
Florence  Olive,  aged  five  years;  and  Ruby 
\'iolet,  aged  one  year. 


For  one  year  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Fors 
was  engaged  in  farming  upon  land  owned 
by  his  father  in  Knox  county,  this  state,  but 
since  then  has  resided  upon  his  present  farm 
on  section  4,  Andover  township,  Henry 
county.  His  father  was  the  first  to  improve 
the  place,  and  these  improvements  have  been 
added  to  and  kept  up  by  our  subject,  who  is 
justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising and  skillful  farmers  of  his  commun- 
ity. He  is  meeting  with  good  success,  and 
is  held  in  high  esteem  by  friends  and  neigh- 
bors. Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  and  politically  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party. 


MATS  ERSON. 

Prominent  among  the  honored  early  set- 
tlers of  Andover  township  is  Mats  Erson, 
w  hose  home  is  on  section  9,  where  he  owns 
a  well-improved  and  highly  cultivated  farm 
of  eighty  acres.  He  has  laid  many  rods  of 
tiling,  has  erected  good  and  substantial 
Iniildings  and  made  other  necessary  improve- 
ments to  make  it  a  pleasant  and  comfortable 
home. 

^h.  Erson  was  born  in  Sweden  on  the 
9th  of  August,  1 82 1,  and  is  the  eldest  child 
of  Eric  and  Breeta  (Hillen)  Matson,  who 
were  life-long  residents  of  that  country. 
They  were  educated  in  the  early  schools  of 
their  native  land,  and  were  honest,  hard- 
working and  highly  respected  people.  In 
their  family  were  five  children,  namely: 
Mats,  of  this  review;  Hillen,  the  eldest 
daughter,  who  is  still  a  resident  of  Sweden ; 
Catherine,  deceased ;  Breeta,  a  resident  of 
Sweden;  and  Christine,  deceased. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Mats 
Erson  attended  the  schools  of  Sweden,  and 
worked  with  his  father  on  the  farm.     Hear- 


MATS    ERSON. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

L'RBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ing-  sucli  good  reports  of  the  progress  ^f  the 
new  world  and  the  chances  for  a  poor  man 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  he  resolved  to 
Uy  his  fortune  here.  Prior  to  his  emigra- 
tion, however,  he  was  married,  in  1846,  to 
Miss  Breeta  Olson,  who  was  born  in  181 1. 
On  the  28th  of  June,  1849,  they  sailed  for 
this  country,  and  on  landing  proceeded  at 
once  to  Andover,  Illinois,  where  they  ar- 
rived October  16,  1849. 

Here  Mr.  Erson  worked  by  the  month 
for  a  short  time.  He  then  had  but  little 
capital,  and  with  the  hope  of  making  money 
more  quickly  he  went  to  he  gold  fields  of 
California  in  the  spring  of  1850,  being  one 
of  a  party  of  fi\e  who  made  the  trip  o\'er- 
land  with  horse  teams.  After  reaching  the 
Pacific  coast,  they  engaged  in  prosjxjcting 
in  California  for  eleven  months,  and  in 
course  of  their  mining  operations,  each  made 
a  stake  for  himself  and  then  returned  to 
their  chosen  home — Illinois.  They  took  a 
steamer  August  2,  1851,  for  Panama,  and 
on  the  22d  of  September,  following,  were  in 
Andover,  coming  by  waj'  of  New  York. 
During  the  trip  both  ways  Mr.  Erson  met 
with  many  adventures  and  endured  many 
privations,  but  he  felt  repaid  for  them, 
however.  On  again  reaching  Henry  coun- 
ty, he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 16,  Andover  township,  and  built  there- 
on a  house,  in  which  the  family  lived  while 
he  began  the  improvement  and  cultivation 
of  his  land.  As  he  prospered  in  his  labors  he 
was  at  length  able  to  purchase  another  tract 
of  eighty  acres  upon  which  he  now  lives. 

Mr.  Erson  has  been  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  who  passed 
away  April  5,  1897.  They  had  no  children. 
In  1881  Olof  Hellblom,  a  son  of  his  sister 
Hellen,  came  to  America,  and  has  since 
rented  his  uncle's  farm,  making  his  home  in 


the  house  first  erected  by  our  subject.  Since 
his  wife's  death  Mr.  Erson  has  resided  with 
him.  having  given  him  the  forty-acre  tract 
on  section  16.  Mr.  Hellblom  is  married 
and  has  seven  children. 

Mr.  Erson  has  always  lived  a  quiet,  un- 
eventful life  and  has  been  a  supporter  of  all 
movements  that  have  tended  to  advance  the 
interests  or  aid  in  the  (leveU>pnient  of  the 
county  and  community  in  which  he  makes 
his  home.  On  his  arrival  here  there  were  but 
few  houses  in  Andover  or  between  that 
place  and  Geneseo.  He  has  watched  with 
interest  the  many  changes  that  have  since 
taken  place  and  in  the  work  of  advancement 
has  ever  borne  his  part.  Since  voting  for 
John  C.  Fremont,  in  1856,  he  has  been  an 
ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and 
its  principles,  and  has  efficiently  filled  sev- 
eral minor  offices  of  his  township,  as  well 
as  that  of  school  director.  He  is  one  of  the 
leading  and  influential  members  of  the 
Swedish  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  An- 
dover, and  has  been  one  of  its  trustees  since 
1854,  and  has  also  been  a  steward  for  thir- 
ty-nine years.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest  mem- 
bers of  the  Old  Settlers'  Association  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  its  affairs.  His 
has  been  an  active  and  useful  life,  and  al- 
though now  well  advanced  in  years  he  still 
enjoys  e.Kcellent  health,  tlu)ugh  he  has  re- 
tired from  active  labor,  and  in  ease  and  re- 
tirement is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  former 
toil.  No  man  in  the  community  is  held  in 
liigher  regard  or  has  more  warm  friends 
than  Mr.  lirson,  of  this  review. 


.\XDRE\V   P.   XOKELL. 

.\mong  the  leading  farmers  and  highly 
respected  citizens  of  Andover  township  is 
numbered  A.  P.   Norell,  who  was  born  in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Sweden,  April  12,  1826.  His  parents,  Peter 
A.  and  Christine  Johnson,  were  also  natives 
of  Sweden  and  there  spent  their  entir  lives. 
■Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  land,  and  prior  to  his  emigration  to 
America  was  married  in  1850  to  Miss  Brita 
Peterson,  who  was  also  born  in  Sweden. 
He  was  thirty  years  of  age  when  he  sailed 
from  Helsingland,  and  after  a  long  and 
ledious  voyage  of  eight  weeks  landed  in  New 
York,  whence  he  proceeded  at  once  to  .'Vndo- 
ver,  Henry  county,  Illinois.  In  that  village 
he  first  worked  at  day  labor.  Saving  what 
he  could  from  his  wages,  ^Ir.  Xorell  was 
able  to  purchase  a  tract  of  ten  acres  in  Linn 
township  in  1861,  and  upon  that  place  he 
lived  for  four  years.  He  then  sold  and 
bought  one  hundred  and  seven  acres  of  un- 
improved land  in  the  same  township,  upon 
which  he  erected  a  house  costing  two  thou- 
sand dollars  and  also  built  large  barns  and 
other  outbuildings.  On  disposing  of  that 
property  he  came  to  Andover  township  and 
purchased  his  present  highly  cultivated  and 
well  improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  six- 
ty acres  on  sections  11  and  14.  and  has  since 
made  his  home  on  section  14. 

Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Xurell  are  the  parents  of 
three  children,  namel}' :  Peter,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  in  Nebraska;  Eric,  who  is 
married  and  makes  his  home  in  Andover 
township,  this  count}-;  and  John  Alvin,  who 
resides  on  the  home  farm.  The  last  named 
was  married  in  Andover  township,  Decem- 
ber II,  1897,  to  Miss  Olive  Nordquist,  a  na- 
tive of  Andover  and  a  daughter  of  E.  Nord- 
quist, who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  township.  By  this  union  there  are  two 
children,  Anna  Elizabeth  and  John  Eric  A. 
Xorell. 

Politically  ^Ir.  Xorell  is  a  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party,   and  religiously  is  a 


member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  is 
widely  and  favorably  known  throughout  the 
county  where  he  has  so  long  made  his  home, 
and  is  held  in  high  regard  on  account  of  his 
sterling  worth  and  excellent  character.  He 
is  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  the  com- 
munity and  his  success  has  been  worthily 
achieved. 


M.  M.\URY  NASH. 

This  well  known  and  popular  resident  of 
Osco  township,  whose  home  is  on  section 
35,  was  born  in  Coalsmouth,  West  Virginia, 
September  21,  1847.  His  father.  Rev. 
Francis  Burdett  Nash,  was  born  in  Spring- 
field, Massachusetts,  November  16,  1812, 
and  when  a  mere  boy  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Connecticut,  where  he  had  to  sustain 
himself  at  manual  labor.  For  a  time  he  was 
with  a  brother  in  St.  Albans,  Vermont, 
where  he  attended  the  Franklin  County 
Grammar  School.  In  1829  he  returned  to. 
Connecticut  and  read  medicine  at  \\'ooling- 
ton.  He  was  next  a  teacher  at  Swedesboro, 
New  Jersey,  and  from  there  moved  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  entered  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  Lexington  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1837.  For  some  years  he  was  a 
missionary  of  his  church  in  Kentucky,  and 
he  devoted  his  whole  life  to  his  sacred  call- 
ing, preaching  in  Kentucky,  West  Virginia, 
Illinois  and  JMinnesota,  his  last  charge  being 
in  the  latter  state.  At  one  time  he  was  a  res- 
ident of  Tiskilwa,  Bureau  county,  Illinois, 
and  his  circuit  covered  several  parishes.  He 
built  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Princeton, 
and  held  services  at  Cambridge,  Geneseo 
and  Osco,  conducting  the  first  meeting  in 
Cambridge.  In  1873  he  went  west,  but 
later   returned   to   Henrv  countv,   and   was 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


213 


rector  of  the  church  at  Cambridge,  and  also 
at  Osco  until  1881  when  he  went  to  Min- 
jiesota.  He  was  well  known  by  all  pioneers, 
and  will  long  Ik."  remembered  lor  his  good 
works.  He  was  an  ardent  and  untiring 
worker  in  building  up  the  different  churches 
with  which  he  was  connected,  and  at  his 
death  left  a  record  of  which  his  family  may 
be  justly  proud.  He  died  October  6,  1890, 
at  the  home  of  his  son  in  Nashua,  Minne- 
sota, which  town  was  named  in  honor  of 
the  family.  His  father,  Ebenezer  Nash, 
was  also  a  preacher  of  western  New  York, 
and  was  of  old  New  England  stock.  While 
in  Kentucky  Francis  Burdett  Nash  married 
Elizabeth  JMaury,  a  native  of  that  state,  who 
was  of  southern  ancestry,  her  family  being 
slave  holders  in  the  south  before  the  war. 
She  died  in  Tiskilwa,  Bureau  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1866.  Ten  children  were  born  to 
them,  two  of  whom  died  in  early  childhood. 
The  others  were  Susan  P.,  a  resident  of 
Nashua,  Minnesota;  Miranda  P.,  widow  of 
Edward  Morris  and  a  resident  of  Minneap- 
olis; Elizalieth,  deceased;  ]\1.  Maury,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Francis  B.,  a  graduate 
of  Griswold  College,  of  Davenport,  and  an 
Episcopal  clergyman  now  of  Newark,  Ohio; 
Harry  S.,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  University 
and  a  clergyman  of  Cambridge,  Massachu- 
setts; Fontian,  a  farmer  of  Nashua,  Minne- 
sota; and  Mary  L.,  a  music  teacher,  who 
died  in  Chicago,  Illinois.  (For  a  full  record 
see  the  "Townsend  Family  Record,"  and  the 
"Nash  Genealogy.") 

In  early  boyhood  M.  Maury  Nash  at- 
tended the  common  schools  near  his  home 
and  later  took  a  course  at  Griswold  College, 
Davenport,  Iowa.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  began  earning  his  own  living,  and  being 
one  of  the  oldest  of  the  family,  he  assisted 
his    father   until   he   attained   his   majority. 


when  he  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming,  remaining  there  three 
years.  We  next  find  him  in  Nebraska, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  stiKk  business. 
Later  he  moved  to  Iowa  where  he  owned  and 
operated  a  farm.  In  1879  he  moved  to 
Nashua,  Minnesota,  where  he  purchased  two 
sections  of  wild  prairie  land  with  his  brother, 
which  they  broke  up  and  put  in  wheat,  mak- 
ing his  home  there  for  three  years,  during 
which  time  he  assisted  in  organizing  the 
townships  and  county,  and  was  one  of  the 
hrst  justices  of  peace.  After  leaving  there 
in  1882  he  spent  about  two  years  in  hospitals 
having  his  eyes  treated,  and  in  1883  joined 
his  family  in  Iowa,  where  they  had  located 
on  the  removal  of  the  family  from  Nashua. 
In  1889  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 35,  Osco  township,  Henry  county,  to 
the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  which 
he  has  since  devoted  his  energies  with  most 
gratifying  results.  All  of  the  buildings 
found  upon  the  place  have  been  erected  by 
him,  and  its  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  in- 
dicates the  careful  supervision  of  a  progres- 
sive farmer  and  thorough  business  man. 
He  is  a  prominent  stock  feeder,  buying  most- 
ly in  Nebraska  and  feeding  here. 

In  1880  Mr.  Nash  married  Miss  Amelia 
.M.  Smith,  a  daughter  of  J.  H.  Smith,  whose 
sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume. .She  was  born  March  15,  1857,  on 
the  farm  in  Osco  township  where  her  father 
settled  half  a  century  ago,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Cambridge  high  school,  after 
which  she  successfully  engaged  in  teaching 
in  the  district  schools  of  Osco  township  for 
a  time.  By  her  marriage  to  our  subject 
she  has  become  the  mother  of  six  children, 
one  of  whom,  Lawrence,  died  at  the  age 
of  four  years.     Those  living  are  Mary  L., 


214 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


known  as  Lutie,  born  in  1882 ;  Jared  B.,  born 
in  1884;  Anson  M.,  born  in  1886;  Bessie, 
born  in  1890;  and  Jane  A.,  born  in  1899. 
Those  who  have  attained  a  sufficient  age  are 
now  pursuing  their  studies  in  the  district 
school. 

In  connection  with  fanning  Mr.  Xa.-h 
has  always  followed  the  stock  business  with 
the  exception  of  the  time  spent  in  Minnesota, 
where  he  was  engaged  exclusively  in  the 
raising  ci  wheat.  He  deserves  great  credit 
for  what  he  has  accomplished  in  life,  for 
since  an  early  age  he  has  depended  entire'y 
upon  his  own  resources.  Diligence  has 
been  the  keynote  to  his  success,  and  his  ex- 
ample is  one  that  might  be  proritably  fol- 
lowed by  all  who  have  to  deperd  upon  their 
own  exertions.  His  worth  is  recognized 
and  he  enjoys  the  friendship  of  many  of  the 
best  people  of  the  county.  In  the  \  arious  lo- 
calities where  he  has  resided  he  has  taken  an 
active  and  prominent  part  in  public  affairs, 
has  always  been  a  member  of  the  township 
committee  of  the  Republican  party,  and  is 
now  chairman  of  the  same  in  Osco  township. 
He  has  also  been  prominently  identified  with 
educational  affairs,  and  is  now  a  school  di- 
rector. He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Farmers  Institute,  has  been  a  member  of 
the  board  of  management,  and  is  now  vice- 
president  of  the  county  institute.  He  is 
one  of  the  leading  and  influential  members 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Osco,  and  has 
been  vestrvman  of  the  same  for  ten  years. 


SAMUEL  BEXXISOX. 

This  well  known  retired  miller  and  hon- 
ored citizen  of  Kewanee,  Illinois,  was  born 
near  Manchester,  Cheshire,   England.   Feb- 


ruary 13,  1830,  his  parents  being  Samuel 
and  Mary  (Turner)  Bennison,  who  were 
married  X'ovember  29,  18 19.  In  1845  they 
came  to  America  on  a  sailing  vessel,  which 
was  nearly  six  weeks  in  crossing  the  Atlan- 
tic. Landing  in  X'ew  York,  they  proceeded 
at  once  to  Pottsville,  Pennsylvania,  where 
the  father  worked  in  the  coal  mines  for  six 
years,  having  followed  that  business  in  Eng- 
land. In  May,  1851,  he  crossed  the  Alle- 
gheny mountains,  and  by  canal  and  steam- 
boat down  the  Ohio  river  and  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi river,  he  went  to  the  lead  mines  in 
Shullsburg,  Wisconsin,  where  he  engaged  in 
prospecting  for  five  or  six  years,  but  met 
with  failure  in  that  venture,  losing  all  that 
he  had  accumulated  by  sinking  deep  shafts. 
The  mining  company  of  which  lie  was  a 
member  was  composed  of  himself,  his  four 
sons  and  one  son-in-law.  They  would  work 
at  their  mine  until  their  money  and  credit 
were  exhausted,  and  then,  while  some  of  the 
company  continued  the  labor,  the  others 
would  work  for  wages  to  meet  their  expenses 
in  the  operation  of  their  mine.  In  1851  our 
subject  came  to  Rock  Island.  Illinois,  and 
found  emplojanent  in  a  coal  mine  five  miles 
from  that  city,  and  while  working  there  he 
managed  to  save  one  hundred  dollars.  At 
that  time  the  others  were  also  in  the  employ 
of  different  mining  companies,  but  were  no- 
tified that  they  must  either  work  their  own 
claim  or  give  it  up.  They  had  previously 
sunk  a  shaft  seventy-five  feet  deep  near 
Shullsburg,  \\'isconsin,  to  which  our  sub- 
ject returned  on  leaving  the  coal  mines  of 
this  state,  and  resumed  work  there.  After 
digging  about  forty  feet  the  company  struck 
a  cave,  which  was  twenty  feet  in  all  its  di- 
mensions, and  was  lined  with  mineral  and 
loose  rock.  Their  labors  were  at  length 
crowned  with  success,  and  the  mine  became 


UNIVfeRSIlt  UP  ILLINOIS 
URBftNA 


SAMUEL  BENNISON. 


MRS.   SAMUEL  BENNISON. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBAXA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


219 


very  valuable.  They  found  another  cave 
more  \ahiable  than  tlie  first,  and  the  mine 
was  workeil  with  profit  to  the  company. 
Having  prospered  in  this  venture,  the  father 
was  able  to  lay  aside  all  business  cares  and 
spend  Iiis  last  days  in  ease  ami  quiet.  After 
tliirteen  years  spent  at  Shullsburg,  Wiscon- 
sin, he  came  to  Kewanee,  where  he  lived  re- 
tired until  his  death.  He  was  born  July  20, 
1797,  and  (lied  August  23.  1885.  His  wife, 
who  was  liorn  in  Manchester,  England,  May 
20,  1798,  tleparted  this  life  January  6,  1896. 
During  their  long  married  life  of  nearly 
tw()-thirds  of  a  century  thej-  were  never  sep- 
arated longer  than  three  months.  The  fa- 
ther was  confirmed  in  the  established  church 
of  England,  and  was  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday 
school,  but  later  joined  the  Primitive  Meth- 
odists, and  was  a  member  of  that  church  at 
the  time  of  his  death. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
nine  children,  namelv :  John,  a  miner  and 
miller,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years;  Bettie,  who  died  in  England  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two;  Eliza,  who  married 
Richard  Hill,  and  died  October  24,  1891,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years ;  William,  deceased ; 
Samuel,  our  subject;  Henry,  who  died  in 
Kewanee;  Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  Hill,  of 
Mexico ;  Thomas,  a  retired  merchant  of  Ke- 
wanee ;  and  James,  who  married  Lydia  Hew- 
iit  October  8,  1861,  and  died  in  1865.  Only 
three  of  the  family  survi\etl  their  mother, 
and  these  are  still  living. 

AVliiie  engaged  in  mining  at  Shullsburg, 
\\'isconsin,  our  subject  and  his  brother  Hen- 
ry decided  to  go  to  California  on  accaunt  of 
the  latter's  health,  leaving  the  father  and 
brothers  to  operate  the  mine.  They  started 
in  January,  1855,  and  by  way  of  Xew  York 
and  the  Isthmus  went  to  the  gold  fields  of 
California,  being-  four  weeks  in  makin<r  the 


trip.  In  their  mining  ojierations  there  they 
met  with  good  success,  and  Henry  Bennison 
spent  twenty  years  on  the  Pacific  slope.  He 
then  returned  to  Kewanee,  where  his  deatli 
occurred.  Samuel  Bennison,  of  this  review, 
remained  in  California  only  four  j^ears. 
After  more  than  a  year's  separation  he  was 
joined  by  his  wife,  and  together  they  re- 
turned east  in  1859,  by  the  Isthmus  route. 
I'or  several  j-ears  he  was  engaged  in  lead 
mining  in  Wisconsin,  and  in  1864  removed 
to  Kewanee,  Illinois,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  For  some  years  he  and  his  broth- 
ers were  engage<l  in  the  mercantile  and  mill- 
ing business  at  this  place,  but  he  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life,  enjoying  a  well-earned 
rest.  He  has  had  to  overcome  many  obsta- 
cles in  the  path  to  success,  but  with  deter- 
mined effort  he  has  worked  his  way  steadily 
upward,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  pro.sperou.> 
and  substantial  citizens  of  the  community. 
He  is  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Kewanee,  and  in  all  business  transactions 
his  word  is  considered  as  good  as  his  bond. 
On  the  27th  of  Septemljer,  1855,  at 
Shullsburg,  Wisconsin,  Mr.  Bennison  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eleanor  W^ort- 
ley,  also  a  native  of  England,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Catherine  (Wilkinson) 
Wortley.  Her  father  was  born  in  Lincoln- 
shire, May  30,  1802,  and  brought  his  family 
to  America  in  1850,  locating  at  Shullsburg, 
\\'isconsin.  He  was  a  local  preacher  in  the 
Primitive  Methodist  Church,  and  died  in 
1884.  His  first  wife  passed  away  during  the 
infancy  of  Mrs.  Bennison,  who  is  now  the 
only  survivor  of  their  four  children,  those 
deceased  being  Ann,  George  and  Eliza.  He 
was  again  married  in  1843,  his  second  union 
being  with  Mary  Linager,  who  is  still  living 
in  Shullsburg,  \\'isconsin,  and  by  whom  he 
had  three  children — Rebecca,  Mary  J.  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Musson.  Mrs.  Bennison  Avas  born  March 
21.  1835,  and  was  fourteen  years  of  age 
when  she  came  to  the  United  States  with 
the  family. 

Of  tlie  ten  cliildren  born  to  our  subject 
and  liis  wife,  two  died  in  infancy.  The  oth- 
ers are  as  follows :  Eliza  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Samuel  Tallxjtt.  a  farmer  living  near  Ster- 
ling. Illinois,  and  they  have  four  children, 
Fred.  Grace.  \\'alter  and  Floyd:  James  H., 
born  Decemlier  4.  1858.  died  July  20.  1873; 
Louise  G.  is  the  wife  of  William  Melbourn. 
a  machinist  of  Kewanee.  and  they  have  three 
children,  Harry.  Edward  and  Eleanor  G. : 
Samuel,  a  farmer  of  Kansas,  married  Helen 
Acre,  and  they  have  two  children,  Laura 
and  Harold;  George  \V.,  a  member  of  the 
mercantile  finn  of  George  \V.  Bennison  & 
Brothers,  of  Kewanee,  married  Elizabeth 
Corkill,  and  they  have  two  children,  Seward 
A.  and  George;  Edward,  a  member  of  the 
same  firm,  married  Augusta  Schaefer,  and 
they  have  three  children,  Grace,  Clarence 
and  Raymond;  Alvin  C,  also  one  of  the 
same  firm,  dealers  in  drj'  goods  and  grocer- 
ies at  Kewanee,  married  Zella  Stone,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Helen;  Elizabeth;  and 
Raymond  died  in  infancy. 

Politically  Jlr.  Bennison  is  an  ardent  Re- 
publican, and  religiously  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  earnest  and  consistent  members  of  the 
Congregational  Cluirch.  They  are  widely 
and  favorably  known,  and  are  held  in  high 
regard  on  account  of  their  sterling  worth 
and  manv  excellencies  of  character. 


CHARLES  E.  CHASE. 

Among  the  self  made  men  and  thrifty 
farmers  of  Henry  county  is  Charles  E.  Chase 
who  is  proprietor  of  a  good  farm  of  one  hun- 


dred acres  on  section  29,  Western  township, 
within  two  miles  of  Orion.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  county  since  the  12th  of 
March,  1869,  and  has  been  actively  identi- 
fied with  its  agricultural  and  stock  raising 
interests. 

Merrick  Chase,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Massachusetts,  in  181 1,  a  son  of  Ben- 
jamin Chase,  and  grandson  of  David  Chase, 
also  natives  of  the  old  Bay  state.  The  fam- 
ily is  originally  of  English  ancestry,  and  was 
founded  in  America  by  three  brothers,  one 
of  whom  settled  in  Massachusetts,  another 
in  Elaine,  and  the  third  in  Xew  Hampshire. 
At  an  early  day  Benjamin  Chase  removed  to 
\'ermont.  and  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Windham  county,  where  the  father  of  our 
subject  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Miss 
Sarah  ]Maria  Brigham,  a  native  of  that  coun- 
ty. There  they  continued  to  reside  until 
after  the  birth  of  all  their  children.  Mr. 
Chase  followed  farming,  hotel  keeping  and 
various  occupations.  He  also  served  as  dep- 
uty sheriff  of  the  county.  In  185S  he  re- 
moved to  ^\'ashington  county,  Xew  York, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  1873,  when 
he  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  in 
partnership  with  our  subject  purchased  a 
farm  in  Western  township.  There  he  spent 
his  remaining  days,  dying  January  3,  1889. 
His  wife  survived  him  a  few  years,  and 
passed  away  in  1897. 

Charles  E.  Chase,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  was  born  in  Jacksonville.  \\'ind- 
ham  county,  \'ermont,  on  the  17th  of  Jan- 
uarv,  1844,  and  was  a  lad  of  fourteen  years 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  \\'ashington  county,  Xew  York,' 
w  here  he  grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm,  be- 
coming thoroughly  familiar  with  agricult- 
ural pursuits  and  acquiring  his  literary 
knowledge  in  the  common  schools  of  that 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


locality.  Coming  west  in  1869  he  took  up 
liis  residence  in  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  worked  by  the  month  at  farm  labor 
for  three  years,  and  then  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm  on  section  29,  Western  township, 
ir;  company  with  his  father. 

Returning  to  \'ermont  Mr.  Chase  was 
th.ere  married  February  26.  1874.  to  Miss 
Sopliia  H.  Farnesworth.  who  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  in  W'indliam  county, 
tliat  state,  and  prior  to  her  marriage  success- 
fully engaged  in  teaching.  For  about  twelve 
years  she  made  her  home  in  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chase  iiave  one 
son,  Arthur  F..  who  is  now  in  his  senior 
year  at  Knox  College.  Galesliurg. 

For  se\eral  years  after  his  marriage, 
]\h".  Chase  engagetl  in  farming  on  rented 
land  in  this  county,  but  on  the  death  of  his 
lather  located  on  the  farm  which  they  had 
jnirchased,  and  here  he  has  continued  to 
make  his  home.  He  has  made  many  im- 
jirovements  upon  the  place,  including  the 
erection  of  a  good  residence,  barns  and  out- 
buildings, has  tiled  the  land  and  set  out 
fruit  and  shade  trees,  which  add  to  tlie  at- 
tractive appearance  of  the  farm.  He  also 
owns  a  forty-acre  tract  of  land  south  of 
Orion,  which  he  uses  as  pasture,  as  he  raises 
considerable  stock,  keeping  on  hand  a  good 
grade  of  cattle,  hogs  and  horses. 

In  his  political  affiliations.  Mr.  Chase 
is  a  stanch  Republican,  having  always  sup- 
ported that  party  since  casting  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  General  U.  S.  Grant 
in  1868,  but  he  has  never  sought  official 
honors.  He  has,  however,  efficiently  served 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  some 
years,  and  also  as  township  trustee.  Fre- 
ternally  he  is  a  member  of  Sherman  Lodge, 
^'0.  535,  A.  F.  &.  :M..  of  Orion,  while  re- 
ligiouslv  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 


odist Episcopal  Church.  His  success  in  life 
is  due  entirely  to  his  own  well  dlirected 
eft'orth  for  he  began  his  business  career  with- 
out capital,  and  to  his  diligence,  industry 
and  good  management  may  be  attributed 
liis  success. 


SIVILIAX  LESTER. 

Sivilian  Lester,  deceased,  was  numbered 
among  the  honored  pioneers  of  Henry  coun- 
ty, where  he  located  in  1840,  when  this 
region  was  mostly  wild  and  unimproved. 
In  the  work  of  development  he  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  early  days  and  aided  in  opening 
up  the  country  to  civilization.  As  the  years 
l)assed  he  faithfully  performed  his  duties 
of  citizenship  and  his  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare and  progress  of  the  community  never 
abated. 

Mr.  Lester  was  Ixirn  in  Delaware  coun- 
ty, New  York,  March  17,  1828,  his  parents 
being  Samuel  T.  and  Emily  (Ward)  Lester, 
both  natives  of  the  Empire  state,  and  rep- 
resentatives of  old  colonial  families.  The 
Ijaternal  grandfather,  Jeremiah  Lester,  was 
a  member  of  a  Connecticut  regiment  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  After  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  New  York,  his  widow  came 
to  Henry  county.  Illinois,  with  a  daughter, 
and  died  here  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
four  years,  her  remains  being  interred  in 
Wethersfield  township.  The  father,  Sam- 
uel T.  Lester,  followed  farming  throughout 
his  active  business  life  and  continued  to 
make  his  home  in  Xew  York  until  1840. 
when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in 
w  hat  is  now  Burns  township,  Henry  county. 
His  last  days,  however,  were  spent  in  Weth- 
ersfield. In  his  family  were  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  SiviHan  was  the  oldest. 
The  three  now  living  are  Matilda,  widow  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


J.  H.  Hall  and  a  resident  of  Miiniesota ; 
Nancy,  widow  of  William  Craig  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Smith's  Center,  Kansas ;  and  Charles 
N.,  a  resident  of  Bureau  county,  Illinois. 
The  early  education  of  our  subject  was 
obtained  in  New  York,  and  for  a  time  he 
attended  school  in  Illinois  after  the  removal 
of  the  family  to  this  county.  Although 
only  seventeen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
his  father's  death  the  responsibility  of  car- 
ing for  the  family  largely  devolved  upon 
him,  and  from  that  time  on  he  took  a  man's 
part.  He  remained  at  home  until  twent}- 
three  years  of  age,  when  he  was  married, 
December  7,  185 1,  to  Miss  Martha  W. 
Dudley,  who  was  born  in  Monson,  Maine, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Warren  and  Alvena 
(Barrett)  Dudley,  the  former  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  the  latter  of  [Maine.  Mr. 
Dudley's  ancestors  were  of  English  origin. 
At  an  early  age  he  removed  with  his  par- 
ents, Luther  and  ilartha  Dudley,  to  the 
Pine  Tree  state,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated.  For  a  time  he  followed  farming 
in  Somerset  county,  [Maine,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Piscataquis  county,  where  he  made 
his  home  until  1846,  when  he  came  to  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  Andover  township,  where  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land,  paying  for 
the  same  three  dollars  an  acre.  In  1853  he 
removed  to  Rock  Island  county.  Illinois, 
where  the  following  three  years  were  passed, 
and  then  went  to  Cedar  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  throughout 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  in  1873 
of  nervous  prostration  brought  on  b}-  the 
death  of  his  wife,  who  died  very  suddenly 
of  heart  failure  only  eight  days  before. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
all  of  whom  readied  man  and  womanhood, 
but  Luther  and  Bethiah  are  now  deceased; 


Tvlartha  is  the  widow  of  our  subject;  Jo- 
seph B.  is  engaged  in  stock  raising  near 
Denver,  Colorado;  Levi  is  also  deceased; 
Xelson  S.  is  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Helen 
is  the  wife  of  \Villiam  Tevis,  who  lives 
near  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  and  Josiah  W.  died 
in  Andersonville  prison  in  1864  while  a 
prisoner  of  war. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  Air.  and 
Airs.  Lester,  as  follows:  (i)  Lucetta  is  now 
the  wife  of  George  \\'.  Rogers,  of  ^'alley 
county,  Nebraska,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren :  Thomas,  Anthony,  Daisy  and  Esther. 
(2)  Rufus  was  killed  in  a  snow  slide  in 
Idaho,  in  Alarch,  1882,  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-eight years.  (3)  Ellen  Grace  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Leaming,  of  Kansas,  and  they 
have  one  child.  Alvaretta.  (4)  Julia  X. 
is  the  wife  of  Thomas  R.  Stanton,  of  Ke- 
wanee,  and  they  have  three  children,  Alat- 
tie  E.,  Letha  A.  and  Ethel  L.,  all  attending 
school  at  that  place.  (5)  Juliet,  twin  sister 
of  Julia  X.,  married  George  Reed,  of  Xe- 
ponset,  Illinois,  and  died  September  i, 
1900.  {6)  Edmund,  who  lives  on  the  old 
home  farm  in  Burns  township,  wedded 
Alary  Potter,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Bessie,  Rufus  and  Guthrie.  (7)  Susie  is 
at  home  with  her  mother.  (8)  Samuel  \V., 
who  also  lives  on  the  home  farm,  mairied 
Eva  Wells,  and  the}-  have  one  child,  Leo. 

Throughout  his  active  business  life  Air. 
Lester  followed  farming.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  purchased  a  tract  of  eighty  acres 
Mith  no  improvements  in  Burns  township, 
he  building  first  a  one-room  frame  house, 
16x20  feet,  in  which  he  and  his  family  lived 
until  i860,  when  it  was  enlarged,  making 
a  comfortable  and  commodious  residence, 
and  in  1865  he  built  a  fine  residence  which 
is  still  standing.  From  time  to  time,  as  his 
financial   resources   increased    he    extended 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


223 


tlie  Ijoundaries  of  liis  farm  until  he  had 
four  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  rich  and 
arable  land,  which  he  placed  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  In  connection  with  gen- 
eral farming  he  gave  considerable  atten- 
tion to  stock  raising.  In  November,  1894 
lie  removed  with  his  family  to  Kewanee, 
where  he  died  after  a  continued  and  pain- 
ful illness,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1895,  and 
was  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  in  ^^'eth- 
erstield,  township.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Grange  and  Sons  of  Temperance,  and  in 
politics  was  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  Although  his  township  was  strong- 
ly Democratic,  Mr.  Lester  was  chosen  to 
several  official  positions  of  honor  and  trust, 
which  fact  indicated  his  i^ersonal  popu- 
larity and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by 
liis  fellow  citizens.  He  served  as  super- 
visor a  number  of  terms,  was  also  col- 
lector and  assessor  for  one  term  each;  was 
road  commissioner  a  number  of  years;  and 
school  director  for  some  time.  He  was 
true  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him,  whether 
public  or  private,  and  in  his  death  the  com- 
munity realized  that  it  had  lost  a  valued 
and  useful  citizen. 


ELOX  BEACH  GILBERT,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Gilbert  is  a  skilled  physician  and 
surgeon  of  Geneseo,  Illinois,  whose  knowl- 
edge of  the  science  of  medicine  is  broad  and 
comprehensive,  and  whose  ability  in  apply- 
ing its  principles  to  the  needs  of  suffering 
humanity  has  gained  him  an  enviable 
prestige  in  professional  circles.  He  was 
horn  in  Geneseo,  February  23,  i860,  a  son 
of  E.  C.  and  F.  B.  (Beach)  Gilbert,  na- 
tives of  Allen's  Hill,  Ontario  county,  New 


York.  For  many  years  the  father  was  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  this 
county,  where  he  died  October  14,  1889, 
aged  fifty-two  years.  He  attended  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a 
member.  She  is  still  living  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two,  and  is  a  resident  of  Geneseo. 
To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  Doctor  is  the  oldest,  the 
others  being  Horace  S.,  who  operates  the 
old  home  farm  in  Geneseo  township;  Anna 
E.,  who  died  of  consumption  in  1888,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years;  Laura  C,  who  is 
now  acting  as  clerk  in  the  Doctor's  office; 
Morey  and  Mary,  twins,  w  ho  died  at  the  age 
of  six  months. 

The  early  life  of  Dr.  Gilljcrt  was  spent 
ujx)!!  the  home  farm  and  his  literar}'  educa- 
lion  was  obtained  in  the  common  and  high 
schools  of  Geneseo  and  Knox  College, 
Galesburg,  leaving  the  latter  institution  in 
his  junior  year.  He  then  took  up  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  W.  C.  Brown,  of 
Geneseo,,  and  later  attended  a  course  of  lec- 
tures at  Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago, 
He  subsequently  entered  Jefferson  Med- 
ical College,  Philadelphia,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1885.  During  his  col- 
lege course  he  did  some  interne  work  in 
hospitals.  After  his  graduation  he  entered 
irito  partnership  with  his  former  preceptor. 
Dr.  Brown,  and  that  connection  continued 
fur  three  years,  since  which  time  our  sub- 
ject has  been  alone  in  practice,  while  Dr. 
Brown  has  gone  to  Los  Angeles,  California. 
He  is  now  the  oldest  physician  in  years  of 
continuous  practice  in  Geneseo,  and  re- 
ceives a  liberal  share  of  the  public  patron- 
age. He  has  reported  cases  and  written 
.several  able  articles  for  medical  journals,  and 
is  medical  examiner  for  se\eral  of  the  old 
line  insurance  companies  and  for  some  fra- 


224 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


served  as  local  surgeon  for  the  Rock  Island 
railroad,  and  was  county  physician  for  ten 
jears. 

On  the  I2th  of  April,  1885.  Dr.  Gilbert 
led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Cora  Thomas, 
also  a  native  of  Geneseo  and  a  daughter  of 
the  late  H.  Thomas,  of  that  place.  By  this 
union  has  been  born  one  child,  Alice  B. 
The  Doctor  and  his  wife  are  botli  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  he  is  also 
connected  with  the  Masonic  order.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  an  ardent  Republican.  He  is  a 
general  practitioner,  who  is  well  read  in 
his  profession  and  stands  deservedly  high  in 
his  chosen  calling.  While  yet  a  j'oung  man 
he  has  been  quite  successful,  and  is  a  thor- 
oughly enterprising  and  progressive  citizen, 
alive  to  the  best  interests  of  his  county  and 
state. 


CAPTAIX  ALEXANDER  .MURCH- 
ISOX. 

Captain  Alexander  Murchison,  who  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  in  Wethersfield, 
served  with  distinction  as  an  officer  in  the 
Civil  war  and  bears  an  honorable  record  for 
brave  service  in  the  cause  of  freedom  and 
union,  and  in  the  paths  of  peace  he  has  also 
won  an  enviable  reputation  through  the 
sterling  qualities  which  go  to  the  making  of 
a  good  citizen.  He  dates  his  residence  in 
Illinois  from  September  12,  1849.  ^vhen  he 
located  in  Stark  county,  where  he  lived  un- 
til 1866,  and  for  many  years  he  was  actively 
identified  with  her  farming  interests. 

A  native  of  Scotland,  the  Captain  was 
born  in  Rosshire,  July  7,  1831.  and  there 
grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm.  He  had  but 
limited  school  advantages  in  early  life,  and 
is  almost  whollv  self-educated,  as    well    as 


self-made  man.  In  1849  he  emigrated  to  the 
new  world  with  his  father  and  the  other 
members  of  the  family,  taking  passage  on  a 
sailing  vessel  at  Glasgow.  They  were  out 
of  sight  of  land  for  eight  weeks  and  one  day, 
and  it  was  nine  weeks  before  they  dropped 
anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Quebec.  They  ex- 
perienced one  very  severe  storm.  From 
Quebec  the  family  proceeded  up  the  St.  Law- 
rence river  and  by  the  Great  Lakes  to  Chi- 
cago ;  by  canal  to  Peru :  and  by  team  to  El- 
mira.  Stark  county,  Illinois,  where  they 
joined  some  friends  who  had  previously 
come  from  Scotland,  where  the  father  locat- 
ed permanently. 

Captain  Murchison  first  worked  by  the 
month  at  herding  sheep,  which  he  followed 
for  two  years.  During  the  following  three 
years  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  at  Elmira. 
and  then  purchased  a  team  and  commenced 
breaking  prairie,  devoting  his  energies  to 
that  pursuit  for  nearl}'  four  years.  He  next 
purchased  and  operated  a  threshing  ma- 
chine and  reaper.  In  1852  he  bought  two 
liundred  acres  of  land  in  Stark  and  Henry 
county,  the  dividing  line  crossing  his  farm. 
This  place  he  sold  at  a  profit  three  years 
later. 

On  the  4th  of  ^Nlarch,  i860,  he  had  helped- 
to  organize  a  military  company,  which  he 
drilled,  and  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out  in 
1 86 1,  at  the  first  call  for  troops,  he  entered 
the  service  in  Company  B,  Nineteenth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry.  Our  subject  \\as 
commissioned  second  lieutenant,  but  the  fol- 
lowing October  was  promoted  to  first  lieu- 
tenant, and  was  made  captain  of  his  com- 
pany, in  July,  1867,  with  which  rank  he 
served  until  mustered  out  when  his  term  of 
enlistment  expired.  As  a  part  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland  the  regiment  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Stone  River,    the    Tullahoma 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


2  2  C 


campaign,  and  then  drove  General  Bragg's 
command  across  tlie  Tennessee  river  after 
some  liard  lighting.  On  Septemher  15.  1863, 
tliey  took  part  in  an  all-day  engagement  at 
Dugs  Gap.  where  two  of  Captain  Murchi- 
son"s  men  were  killed  and  one  wounded. 
They  were  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  on 
Sunday,  and  the  Captain  was  rendered  un- 
conscious by  being  hit  by  a  piece  of  shell, 
but  the  following  day  resumed  command 
of  his  company.  He  had  command  of  his 
regiment  in  an  engagement  in  front  of  Dal- 
ton,  in  February,  1864,  at  which  time  he  lost 
two  of  his  own  company.  He  was  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Resaca.  Georgia,  and  was  under  al- 
most constant  tire  for  nearly  a  month  during 
the  Atlanta  campaign.  His  command  was 
ordered  back  on  reaching  ^larietta.  and  he 
received  an  hontirable  disciiarge  at  Chicago, 
July  9.  1864. 

Returning  to  his  home  he  resumed  farm- 
ing, having  previously  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Stark  county, 
and  later  bought  eighty  acres  adjoining  in 
Henry  county.  This  he  fenced,  broke  and  im- 
proveil.  and  erected  thereon  one  of  the  best 
country  residences  in  the  community,  to- 
gether with  good  and  .substantial  outbuild- 
ings. Upon  his  place  was  a  beautiful  grove 
of  forest  trees  covering  ten  acres.  In  con- 
nection witli  the  cultivation  of  liis  kunl  he 
engaged  in  the  raising  of  cattle  and  hogs,  and 
in  iiis  business  affairs  met  with  excellent  suc- 
cess. Having  acquired  a  comftirtable  com- 
petence he  retired  from  active  labor  in  1897, 
and  renting  his  farm  he  removed  to  Wethers- 
field,  where  be  has  since  made  his  home. 

In  Stark  county.  Captain  Murchison  was 
married,  July  3,  1866.  to  Miss  Margaret  N. 
A\'eed.  a  daughter  of  Rev.  M.  C.  Weed,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  one  of  the  pio- 
neer preachers  of  Stark  county.     Mrs.  Mur- 


chison was  principally  reared  and  educated 
in  Marshall  county.  The  Captain  and  his 
wife  are  the  parents  of  three  children.  A. 
Clarence,  who  is  married  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  dentistry  in  Toulon,  Illinois; 
Lorena  L.,  wife  of  William  C.  Palmer,  an 
undertaker  of  Kewanee;  and  Frances  C.  J., 
who  is  well  educated  and  is  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  Kewanee  schools. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856,  Captain  }^Iur- 
chison  has  affiliated  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  been  a  stanch  advocate  of  its 
principals.  He  has  served  as  a  delegate  to 
county,  congressional  and  state  conventions, 
and  for  thirty  years  was  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican central  committee  of  his  township, 
serving  as  its  chairman  most  of  the  time. 
For  some  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  and  has  also  filled  the  offices 
of  supervisor  and  township  trustee.  He  is 
a  prominent  member  and  past  commander 
of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  Kewanee.  and 
stands  deservedly  high  in  the  esteem  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  Throughout  his  career  of 
continued  and  far-reaching  usefulness  his 
duties  have  been  performed  with  the  greatest 
care,  and  his  business  interests  have  been 
so  managed  as  to  win  him  the  confidence  of 
the  public  and  the  prosperity  which  should 
alwavs  attend  honorable  effort. 


NICHOLAS  BFCKliR. 

In  this  enlightened  age,  when  men  of 
energy,  industry  and  merit  are  rapidly  push- 
ing their  way  to  the  front,  those  who,  by 
their  own  individual  efforts,  have  won  favor 
and  fortune,  may  properly  claim  recogni- 
tion.   Years  ago,  when  Illinois  was  entering 


226 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


upon  its  era  of  growth  and  development  and 
Henry  county  was  laying  its  foundation  for 
future  prosperity,  there  came  thither  from 
all  parts  of  the  world  men  poor  luit  honest, 
and  with  sturdy  independence  and  determina- 
tion to  succeed  that  justly  entitles  them  to 
representation  in  the  history  of  the  county. 
Among  this  class  was  numbered  Nicholas 
Becker,  who  for  many  years  was  a  highly  es- 
teemed citizen  of  the  county. 

He  was  a  native  of  Hettersdorf,  Saar- 
louis,  Prussia,  and  obtained  a  meagre  edu- 
cation in  the  land  of  his  birth.  In  1853  he 
came  to  the  new  world  and  began  life  as  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land,  entirely  unfa- 
miliar with  the  English  language  and  the 
customs  of  the  country.  He  was,  however, 
willing  to  work,  and  possessed  indomitable 
courage  and  perseverance.  He  obtained 
employment  w'ith  the  Illinois  Central  rail- 
road at  Chicago,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  coming  to  Henry  county  in  1856,  when 
he  began  work  for  the  Rock  Island  Railroad 
Company.  He  remained  in  their  employ, 
his  home  being  in  Geneseo,  until  1870,  when 
he  secured  a  position  with  the  Haywood 
&  Smith  Company,  with  which  he  -was  con- 
nected for  eight  years.  Owing  to  his  dili- 
gence, economy  and  industry  during  these 
years,  he  managed  to  acumulate  a  comforta- 
ble competence,  and  throughout  the  remaind- 
er of  his  life  successfully  engaged  in  garden- 
of  his  life  successfully  engaged  in  garden- 
ing' and  stock  raising  on  his  own  account. 

On  the  9th  of  :March,  1858,  at  Cam- 
bridge. Illinois,  Mr.  Becker  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Augusta  Bode,  a  native 
of  Grosfreden,  Germany,  and  to  them  were 
born  five  children,  namely :  Henry  R.  mar- 
ried Jennie  Reams  and  resides  in  Elden. 
Iowa.  Mary  owns  and  occupies  the  old 
homestead  at  No.  108  South  Oakwood  ave- 


nue, Geneseo,  and  also  owiis  other  city  prop- 
erty and  some  farm  land.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  Church  and  is  a  most  esti- 
mable lady.  Caroline  died  in  infancy.  John 
J.  married  Bessie  Kehoe  and  lives  in  Nor- 
man, Oklahoma.     Carrie  died  in  infancy. 

After  a  useful  and  well-spent  life  Mr. 
Becker  died  February  14.  1892,  at  the  age 
of  sixtj'-eight  years,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  March  16,  1898,  at  the  same  age,  the 
remains  of  both  being  interred  at  Geneseo. 
He  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church  and  was  one  of  the  first  trustees  of 
the  church  at  Geneseo,  which  position  he  re- 
tained for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  just- 
ly recognized  as  one  of  the  energetic  and 
representative  citizens  of  his  community, 
and  he  had  the  confidence  and  high  regard 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact  either 
in  business  or  social  life.  His  wife  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church, 
with  which  body  she  held  membership  dur- 
ing her  life. 


V.  W.  CLOUGH. 

Sound  judgment  combined  with  fine  abil- 
ity in  mechanical  lines  has  enabled  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography,  a  well-known  resi- 
dent of  Geneseo,  to  attain  a  substantial  suc- 
cess in  life,  and  his  history  is  of  especial  in- 
terest. He  was  born  in  \\'indham  county, 
\'emiont,  January  20,  1856,  a  son  of  Har- 
vey V.  and  Sophia  L.  (Heins)  Clough,  also 
natives  of  the  Green  Mountain  state.  His 
maternal  grandfather  was  William  Heins. 
The  father,  who  was  a  verj'  successful  farm- 
er, came  to  Henr}-  county,  Illinois,  in  1857, 
and  purchased  a  tract  of  woodland  in  Ed- 
ford  township.  He  converted  the  timber 
into  cordwood,  and  that  undertaking  proved 


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LIBRARY 

UNlVERSnv  OF  ILLINOIS 

URSAXA 


THE  BIOGRAriilCAL  RECORD. 


229 


quite  profitable.  He  finally  sold  his  property 
in  that  townsiiip  and  removed  to  Genesee 
township,  where  he  owned  and  operated  a 
large  farm,  but  spent  the  last  few  years  of 
his  life  in  retirement  from  active  lalmr  in 
Geneseo,  where  he  died  in  1899,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  years.  He  was  an  ujjright,  hon- 
orable man,  of  most  exemplary  habits  and 
liberal  views,  and  was  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. His  estimable  wife  is  still  living,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-five  years,  an  honored  resi- 
dent of  Geneseo.  In  their  family  were  eight 
children:  V.  W.,  of  this  review;  Henry  C., 
a  resident  of  Davenport,  Iowa;  Frank,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years;  Harry,  who 
died  in  boyhood;  Llewellyn,  who  died  when 
a  young  man;  Clyde  M.,  a  resident  of  Dav- 
enport; and  two  who  died  young. 

Coming  to  this  county  during  his  in- 
fancy, \".  W.  Clough  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Geneseo.  He  early  became 
familiar  with  every  detail  of  farm  work  in 
assisting  his  father,  and  grew  u])  to  be  one 
of  the  most  progressive  and  skillful  farmers 
of  his  community.  He  made  a  thorough 
study  of  the  lousiness,  ever  seeking  for  the 
best  methods  of  carrj'ing  on  his  work,  and 
was  what  is  properly  termed  a  scientific 
farmer.  For  twenty  years  he  followed  that 
occupation  with  good  results.  Possessing 
much  mechanical  ingenuity  and  very  handy 
with  tools,  he  finally  turned  his  attention  to 
manufacturing  enterprises.  He  has  invented 
many  contrivances  and  some  very  important 
machiner}',  including  the  first  successful 
traction  separator,  which  consists  of  a  trac- 
tion engine  coupled  to  a  threshing  .separator 
in  such  a  way  that  it  makes  the  two  machines 
into  one.  It  can  be  moved  forward  or  back- 
ward without  removing  the  main  drive  belt: 
i-i  always  set  and  always  in  line:  and  is  ab- 
solutely safe  from  fire.    1  te  built  bis  tirst  ma- 


chine in  si.xty  days  in  1898  after  having  de- 
voted three  years  to  practical  observation  and 
to  the  study  of  old  machines  being  operated 
in  the  fields.  His  niachine  was  first  tested  in 
Illinois,  and  then  shi])pe(l  to  Minnesota,  be- 
ing used  in  the  large  wheat  fields  in  that 
state,  also  in  North  and  South  Dakota  and  in 
Oklahoma.  In  this  undertaking  Mr.  Clough 
has  been  unassisted.  The  practical  working 
of  the  machine  in  the  fields  has  been  its  best 
recommendatiiin  and  has  secured  the  most 
sales.  A  large  expense  is  saved  in  help  and 
labor  as  it  moves  one-third  easier  than  dlhcr 
machines,  and  nearly  one-foiu-th  easier  when 
ibreshing.  It  is  con.sequently  also  a  fuel  and 
w  ater  saver.  The  first  machine  was  so  com- 
])lete  that  little  changes  have  since  been  made. 
Mr.  Clough  has  listened  to  thousands  of  gra- 
tuitous suggestions,  but  has  not  found  it 
feasible  to  change  the  pattern.  In  furnishing 
the  engraving  on  another  page.  Mr.  Clough 
writes : 

Illustration  Xo.  i  was  taken  while  in  op- 
eration, threshing  ior  t'bas.  ().  Mnnter  July 
-'8,  1898.  I  threshed  about  sixty  acres  of 
heavy  oats,  stacking  the  straw  on  a  pole  shed 
for  his  stock.  This  straw  stack  was  over  one 
lunidred  feet  long,  only  a  small  i)ortion  of  it 
being  shown  in  photo.  I  moved  the  machine 
four  times  in  threshing  this  job,  and  while 
moving  there  were  no  belts  renicnetl  aiul  the 
separator  ne\-er  stopped  running.  It  was  such 
a  surprise  to  the  grain  man  watching  the 
operation  he  forgot  to  place  the  wagon  under 
the  grain  spout,  and  the  weigher  dumped 
several  half-bushels  on  the  ground.  The  only 
time  lost  in  setting  this  combination  is  wait- 
ing for  the  fanner  to  get  his  grain  wagon  in 
l^lace.  Time  saved,  however,  is  about  one 
(la\"  in  a  week  over  the  nld  way  in  Illinois 
anti  two  days  in  the  great  wheat  field  of 
the  Xorthwest. 


J30 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


No.  2  is  \vhat  is  called  a  perfect  "set." 
This  photo  was  taken  -while  threshing;  for 
ir.  Pritchard,  .\ugust  1st.  This  "set"  elim- 
inates all  fire  danger.  The  smoke  and  sparks 
from  the  engine  Avill  be  noticed  hlowing 
baclcward,  the  straw  stack  some  forty  feet 
to  one  side  and  a  little  to  the  front.  The 
Avind  may  blow  a  gale  and  threshing  can  go 
on  with  perfect  safety.  This  "set"  will  leave 
grain  slide  clear  from  all  dirt  and  be  clean 
tor  engine.  This  is  a  "slight  catering  wind 
set." 

No.  3  shows  the  main  or  drive  l)elt  side 
of  the  traction  separator. 

No.  4  is  the  opposite  side  of  traction 
separator  with  the  inventor  at  the  steering 
wheel  with  hand  on  throttle  ready  to  move 
the  machine  backward  or  forward.  It  is 
guided  easier,  leveled  quicker  than  can  be 
done  with  two  machines  the  old  way. 

Mr.  Clough  has  also  invented  a  self- 
feeder  for  threshing  machines,  which  is  very 
simple,  consisting  of  a  band  cutter  and  car- 
rier, ha\-ing  none  of  the  com])licated  shake 
l)oards  found  in  other  machines.  This  in- 
vention is  all  his  own  and  the  secret  of  its 
success  is  the  way  the  grain  is  fed  to  the 
cylinder  of  the  thresher.  With  eight  men 
pitching  from  t\)ur  ricks  into  the  feeder  it 
seems  hungr}-  for  more  grain.  It  has  been 
estimated  by  competent  judges  that  this  feed- 
er is  capable  of  recei\'ing  and  threshing  ten 
bushels  of  grain  per  minute,  .\nother  of 
Air.  Clough's  inventions  is  the  combination 
water,  coal  and  straw  tender  attached  to  trac- 
tion engines  which  carries  the  water  and  coal 
supply  in  the  coal  burning  districts  and  the 
straw  used  as  fuel  in  the  great  wheat  fields  of 
tlie  north.  These  iiu'entions  will  all  be  man- 
ufactured at  the  factor}-  established  by  our 
subject  at  Geneseo.  In  business  afiairs  he 
is  energetic  prompt  and  notably  reliable  and 


his  upright,  honorable  course  in  life  com- 
mends him  to  the  confidence  of  all.  Politi- 
cally he  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
])arty,  and  socially  affiliates  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  Stewart  Lodge,  No.  92,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.' 

On  the  1 8th  of  May,  1880,  Mr.  Clough 
v.as  united  in  marriage  with  ]\Iiss  Josie 
Thayer,  a  native  of  New  York  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henr}-  and  Emily  Thayer,  .\fter  the 
Ci\il  war  her  father,  who  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at 
W'oodhull,  Henry  county.  He  was  a  most 
upright  and  worthy  citizen  of  that  jilace  for 
many  years,  and  died  in  1894,  at  the  age  of 
si.xty-five.  His  wife  is  now  a  resident  of 
.Vurora,  Illinois,  and  is  about  si.xty  years  of 
age.  Their  children  were  Josie,  wife  of  our 
subject:  Carrie,  wife  of  Charlie  Hart;  and 
Ivobert,  a  resident  of  .-Vlpha.  Illinois.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Clough  have  two  children :  Leslie 
V.  and  Florence  S.  During  the  Spanish- 
American  war  Leslie  V.  Clough  enlisteil  in 
Company  B,  Si.xth  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infan- 
try, and  with  his  regiment  went  from  Spring- 
field into  camp  at  Camp  Alger,  and  later  to 
Porto  Rico.  He  A\as  finally  mustered  out 
of  service,  and  on  his  return  home  completetl 
a  business  course  at  Moline.  He  is  a  }-oung- 
man  of  good  ha'bits  and  much  promise.  He 
has  had  much  experience  as  an  engineer  and 
is  a  first  class  workman  in  that  line,  to  which 
he  has  devoted  considerable  attention  since 
tile  earlv  age  of  nine  years. 


WILLIAM  .V.  REMINGTON. 

There  are  in  ev^ery  community  men  of 
great  force  of  character  and  e.xceptional  abil- 
ity,   who   by   reason   of   their   capacity    for 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


231 


leadership  become  recognized  as  foremost 
citizens,  and  bear  a  most  important  part  in 
tlie  development  and  progress  of  the  locality 
with  which  they  are  connected.  Such  a  man 
is  William  A.  Remington,  mayor  of  (iene- 
sco,  Illinois,  and  manager  of  all  the  stock- 
yards on  the  Rock  Island  railroad  system. 

He  was  born  in  Rehoboth.  Massachu- 
setts, on  the  29th  of  .\pril.  ICS30.  and  is  a 
son  of  Samuel  W.  and  Harriett  (Reed) 
Remington,  also  nati\es  of  the  old  Bay 
state.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Enoch 
and  Ruth  (Kent)  Remington,  the  former  of 
whom  died  January  i.  1794.  at  the  earl\-  age 
of  twenty-five  years,  while  the  latter  sur- 
vived until  the  24th  of  May.  1H57.  Shortly 
after  tlie  birth  of  our  subject  his  parents  re- 
mo\ed  to  \\'arren.  Rhode  Island,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  mercantile  business  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1850.  His 
wife  survived  him  several  years  and  died  at 
her  home  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  in 
1877.  Both  were  active  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church. and  he  affiliated  w  itli 
the  old  \N'hig  party,  but  never  took  a  promi- 
nent part  in  political  affairs,  although  he  was 
a  public-spirited  man  and  an  advocate  of  all 
that  tend  to  improve  or  advance  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lived.'  In  his  family 
were  five  children,  four  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, namely :  Harriet,  who  married  Simeon 
Talbot,  a  contractor  of  Providence.  Rhode 
Island,  and  died  leaving  three  children,  one 
of  whom  is  Ella,  wife  of  Charles  H.  Boyer, 
assistant  superintendent  of  the  public  schools 
of  Philadelphia;  William  A.,  our  subject, 
who  is  second  in  order  of  birth ;  Samuel  and 
John  X.,  Ix3th  retired  merchants  of  Provi- 
dence, Rhode  Island;  and  Samuel  .\.,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Being  taken  by  his  parents  to  Warren, 
Rhode  Island,  during  his  infancv,  William 


.\.  Remington  was  reared  in  that  city  and 
educated  in  its  common  schools.  In  1S50 
he  embarked  in  business  at  that  i)lace.  but 
four  \ears  later  rcnio\cd  to  Providence, 
where  he  conducted  a  mercantile  establish- 
ment until  going  to  Davenport.  Iowa,  in 
1856.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  merchants 
of  that  city  until  1861,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed route  agent  on  the  Rock  Island 
railroad  diu'ing  President  Lincoln's  admin- 
istration. Dm-ing  his  residence  in  Davenport 
lie  also  served  as  city  treasurer  for  eleven 
years.  In  1872  Mr.  Remington  came  to 
Geneseo.  Illinois,  ami  was  made  manager  of 
stockyards  for  the  Rock  Island  Railroad 
Company,  being  associated  with  Colonel 
Galligan.  now  deceased,  for  ten  years.  He 
has  held  that  responsible  position  continuous- 
ly since,  and  now  has  charge  of  all  the  stock- 
yards of  the  system,  \\hich  require  his  ser- 
vices in  Kansas.  Iowa  and  Illinois. 

In  1855  yiv.  Remington  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Maria  L.  Cole,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Ebenezer  and  Maria  (Thompson) 
Cole,  of  \\'arren.  Rhode  Island.  Through- 
out his  actix'e  business  life  her  father  was 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  died  in  Warren.  The>' 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  of  whom 
two  are  still  li\ing.  Unto  Mr.  and  ^Irs. 
Remington  ha\e  been  born  three  children, 
but  only  one  survixes :  Henry  W.,  born  in 
Rhode  Island,  married  .\nnie  E.  Watson,  of 
Bristol,  that  state,  and  has  for  some  years 
been  connected  with  the  Merchant  Publish- 
ing Company  of  Chicago,  where  he  makes  h.is- 
home.  Minnie,  born  in  Davenport.  Iowa. 
died  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  and  William 
Gibbs  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  months. 

Mr.  Remington  has  been  a  director  of 
the  Eirst  National  Bank  of  Geneseo  for  many 
years.     Socially-  he  is  a  prominent  Mason. 


23: 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


having  taken  the  degrees  of  the  Scottish 
Rite  and  the  3ilystic  Shrine,  and  poHtically 
he  is  an  ardent  Repubhcan.  On  coming  to 
Geneseo  he  at  once  became  identified  with 
pubhc  affairs,  and  liis  fellow  citizens  recog- 
nizing his  worth  and  ability,  have  called  upon 
him  to  fill  the  highest  office  of  their  city.  He 
is  now  efficiently  serving  his  fourth  term 
as  mayor  of  the  city,  and  the  reins  of  city 
government,  have  never  been  in  more  capable 
hands,  for  he  is  a  progressive  man,  pre-emi- 
nently public-spirited,  and  all  that  pertains 
to  the  public  welfare  receives  his  hearty  en- 
dorsement. 


JOHN  M.  HATCH. 

After  an  active  and  useful  life,  mainly 
devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits,  J.  M.  Hatch 
is  now  living  retired  in  Kewanee,  Illinois. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  state, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Caledonia  coun- 
ty. March  lo,  1827.  and  is  a  son  of  Moses 
and  Jane  (Gates)  Hatch,  natives  of  Elaine 
and  Vermont,  respectively.  The  father  be- 
came a  prosperous  farmer  of  the  latter  state, 
where  he  owned  and  operated  two  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  land,  and  as  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  his  community  he  was  hon- 
ored with  town  offices.  He  died  in  April, 
1858,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  having 
long  survived  his  wife,  who  was  only  thirty- 
four  at  the  time  of  her  death.  In  religious  be- 
lief they  were  Presbyterians.  In  their  family 
were  six  children,  namely :  Jane,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  A.  L.  Clark  and  died  in 
January,  1848,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven 
years,  leaving  two  children,  Horace  and  W'n]- 
hice;  Martha,  who  became  the  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Page  and  died  in  1851,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six,  leaving  one  child,  Martha,  who 


died  in  1852,  when  only  tvvo  years  and  a 
half  old;  Eliza,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een months  J.  !M.,  our  subject;  Horace,  who 
d:ed  in  March,  1843,  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  and  a  half;  and  Eliza,  the  second,  of 
that  name,  who  is  the  wife  of  S.  D.  Lyle  of 
Neponset,  Illinois,  and  has  three  children, 
Charles,  Herbert  and  Maxwell. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  J.  ^L 
Hatch  became  familiar  with  agricultural 
pursuits  upon  the  home  farm,  where  he  was 
reared  and  acquired  a  good  knowledge  of  the 
common  English  branches  in  the  schools  of 
the  neighborhood.  After  completing  his  ed- 
ucation he  worked  in  a  sa\%inill,  a  brick 
kiln,  and  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  a  time, 
and  operated  his  father's  farm  one  year.  On 
coming  west  in  185 1  he  located  in  Stark 
county,  the  nearest  town  of  any  importance 
at  that  time  being  Henry.  He  purchased 
land  in  Elmira  township,  and  meeting  with 
success  in  his  farming  operations  he  became 
the  owner  of  five  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land,  a  portion  of  which  he  has  since  divided 
among  his  children.  Some  of  this  property 
was  in  Henry  county.  In  February,  1895, 
he  removed  to  Kewanee  where  he  built  a  fine 
home  with  all  modern  appliances  for  com- 
fort and  economy,  where  he  has  since  li\-ed 
a  retired  life,  enjo3'ing  the  fruits  of  former 
toil.  He  was  one  of  the  original  stockhold- 
ers of  the  Union  Bank  of  Kewanee. 

On  the  24th  of  February,  1853,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hatch  and  Miss 
Roxana  Lyle,  also  a  native  of  Vemiont  and  a 
daughter  of  William  Lyle,  who  brought  his 
family  to  Illinois  in  1834  and  became  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Stark  county,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  there  in  the 
fall  of  1858,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  At- 
lanta Darling,  passed  away  in  1885,  at  the 


UNlVtRSllT  UF  ILLINOIS 


i 


J.   M.   HATCH. 


MRS.  J.   M.    HATCH 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URSP.NA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


237 


age  of  seventy-seven  years.  She  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Churdi,  and  the 
mother  of  fifteen  cliildren,  fourteen  of  whom 
reached  adult  ages  and  ten  are  still  living.  In 
order  of  birtli  they  were  as  follows :  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  William  G.  Perkins,  of  Elmira, 
Illinois  Thomas,  deceased ;  Thomas,  the  sec- 
ond of  that  name,  who  died  at  Pikes  Peak 
in  1859;  Stephen  D.,  a  resident  of  Neponset, 
Illinois;  Roxana,  wife  of  our  subject;  Wal- 
ter and  Jennette,  twins,  the  former  a  resident 
of  Dakcjta  county,  Nebraska,  the  latter  the 
wife  of  John  L.  Price  of  Republic  county, 
Kansas;  Julia,  deceased  wife  of  Silas  Paten ; 
Lydia  J. .who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years ; 
George  W.,  who  enlisted  in  1864  with  the 
one-hundred-day  men  called  out  by  Gov- 
ernor Yates,  and  died  in  the  service  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years;  Franklin,  a  fanner  of  El- 
mira, Illinois;  Xorris,  a  farmer  of  Alodena, 
Stark  county;  Emeline,  wife  of  William  Ber- 
ry, of  Reno,  X'evada;  Lucinda,  wife  of  Dav- 
id Moffit ;  and  Rufus  D.,  a  resident  of  Xepon- 
set,  Illinois. 

Of  the  six  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hatch,  Horace  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
months  and  Burton  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
months.  Clara  E.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  N. 
Good,  a  farmer  of  Elmira,  Stark  county, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Maxwell  C.  and 
^lartha.  Cora  L.  married  first  John  Wilcox, 
by  whom  she  had  one  child,  Burton  B.,  and 
for  her  second  husband  she  married  Albert 
Early,  a  fanner  of  Kewanee  townshi]).  this 
county.  Martha  J.  died  at  about  the  age  of 
eleven  years.  Orin  L.,  a  farmer  of  Elmira, 
Stark  county,  married  Mrs.  Minnie  (Barry) 
Higgtns,  widow  of  James  Higgins,  by  whom 
she  had  one  child,  Nevada.  By  her  mar- 
riage with  Mr,  Hatch  she  had  two  children : 
Bertha;  and  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one 
year  and  two  weeks. 


B}-  his  ballot  our  subject  supiwrts  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Democracy,  and  he 
has  filled  miucir  township  offices.  Having 
always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  educational 
affairs,  he  efficiently  served  as  school  direc- 
tor for  .some  time.  While  a  resident  of 
Stark  county  he  served  fur  ten  years  as  di 
rector  and  treasurer  of  the  Farmers  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  but  resigned  the 
office  on  his  removal  to  Kewanee.  He  is  a 
njan  of  genial  disposition,  is  progressive  and 
public-spirited,  and  holds  a  high  place  in  the 
esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 


WILLIAM  L.   KIRKPATRICK. 

This  well-known  •  and  ^xDpular  pho- 
tographer of  Geneseo  is  a  native  of  Illinois, 
born  in  \'ermilion  county,  February  5, 
1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  William  Kirk- 
patrick,  who  was  for  many  years  a  promi- 
nent and  successful  physician  of  Tiskilwa, 
Bureau  county,  this  state.  The  father  was 
l)orn  in  New  Athens,  Harrison  county, 
Ohio,  July  17,  1 81 7.  hi  his  youth  his 
health  was  not  the  best,  and  for  that  reason 
his  attention  was  called  to  the  consideration 
of  medicine,  which  resulted  finally  in  his 
becoming  a  practicing  physician.  In  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  he  was  married,  April  25, 
1840,  to  Mrs.  Cornelia  (Benson)  Gunn, 
who  by  her  former  marriage  had  two  chil- 
dren: Abel  died  in  Chicago,  aged  fifty-two 
years,  and  Lewis,  who  died  when  one  year 
old,  while  on  the  way  across  the  country 
with  his  parents  coming  west.  Of  the 
children  born  to  the  Doctor,  William  L.. 
our  subject,  is  the  oldest;  Sarah  is  the  wife 
of  William  H.  Whalen,  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa;  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Has- 
kins,  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  Lyman  died  at 


2S8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  age  of  nineteen  years;  and  IMargaret 
A.  is  the  wife  of  George  Dexter,  of  Tiskil- 
\\a,  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1851  Dr.  Kirk- 
jjatrick  moved  to  Tiskihva,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  practice  until  1863.  when  he 
opened  a  drug  store  at  that  place  and  con- 
ducted it  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
July  26.  1888.  He  was  widely  and  favor- 
al)ly  known  and  was  held  in  high  regard  b\^ 
a  large  circle  of  friends.  In  his  political 
\iews  he  was  a  strong  Reiiublican,  and  for 
a  score  of  years  was  an  efficient  member 
of  the  board  of  education  in  his  town.  His 
estimable  wife,  who  was  born  in  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut,  February  29.  1816,  a 
daughter  of  Lyman  Benson,  is  still  one  of 
the  honored  residents  of  Tiskihva.  She  is 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  section.  In  1836 
she  droA-e  an  ox  team  from  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  her  onl}-  companion 
being  her  sick  husband,  who  died  while  on 
the  journey,  and  the  child  Lewis,  who  also 
died  while  on  that  trip.  She  has  been  a 
life-long  and  active  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 

\\'illiam  L.  Kirkpatrick.  of  this  review, 
grew  to  manhood  in  Tiskihva,  and  received 
a  good  common-school  education.  From 
the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  followed  tele- 
graphing at  various  places,  and  was  dis- 
patcher at  Geneseo  in  1857.  In  1856  he 
began  learning  the  old  daguerreotype  pro- 
cess of  making  pictures  and  in  1858  he 
learned  the  ambrotype  process  and  in  i860 
cijmmenced  taking  photographs.  He  has 
since  devoted  his  attention  to  that  business, 
always  keeping  abreast  with  the  advance- 
ment and  progress  made  in  the  science.  In 
March,  1869,  he  opened  a  studio  in  Geneseo, 
and  now  has  one  of  the  best  equipped  gal- 
leries in  this  section  of  the  state,  it  being 
supplied  with  the  latest  improved  apparatus 


needed  in  the  business.  He  has  gained  an 
enviable  reputation  as  one  of  the  best  pho- 
tographers in  this  section,  and  his  patron- 
age comes  from  a  wide  extent  of  territory, 
b.aving  at  the  present  writing  work  from 
Cambridge  and  Atchison,  Illinois,  Grinell, 
Iowa,  and  other  cities.  He  is  very  progress- 
i\e  and  has  invented  a  device  for  taking 
stamp  pictures,  giving  fifteen  different  po- 
sitions or  expressions.  This  instrument 
makes  one,  two.  four,  eight  of  fifteen  pic- 
tures all  on  one  plate. 

On  the  17th  of  July,  1862,  :Mr.  Kirk- 
patrick married  Miss  R.  F.  Trask,  a  native 
of  Elaine,  and  a  daughter  of  William 
Trask,  who  with  his  family  was  living  in 
Buda,  Illinois,  at  the  time  of  our  subject's 
marriage.  B}-  this  union  there  is  one  child, 
Hali  T.,  collector  in  a  store  in  Pueblo, 
Colorado.  The  son  was  married,  in  1895, 
to  Emma  Koster,  who  has  been  blind  for  the 
past  two  years,  supposedly  the  residt  of 
an  attack  of  smallpox.  Owing  to  ill  health 
yirs.  Kirkpatrick  has  resided  with  her  son 
in  Colorado  for  the  past  two  years.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  L'nitarian  Church. 

At  national  elections  ^Ir.  Kirkpatrick 
supports  the  Republican  party,  but  in  local 
affairs  votes  independently  of  party  lines. 
He  has  served  as  secretary  of  the  board  of 
health  for  nearly  five  years,  and  was  alder- 
man from  the  First  ward  two  years.  He  is 
Line  of  Geneseo's  leading  business  men  and 
honored  citizens,  and  well  deserves  the  suc- 
cess that  has  come  to  him. 


THOMAS  McCLURE. 

Among  Kewanee's  leading  citizens  and 
prominent  business  men  is  numbered 
Thomas  McClure,  who  was  born  in  Knox 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


239 


county,   Illinois.   May   16,    1848,   a  son  of 
Daniel  and  Laura  Ann   (Little)   IMcClure. 
The  Little  family  is  of  Puritan  descent,  ami 
was  founded  in  America  by  one  of  the  pas- 
sengers of  the   Mayflower.      Our   subject's 
father  was  born  in  Ireland  of  Scotch  par- 
entage, and  when  a  young  man  came  to  the 
"United   States.     He  first  located    in     Xew 
York,  where  he  was  connected  witli  .\.  T. 
Stewart   for  some  time,  they  having  been 
schoolmates  in  the    old    country.      Coming 
to  Illinois,  in  1836,  he  visited  what  is  now 
Henry  county,   but  decided    to    locate    at 
Cairo,   where  he  spent    some    years.       He 
would  build  flatboats,  which  he  would  load 
w  ith  produce  and  float  down  the  Mississippi 
to  Xew  Orleans,  where  he  would  dispose  of 
his  stock,  sell  his  boat  for  wood  and  return 
to   Cairo   and   repeat   the   operation.      This 
business  he  followed  several  years  and  was 
very  successful  in  the  enterprise.     Later  he 
was  engaged   in  general  merchandising  in 
that  city  with  a  partner  for  some  time,  but 
finally  sold   out   in    1848   and   returned   to 
Henry  gaunty.     He  erected  a  .store  build- 
ing in  W'ethersfield,  which  he  stocked  with 
everything   neetled   by    the    early    settlers. 
He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  the 
place,  as  only  one  man    was    engaged    in 
business  there  when  he  opened  his  general 
store.     Instead  of  money,  which  was  scarce 
among  the  early  settlers,  he  received  most- 
ly produce  in  exchange  for  his  goods,  and 
this  he  would  sell  in  Lacon  and  Peoria,  or 
sometimes  Chicago,  driving  cattle  and  hogs 
to  those  cities,  where  he  received  for  dressed 
hogs  only  seventy-five  cents  or  a  dollar  per 
I'lUndred.     He  continued  in  that  line  of  busi- 
ness for  about  twelve  years  and  later  dealt 
in  real  estate,  and  was  an  extensive  owner 
of  real  estate  in  the  county.     He  died  at 
\\'ethcrsfield  February  16,  1893,  at  the  age 


of  nearly  ninet\'-one  years,  in  the  house 
which  had  been  his  home  for  forty-five 
years.  His  first  wife  had  passed  away  in 
185-',  leaving  two  children:  Thomas,  our 
subject;  and  William  B.,  also  a  resident 
of  Kewanee.  For  his  second  wife  the  Fa- 
ther married  Matilda  Case,  a  native  of  In- 
diana, who  died  in  1895.  From  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Republican  party  he  was 
a  supporter  of  its  principles,  and  always 
took  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs, 
though  he  never  would  accept  ofiice,  with 
the  exception  of  school  trustee,  which  he 
filled  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  ^•cry 
successful  in  business,  was  a  good  financier 
and  an  excellent  judge  of  men.  His  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances  was  extensive, 
and  he  was  highly  respected  and  esteemed 
by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  rearetl  in 
the  Presbyterian  faith,  and,  though  not  a 
member  of  any  church,  he  gave  liberally 
to  all,  and  was  very  charitable  and  benev- 
olent. 

Reared  in  \\'ethersfield,  Thomas  Mc- 
Clure  received  his  early  education  in  the 
primitive  schools  of  pioneer  days,  which 
he  attended  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  In 
the  meantime  the  Civil  war  had  broken  out. 
and,  imbued  with  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  he 
enlisted  in  February,  1863,  in  Company 
H,  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry,  which  was  as- 
signed to  General  Wilson's  corps  and  sent 
to  Memphis,  Tennessee.  He  remained  in 
the  service  and  was  in  all  the  engagements 
of  his  regiment  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  mustered  out  at  Selma,  Alabama, 
October  30,  1865. 

Returning  to  Kewanee  he  attended 
school  two  winters  and  then  commenced 
farming  in  Wethersfield  township  on  ninety 
acres  of  land  belonging  to  his  father,  lie 
followed  that  pursuit  successfully  for  twenty 


240 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years,  and  is  still  the  owner  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  of  land  in  Kewanee 
township  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-three 
acres  in  Annawan  township.  On  his  retire- 
ment from  farming  he  engaged  in  buying 
and  selling  stock  for  some  years,  but  dis- 
continued that  business  on  his  removal  to 
Kewanee  in  1893,  shortly  before  the  death 
of  his  father.  He  has  since  been  interested 
in  the  real  estate  and  loan  business,  and  ir. 
1899,  in  connection  with  Frank  A.  Cahow 
built  the  Kewanee  Opera  House,  at  a  cost  of 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  but  has  since 
purchased  his  partner's  interest.  It  is  one 
of  the  finest  buildings  of  the  kind  in  any 
town  the  size  of  Kewanee  in  the  country, 
while  the  scenery  and  general  appointments 
would  do  credit  to  a  city  ten  times  as  large. 
The  stage  is  40x60  feet ;  there  are  ten  dress- 
ing rooms,  supplied  with  iiot  and  cold 
water;  and  in  fact  all  modern  appliances 
and  conveniences  of  a  first-class  theater  are 
here  found.  ^Ir.  ilcClure  secures  only  the 
best  entertainments  of  high  moral  charac- 
ter and  does  all  in  his  power  to  satisfy  the 
wishes  and  desires  of  his  patrons.  He  is 
also  the  owner  of  ninety  acres  of  land  in 
W'ethersfield  township. 

On  the  j/th  of  May,  1867,  .Mr.  :Mc- 
Clure  married  ^liss  Jane  Atherton,  a  na- 
tive of  Henry  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
Milton  Atherton,  now  deceased,  who  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Stark  comity, 
Illinois,  where  he  followed  farming  for 
many  years,  ilrs.  McClure  is  the  sixth  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  nine  children, 
the  others  being  as  follows :  Phebe  A.,  wife 
of  Cyrus  Pratt,  of  ^Murray,  Iowa;  A.  S.j  a 
^Methodist  Episcopal  minister,  who  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  in  Nevada,  Missouri; 
Joseph  C,  a  resident  of  West  Jerse3%  Stark 
county,    Illinois;    Eliza    Ellen,    widow    of 


Alexander  Johnson  and  a  resident  of  Cali- 
fornia; Kate,  wife  of  J.  M.  Jones,  of  La- 
fayette, Stark  county;  Jasper,  a  farmer  of 
Nevada,  Missouri ;  Emma,  widow  of  John 
Coucins  of  the  same  place;  and  Carrie,  wife 
of  Dorington  M.  Good,  of  Wethersfield 
township,  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Clure are  the  parents  of  three  children, 
namely:  (1)  Fred  D.,  general  manager  of 
the  Gail  Borden  condensed  milk  factory  at 
Elgin,  Illinois,  married  Mattie  Mc\'icker, 
and  they  have  three  children,  Leland,  Sadie 
and  i^Iaxie.  (2)  Emma  Edith  is  the  wife 
of  Ira  J.  Dunlap,  of  Johnson  county,  Illi- 
nois. (3)  Sadie  died  March  15,  1888,  at 
ilie  age  of  fifteen  years. 

Fraternally  Mr.  McClure  is  an  honored 
member  cf  Julius  A.  Pratt  Post,  No.  143, 
G.  A.  R...  m  which  he  has  held  nearly  all 
the  ofiices,  and  politically  he  is  identified 
Avith  the  Republican  party.  He  served  one 
term  as  supervisor  of  Kewanee,  but  has 
never  cared  for  the  honors  or  emoluments 
of  public  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  un- 
divided attention  to  his  business  interests. 
He  possesses  untiring  energy,  is  quick  of 
perception,  forms  his  plans  readily  and  is 
determined  in  their  execution;  and  his 
close  application  to  business  and  excellent 
management  have  brought  to  him  the  high 
degree  of  prosperity  which  is  to-day  his. 


JOHN  LEWIS. 


For  half  a  century,  John  Lewis,  now  de- 
ceased, was  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zens of  Henry  county,  and  in  early  life  was 
prominently  identified  with  its  agricultural 
interests, though  he  was  living  a  retired  life  in 
Geneseo  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred ]klarch  5,  1900.  He  was  born  in  Penn- 


Ll6'?ARY 
UNIVtRSIir  OF  ILLINOIS 


JOHN   LEWIS. 


MRS.  JOHN  LEWIS. 


Llb'^ARY 

UNIVERSnv  OF  ILLINOIS 

URSAKA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


^43 


sylvania,  April  17.  iSjo,  but  was  only  three 
years  old  when  he  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Jackson  county.  Ohio,  where  he  continued 
to  make  his  home  for  several  years.  During 
his  boyhcwd  and  youth  he  assisted  his  father 
in  the  labors  of  the  home  farm,  and  early  ac- 
quired an  excellent  knowledge  of  the  occupa- 
tion to  which  he  devoted  his  active  life. 

In  1847  ^Ir.  Lewis  wedded  Hiss  Mary 
Cozad,  of  Ohio,  and  three  years  later  came 
to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  locating  in  Corn- 
wall township,  where  he  purchased  land,  and 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  for  several  years,  accumulating 
a  large  property.  In  1878  he  laid  aside  all 
business  cares  and  removed  to  Geneseo, 
where  he  lived  retired  until  his  death.  He 
^\•as  called  upon  to  fill  nearly  all  the  local  of- 
fices of  his  township,  and  in  all  the  relations 
of  life  was  found  true  and  faithful  to  every 
trust  reposed  in  him.  He  commanded  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  his  associates  and 
was  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

Mr.  Lewis'  first  wife  died  in  1897.  By 
that  union  he  had  fourteen  children,  namely : 
William,  deceased;  Abraham,  a  resident  of 
Cormvall  township;  Samuel,  who  lives  in 
Atkinson  township,  this  comity ;  George  W., 
who  is  engaged  in  fanning  in  Jasper  county, 
Illinois;  John  and  Stephen,  both  residents  of 
Cornwall  township;  Francis  M.,  of  Peoria 
county,  Illinois;  Charles  A.,  of  Kansas  City, 
^Missouri;  Charity,  wife  of  James  Fell,  of 
Geneseo;  Alfred,  of  Munson  township,  this 
county;  Robert,  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri; 
Mary,  wife  of  George  Hudson,  of  Indian 
Territory;  Albert,  who  died  in  infancy;  and 
Andrew,  of  Spring  Creek,  Illinois. 

On  the  29th  of  November,  1899,  Mr. 
Lewis  married  Mrs.  Kate  Grain,  a  native  of 
McHenry  county,   Illinois.       Her    parents, 


Horace  and  Rebecca  (Warner)  Mitchell, 
were  born  in  New  York  state,  and  on  coming 
to  Illinois  about  1850  settled  in  McHenry 
county.  Her  father  was  a  railroad  conduct- 
or, and  was  with  the  Rock  Island  road  for 
r.early  fifty  years,  during  which  time  he 
made  his  home  in  Geneseo.  He  was  killed 
while  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  in  1877. 
]^Irs.  Lewis'  mother  had  died  many  years  be- 
fore, and  for  his  second  wife  he  married 
Eva  Mitchell,  by  whom  he  had  two  children. 
There  were  five  children  by  the  first  mar- 
riage and  four  of  the  number  are  still  living, 
Mrs.  Lewis  being  the  third  in  order  of 
birth.  ]\Ir.  Mitchell  was  a  prominent  Mason 
and  took  an  active  interest  in  the  work  of 
that  order.  ^Irs.  Lewis'  first  husband  was 
Bruce  Grain,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
state,  and  was  only  two  years  old  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  this  county,  the 
family  locating  in  Atkinson  township.  Mr. 
Grain  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war  and  fol- 
lowed the  carpenter's  trade  for  many  years. 
By  her  first  marriage  !Mrs.  Lewis  has  two 
sons :  Albert,  who  was  born  in  Kansas  in 
1877,  noAV  employed  in  the  boiler  shop  at 
Kewanee,  and  who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Spanish-American  war  in  Porto  Rico;  and 
Frank,  who  was  born  in  1886  and  lives  with 
his  mother  in  Geneseo,  and  is  attending  the 
liisrh  school. 


JOHN  FISCHER. 

Prominent  among  the  energetic,  far- 
seeing  and  successful  business  men  of  Ke- 
wanee is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  whose 
life  history  most  happily  illustrates  what 
may  be  attained  by  faithful  and  continued 
effort  in  carrying  out  an  honest  puri>ose. 
Integrity,  activity  and  energv-  have  been  the 


244 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


crowning  points  of  his  success,  and  his 
connection  with  the  various  business  enter- 
prises and  industries  have  been  of  decided 
advantage  to  Kewanee,  promoting  its  ma- 
terial welfare  in  no  uncertain  manner. 

Mr.  Fischer  was  born  in  Schafifhausen, 
Prussia,  Germany,  February  20,  1858,  and 
attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
land  from  the  age  of  six  until  coming  to 
America  with  his  parents,  Peter  and  Mar- 
guerite Fischer,  in  1870.  The  famih-  ar- 
rived on  the  27th  of  June  at  Kewanee, 
where  our  subject's  oldest  brother.  Nicholas, 
had  located  in  1867.  Here  the  father 
worked  in  the  mines  for  some  years,  having 
lieen  a  mine  carpenter  and  boss  in  Germany. 
He  was  born  in  1820,  and  died  in  1878, 
while  his  wife  was  born  in  March,  1820, 
and  died  on  the  seventy-second  anniversary 
of  her  birth.  In  their  family  were  ten  chil- 
dren, namely:  Nicholas,  who  died  in  1870, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years ;  Michael, 
who  conducts  a  meat  market  at  Kewanee; 
Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Hofifrichter  o.f  the 
same  place;  Elizabeth,  widow  of  C.  G. 
Bauer;  Margaret,  widow  of  John  Streicher; 
Peter,  who  died  in  infancy;  John,  our  sub- 
ject; Peter,  a  business  man  of  Kewanee; 
Carl,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Mitchell, 
who  died  in  this  county  at  the  age  of  six 
years.  The  family  are  communicants  of 
the  Catholic  Churfch. 

After  coming  to  this  country  John 
Fischer  attended  a  country  school  in  Ke- 
wanee township  for  two  years  and  then  be- 
gan his  business  career  by  working  in  the 
mines  with  his  father  for  three  weeks,  which 
he  says  was  one  of  the  happiest  periods  of 
his  life.  He  then  worked  on  a  farm  for 
two  years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  be- 
gan delivering  groceries  for  the  firm  of 
Wood  &  Lewis.     When    those    gentlemen 


dissolved  partnership  he  found  employment 
with  the  Haxtun  steam  heater  works  at  sev- 
enty-five cents  per  day,  but  three  months 
later  L.  W.  Lewis  again  embarked  in  the 
grocery  business  and  persuaded  our  sub- 
ject to  again  enter  his  services.  He  re- 
mained with  him  five  years,  and  then  clerked 
for  M.  C.  Ouinn  one  year,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  purchased  Mr.  Lewis'  store 
and  continued  in  the  grocery  business  alone 
for  three  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Fischer  &  Mahew  from  1884  to 
1889,  and  then  sold  out  to  his  partner  and 
embarked  in  the  real  estate  and  loan  busi- 
ness, which  he  still  carries  on.  He  has  a 
government  broker's  license,  for  which  he 
pays  fifty  dollars  per  year,  and  does  the 
largest  business  in  his  line  in  the  city.  In 
1890  when  C.  C.  Blish  was  president  of 
the  First  National  Bank  he  iiuluced  Mr. 
Fischer  to  buy  some  stock,  and  at  the  fol- 
lowing election  our  subject  was  made  a  di- 
rector, which  position  he  has  filled  ever 
since.  For  the  past  five  years  he  has  served 
as  vice-president.  He  is  also  a  stockholder, 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Kewanee 
Coal  &  Mining  Company.  He  is  the  owner 
of  the  Fischer  building,  which  is  the  oldest 
brick  store  building  in  Kewanee.  This  he 
has  remodeled  and  converted  into  one  of 
the  nicest  store  and  oftice  buildings  in  the 
city.  He  also  owns  five  new  store  and  office 
buildings  in  Chicago.  He  does  an  extensive 
business  in  buying  and  selling  mortgages 
for  friends  and  clients,  having  handled  over 
three  hundred  thousand  dollars  worth,  but 
has  foreclosed  only  one  and  that  was  a 
friendly  foreclosure.  He  makes  loans  in 
Kewanee,  Chicago  and  elsewhere. 

On  the  2nd  of  October,  1883.  Mr. 
Fischer  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Etta  R.  Lyle,  a  native  of  Kewanee  and  a 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


245 


•(.laug-hter  of  George  and  Sarah  (Snugs) 
Lyle.  Her  father  was  also  born  in  Henry 
county,  but  her  mother's  birth  occurred  in 
London.  Juigland.  They  were  married  in 
Kewanee,  and  here  both  ihed  at  an  carh- 
xige,  leaving  four  children :  George,  now  a 
farmer  of  Monroe,  Jas[)er  county,  Iowa: 
William  H.,  who  married  Mollie  P.  Shrop- 
^;hire  and  lives  in  Kewanee;  and  Etta  R., 
wife  of  our  su1)ject.  One  son,  John,  died 
in  childhood.  These  children  were  reared 
by  the  i)aternal  grandfather,  John  Lyle, 
who  was  born  at  nr  near  Paisley,  Scotland, 
July  2y,  1806,  and  was  brought  to  -Amer- 
ica by  his  mother  in  1816,  joining  his  fa- 
ther, \\'illiam  Lyle,  in  Alexandria,  Vir- 
ginia. Two  years  later  the  family  remo\-ed 
to  Caledonia  county,  \'ermont,  where  his 
lather  died  in  1834.  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
si.x.  In  1836  John  Lyle  came  to  Illinois, 
and  entered  a  tract  of  land  in  Elmira  town- 
ship. Stark  count}-,  where  he  was  joined  b\' 
his  mother  and  the  uther  members  of  the 
family  a  year  later.  The  nK)ther  li\ed  to  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-hve  years.  Air. 
Lyle  received  oniv  a  limited  educatiun  in 
the  subscription  schools,  and  was  entirely 
a  self-made  man,  who  through  his  own  un- 
xiided  efforts  became  •  quite  wealthy.  Al- 
though almost  sixty  years  of  age  he  enlisted 
-March  24,  1864.  in  Cumijany  K,  ( )nc  Hun- 
dred and  Thirt_\-fourth  Illinois  X'olunteer 
Jnfantr}-,  and  served  until  his  term  expired 
on  the  25th  of  the  following  October.  In 
X'ermont  he  was  married,  June  ly,  1833, 
to  iMiss  Hester  D.  Craig,  who  was  to  him 
a  faithful  helpmate  throughout  a  long  mar- 
ried life.  Their  onl}-  child,  Cieorge  Lyle, 
the  father  of  ilrs.  Fischer,  was  born  in  Oc- 
tober, 1834.  and  died  May  19,  i86j.  The 
grandfather  died  in  July,  1889,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-three,  and  his  wife  passed  away 


in  May,  1897,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 
From  Stark  county  they  came  to  Henry 
county  at  an  early  day,  and  were  numbered 
among  its  honored  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zens. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fischer  have  been  bom 
live  children,  as  follows:  Haydn  L.,  who 
is  attending  the  high  school  of  Kewanee; 
J.  Emmons;  Marguerite,  who  died  July  2, 
1893,  at  the  age  of  two  years  and  a  half; 
Lawrence,  who  died  in  1896,  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  months :  and  George  Lyle.  The 
mother  and  chiklren  are  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  while  Mr.  Fischer  is  a 
Catholic  in  religious  belief.  Since  casting 
his  lirst  presidential  vote  for  James  A.  Gar- 
field he  has  affiliated  with  the  Republican 
party,  but  has  never  cared  for  political 
honors.  He  had  no  cai)ital  on  starting  out 
in  life  for  himself,  and  as  a  farm  hand 
worked  for  one  hundred  dollars  the  first 
year  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  the 
second,  which  amount  went  to  the  support 
of  his  widowed  mother.  His  record  is 
therefore  that  of  a  man  who  by  his  own  un- 
aided efforts  has  worked  his  way  upward 
tL'  a  position  of  affluence.  His  life  has  been 
one  of  industry  and  perseverance,  and  the 
systematic  and  honorable  business  methods 
he  has  followed  have  won  for  him  the  con- 
fidence and  respect  of  those  with  whom  he 
has  been  brought  in  contact.  He  is  a  man 
of  line  personal  appearance  and  excellent 
business  qualifications. 


EMERY  C.  GRAVES. 

Emery  C.  Graves,  of  Geneseo,  has  at- 
tained distinction  as  one  of  the  able  mem- 
bers of  the  Henry  county  bar,  and  is  now 
most  capably  and   satisfactorily  serving  as 


246 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


states  attorney.  In  this  profession  prob- 
ably more  than  in  any  other  success  depends 
upon  individual  merit,  upon  a  thorough  un- 
derstanding of  the  principles  of  jurispru- 
dence, a  power  of  keen  analysis,  and  the  abil- 
ity to  present  clearly,  concisely  and  forcibly 
the  strong  points  in  his  cause.  Possessing 
these  necessary  qualifications,  Mr,  Graves 
is  accorded  a  foremost  place  in  the  ranks 
of  the  profession  in  this  county. 

He  was  born  in  Cherry  Creek  township, 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  January  19, 
1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Calvin  S.  and  Martha 
K.  (Kingsley)  Graves,  also  natives  of  that 
state,  the  former  born  in  Herkimer  county, 
the  latter  in  Chautauqua  county.  On  first 
coming  to  Illinois,  in  the  spring  of  1853,  the 
father  located  at  Earlville,  La  Salle  county, 
but  remained  there  only  one  season  before 
coming  to  Yorktown  township,  Henry  coun- 
ty, where  he  followed  farming  until  1865. 
He  then  embarked  in  the  furniture  business 
in  Geneseo  and  later  turned  his  attention 
to  the  drug  trade.  He  is  still  an  honored 
resident  of  this  place.  He  was  seventy-six 
years  of  age  on  the  20th  of  June,  1900,  and 
his  wife  w'as  seventy-three  on  the  25th  of 
February,  that  year.  She  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Their  children  are  Mrs.  Grace  A.  Sweeney, 
of  Geneseo;  and  Emery  C,  of  this  review. 

The  first  thirteen  years  of  his  life  Emery 
C.  Graves  spent  upon  a  farm.  After  com- 
pleting his  education  in  the  schools  of  Gen-" 
eseo,  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the 
offices  of  Buckles  &  Twells,  with  which  firm 
he  remained  until  the  former's  death,  when 
he  entered  the  office  of  George  E.  Waite. 
Subsequently  he  attended  law  school  at  Mad- 
ison, Wisconsin,  and  after  his  graduation  in 
1874  opened  an  office  in  Janesville,  that 
state,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of 


the  law.  Returning  to  Geneseo  in  1876,  he 
has  since  followed  his  chosen  profession  at 
this  place,  and  has  built  up  quite  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice  in  the  state  and  federal 
courts.  He  has  had  many  notable  cases, 
and  has  served  as  city  attorney  ten  consecu- 
tive years,  while  prior  to  that  time  he  held 
the  same  office  for  about  two  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1889  he  was  first  elected  states  at- 
torney, and  so  acceptably  did  he  fill  that 
office  tfiat  he  has  been  constantly  re-elected. 
He  has  proved  a  most  efficient  man  for  the 
place,  and  is  a  veritable  terror  to  e\'il  doers. 

^Ir.  Gra\-es  is  married  and  has  had  two 
children.  May,  the  older,  received  her  lit- 
erary education  in  the  Geneseo  common 
schools  and  the  Collegiate  Institute,  and  is 
now  attending  the  Chicago  Art  Institute 
She  possesses  remarkable  musical  and  artis- 
tic talent,  being  specially  proficient  in  draw- 
ing. Kathryn,  the  younger,  died  in  her 
infancy.  Mrs.  Graves  was  for  several 
years  a  successful  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Geneseo,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church. 

Socially  Mr.  Graves  is  a  prominent 
Mason,  belonging  to  Stewart  Lodge,  No. 
92,  F.  &  A,  M.,  of  Geneseo;  Barrett  Chap- 
ter, R.  A.  M.,  and  Evarts  Commandery, 
both  of  Rock  Island;  and  Kaaba  Temple,  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine,  of  Davenport,  Iowa. 
Politically  he  has  always  been  an  ardent 
Republican,  and  besides  the  offices  con- 
nected with  his  profession  he  has  twice 
served  as  mayor  of  Geneseo.  Never  w'ere 
the  reins  of  city  government  in  more  capa- 
ble hands  for  he  is  pre-eminently  public- 
spirited  and  progressive,  and  gives  his  sup- 
port to  every  enterprise  for  the  public  good. 
He  is  a  man  of  fine  appearance,  is  genial 
and  pleasant  in  manner,  and  very  popular, 
having  a   most  extensive  circle  of   friends 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


247 


iintl  acquaintances.  In  business  affairs  he 
has  steadily  prospered  and  is  the  owner  of 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  homes  of  Geneseo. 
Holding  marked  precedence  among  the 
members  of  the  bar  of  Henry  county,  and 
retaining  a  clientele  of  so  representative  a 
character  as  to  alone  stand  in  evidence  of 
his  professional  ability  and  personal  popu- 
larity, Mr.  Graves  must  assuredly  be  ac- 
corded a  place  in  this  volume. 


CORNELIUS  HAYES. 

This  highly  respected  citizen  of  Geneseo 
is  the  possessor  of  a  handsome  property, 
Avhich  now  enables  him  to  spend  his  years 
in  the  pleasurable  enjoyment  of  his  accumu- 
lations. The  record  of  his  early  life  is  that 
of  an  active,  enterprising  methodical  and 
sagacious  business  man,  who  bent  his  ener- 
gies to  the  honorable  acquirement  of  a 
comfortable  competence  for  himself  and 
family. 

Mr.  Hayes  was  born  in  Ballaugh, 
Clonouty  Parish,  County  Tipperary,  Ire- 
land, August  I,  1832,  a  son  of  Laurence 
and  Alice  (Ryan  ) Hayes,  who  spent  their 
entire  li\es  in  that  country.  The  father  was 
a  cooper  by  trade,  but  also  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  farming  throughout  life.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  his 
wife  at  the  age  of  sevent3^-six.  To  this 
wortliy  couple  were  born  ten  children,  four 
sons  and  six  daughters,  but  our  subject, 
the  youngest  of  the  sons,  is  the  only  male 
representative  of  the  family  now  living, 
though  four  sisters  are  still  living.  ( i ) 
Laurence  engaged  in  farming  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Ireland  and  died  there  about 
two  years  ago.  (2)  Ella  married  John 
O'Brien,  a  farmer  of  section  32,  Alba  town- 
ship,  this  county,   and   bdth  are    now    de- 


ceased. (3)  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Cornelius 
Dwyer,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Alba  town- 
ship. (4)  Alice  is  the  widow  of  Uriah 
Jennings,  who  was  a  farmer  of  Lyons,  New 
York.  (5)  Bridget  is  the  wife  of  Patrick 
McLaughlin,  a  retired  farmer  living  on 
Oak  wood  avenue,  Geneseo.  (6)  Margaret 
is  the  wife  of  James  Dwyer,  a  retired  farmer 
of  Geneseo,  Illinois. 

The  first  twenty  years  of  his  life  Cor- 
nelius Hayes  spent  in  the  land  of  his  na- 
tivity, and  received  his  early  education  in 
the  private  schools  of  his  birthplace.  On 
laying  aside  his  text  books  he  learned  the 
cooper's  trade.  In  1852  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica, landing  at  New  York,  and  in  that  city 
and  at  Seneca  Falls,  New  York,  he  followed 
that  occupation  for  a  time.  In  the  spring 
of  1853,  however,  he  commenced  farming 
at  Junius,  Seneca  county,  New  York,  where 
he  remained  five  years,  and  then  removed 
to  Springfield,  Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  farming  two  years. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  i860,  Mr.  Hayes 
came  to  Henry  county,  having  purchased 
land  the  year  before  on  section  32,  Alba 
township.  It  was  a  wild  tract  on  which  not 
a  furrow  had  been  turned  or  an  improve- 
ment made,  but  he  at  once  erected  a  good, 
substantial  house,  barns  and  other  buildings, 
and  finally  placed  the  eighty  acres  under 
excellent  cultivation.  After  residing  there 
four  years,  he  bought  an  additional  tract 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  sections 
20  and  21,  the  same  township,  but  two  years 
later  sold  the  homestead  of  eighty  acres, 
and  purchased  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
on  sections  29  and  2d,  and  ten  acres  in  sec- 
tion 9,  Alba  township.  This  was  also  a 
wild,  uncultivated  tract,  which  he  converted 
into  a  fine  farm,  erecting  on  section  21  an 
elegant  residence  at  a  cost  of  three  thousand 


248 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dollars,  and  two  large  barns  on  section  20. 
Here  he  snccessfully  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  until  March, 
1883,  when  he  rented  his  farm  of  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  in  Alba  township  and 
moved  to  Annawan,  where  he  had  built  a 
hotel  a  number  of  years  before.  He  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  farm- 
ing land  on  section  10,  of  Annawan  town- 
ship, just  eighty  rods  south  of  the  village, 
and  while  operating  that  farm  for  twelve 
years  he  used  the  hotel  as  his  private  dwell- 
ing. Subsequently  he  spent  about  a  year 
and  three  months  in  Blue  Island,  Illinois, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  sold  his  hotel 
in  Annawan,  and  on  the  6th  of  May,  1897, 
took  up  his  residence  in  Geneseo,  where  he 
has  purchased  a  fine  home  on  College  axenue, 
and  is  now  living  retired,  surrounded  by 
all  the  comforts  that  make  life  worth  the 
living. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1872,  at  Gen- 
eseo, Mr.  Hayes  married  Miss  Margaret  J. 
Smith,  who  was  born  February  24,  1852, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Ellen  (Stewart) 
Smith.  Her  father,  who  was  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  died  at 
the  home  of  our  subject  in  Annawan,  and 
her  mother's  death  occurred  in  Gold  town- 
ship, Bureau  county.  Mrs.  Hayes  is  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth  in  their  family  of 
twelve  children,  ten  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing, two  sons  being  deceased.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  have  one  child,  Alice  E.) 
who  was  born  in  Annawan,  April  22.  1883, 
and  has  attended  the  public  schools  of  that 
village,  St.  Benedict's  school  of  Blue  Island 
and  the  high  school  of  Geneseo. 

Mr.  Hayes  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  represented  Alba  township  on  the 
board   of   supervisors   six   years.      He   also 


ser\ed  as  township  treasurer  eight  and  a 
half  years,  commissioner  nine  years,  and 
assessor  fourteen  years  in  Alba  tow'nship ; 
and  for  many  years  was  also  a  school  di- 
rector there  and  in  Annawan.  In  religious 
faith  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  church  work.  His  success 
in  life  has  been  marvelous.  As  a  young 
man  of  twenty  years  he  came  to  America, 
and  with  no  capital  started  out  in  a  strange 
land  to  overcome  the  difficulties  and  ob- 
stacles in  the  path  to  prosperity.  His 
youthful  dreams  have  been  realized,  and  in 
their  happy  fulfillment  he  sees  the  fitting  re- 
ward of  his  earnest  toil. 


THE      SWEDISH      EV.     LUTHERAX 
CHURCH  OF  KEWANEE. 

The  year  after  the  organization  of  the 
village  of  Kewanee,  in  1S54,  the  Swedes 
began  to  move  in  but  only  a  few  remained 
permanently,  and  it  was  not  until  Septem- 
ber, 1869,  that  a  congregation  could  be  or- 
ganized with  sixteen  members.  It  belongs- 
to  the  Ev.  Lutheran  Augustana  S}-nod. 

In  1870  a  church  was  built  for  three 
thousand  dollars.  The  congregation  con- 
tinued for  sixteen  years  to  be  serv'ed  by 
non-resident  pastors.  In  1886  Rev.  S.  A. 
Becklund  accepted  a  call  and  staid  four 
years,  increasing  the  membership  to  one 
hundred  and  ninety-two.  On  account  o£ 
scarcity  of  ministers  the  congregation  was 
now  left  vacant  for  two  years. 

In  1 89 1  a  theological  student  from 
Augustana  College  and  Theological  Sem- 
inary, at  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  was  called 
to  have  charge  of  the  congregation  until  a 
permanent  pastor  could  be  secured.     Instead 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


149 


of  renovating  the  old  church  a  new  cliurch 
huikhng  was  immediately  begiui  and  com- 
pleted the  following  year,  1892,  costing 
eleven  thousand  dollars.  This  same  year 
Rev.  S.  G.  Youngert,  was  ordained,  and, 
having  won  the  esteem  and  confidence  of 
the  congregation  as  a  faithful  student,  he 
was  called  as  pastor.  He  accepted  and  took 
charge  of  the  congregation  in  June,  1892. 
Two  years  later  a  commodious  parsonage 
was  erected.  Total  value  of  church  property 
fifteen  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 

After  four  and  a  half  years  Rev.  Young- 
ert resigned,  the  membership  having  in- 
creased in  the  meantime  from  one  hundred 
and  ninety-two  to  three  hundred  and  four. 
The  present  pastor.  Rev.  J.  M.  Rydman, 
took  up  his  work  here  June  i,  1897.  The 
membership  is  now  (January  i,  1901) 
three  hundred  and  fifty-nine-  Total  income 
for  1900  three  thousand  two  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  dollars  and  fifty-two  cents. 
The  auxiliaries  are  the  Ladies'  Sewing  So- 
ciety, and,  among  the  young  ladies,  the 
Dorcas  Society,  and  a  Young  People's  So- 
cietv. 


KE\'.  J.  M.  RYD.MAX. 

Rev.  J.  yi.  Rydman,  pastor  of  tlie 
Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of 
Kewanee,  was  born  in  Kronol>ergs  Lan, 
Sweden,  September  19.  1863,  and  received 
his  primary  education  in  the  schools  of  that 
country.  On  coming  to  America  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  years  he  joined  some  rela- 
tives in  Colorado,  where  he  attended  a 
grammar  school  for  one  year,  and  then  en- 
tered the  first  class  of  Bethany  College  at 
Lindsborg,  Kansas;   where  he  pursued  his 


studies  four  years.  In  1887  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  sophomore  class  at.\ugustana  Col- 
lege, Rock  Island,  Illinois,  and  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  from  the  in- 
stitution in  1890.  He  ne.xt  attended  the 
theological  seminary  connected  with  that 
college,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1892, 
and  the  same  year  was  ordained  a  minister 
of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at 
Lindsborg.  Kansas,  by  the  president  of  the 
synod. 

Mr.  Rydman  was  first  called  to  the  pas- 
torate of  the  Swedish  church  at  Calumet, 
Michigan,  where  he  remained  five  years, 
and  during  that  time  built  an  eleven-thou- 
sand dollar  stone  church  and  a  parsonage 
costing  four  thousand  dollars.  He  then  ac- 
cepted a  call  from  the  church  at  Kewanee, 
coming  here  on  the  ist  of  June,  1897.  He 
is  a  man  of  good  address  and  winning  man- 
ners. He  is  a  zealous,  active  and  efficient 
worker  for  the  church,  and  is  held  in  higli 
esteem  not  only  by  the  people  of  his  own 
congregation,  but  by  the  residents  of  Ke- 
wanee generally. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  1892,  Mr.  Rydman 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Helena 
M.  Lund,  a  nati\e  of  Henry  county  and  a 
(laughter  of  John  and  Anna  S.  Lund.  Her 
father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county,  having  located  iiere  in  1854,  and 
was  engaged  in  farming  in  Andover  town- 
ship. He  died  some  years  ago,  but  his 
widow  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home 
with  her  children.  Mrs.  Rydman  is  the 
sixth  in  order  of  birth  in  this  family,  com- 
prising nine  children.  Our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters, 
ho.se  names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  fol- 
lows:  Egbert,  May  9.  1893;  .\nnette,  June 
30,  1895;  Philip,  July  25,  1898;  and  Ruth, 
September  20,  1900. 


2SO 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Since  coming  to  Kewanee  Mr.  Rydnian 
has  reduced  the  churcli  debt  two  thousand 
dollars  and  has  added  fifty  memliers  to  the 
church. 


JOHX  McXEELEY. 

John  McXeeley,  one  of  Kewanee's  es- 
teemed citizens,  was  for  many  years  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  Henry  county,  but  at  present  is  not 
actively  engaged  in  any  business.  He  has 
led  an  honorable  and  useful  life,  and  is  one 
of  the  men  who  make  old  age  seem  the  bet- 
ter portion  of  life. 

Mr.  McXeeley  was  l)orn  in  Jefferson 
county,  Indiana,  March  i,  1826,  a  son  of 
John  and  ilargaret  (Redinbaugh)  McX'^eel- 
ey,  of  Irish  and  German  descent.  His  par-' 
ents  were  both  natives  of  Ohio,  where  their 
marriage  was  celebrated,  and  at  an  early  day 
removed  to  Indiana,  floating  down  the  Ohio 
river  on  a  flatboat.  In  the  latter  state  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Through- 
out his  active  business  life  the  father  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  the  family  were  twelve 
children,  nine  sons  and  three  daughters,  of 
whom  live  sons  are  still  living,  and  with  the 
exception  of  our  subject  all  are  residents  of 
Indiana.  All  have  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits except  William  H.,  who  is  a  carpenter 
of  Crawfordsville,  Indiana.  He  is  a  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war,  having  served  for  over  three 
years  in  an  Indiana  regiment. 

Reared  on  the  home  farm,  John  Mc- 
X'eeley  received  but  a  limited  education  in 
the  subscription  schools  of  his  native  state. 
On  reaching  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he 
learned  the  -carpenter's  trade  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  six  years  or  until  coming  to  Illi- 
nois in  1 85 1.  On  his  arrival,  here  he  en- 
tered  eighty  acres  of   government  land   in 


Henry  county,  and  at  once  commenced  to  im- 
prove and  cultivate  his  land.  At  that  time 
the  unbroken  prairies  stretched  for  miles 
in  ever}'  direction,  and  abounded  in  wolves, 
deer  and  feathered  game.  Few  towns  had 
been  established  and  ^Ir.  McX''eeley  hauled 
his  produce  to  Henry,  which  was  then  his 
nearest  market  place.  Prospering  in  his  new 
h.ome  he  added  to  his  original  eighty-acre 
tract  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns 
four  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  very  valua- 
l)le  land  in  Annawan  township,  which  has 
been  improved  liy  him  and  placed  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  He  engaged  in 
farming  quite  extensively,  and  also  carried 
on  stock  raising,  his  specialty  being  short 
horn  cattle.  He  also  fed  stock  for  ship- 
ment to  the  city  markets.  In  1890  he  pur- 
chased a  residence  in  Kewanee,  and  has  since 
lived  a  retired  life  in  that  city,  enjoying  a 
well-earned  rest. 

Returning  to  Indiana,  Mr.  McXeeley  was 
married,  October  30,  185 1,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Slaughter,  who  was  also  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  that  state,  October  2,  1827.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Rebecca  (Lo- 
gan) Slaughter,  the  father  a  native  of  Xew 
York,  and  the  mother  of  Ohio.  They  were 
early  settlers  of  Indiana,  where  their 
death  occurred.  His  occupation  was  that 
of  a  farmer.  The  father  of  Jeremiah 
Slaugliter  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
while  his  grandfather,  Isaac  Slaughter, 
also  a  native  of  Orange  county,  X'ew  York, 
fought  for  seven  years  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  and  later  lived  and  died  on  his 
farm  in  Xew  York.  The  family  were  of 
German  descent.  Rebecca  Logan  was  a 
daughter  of  William  Logan,  who  remo\'ed 
with  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Dement,  from  Xew 
Jersey  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Montgomery 
county,  where  they  were  pioneers. 


LI6RARV 

UNIVtRSIlY  Of  iLLihuli. 

URBANA 


JOHN   McNEELEY. 


MRS.  JOHN   McNEELEY. 


UNIVtRSllV  OF  ILLINOIS 
UREANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


255 


The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McNeelcy 
are  as  follows :  Margaret  A.,  wife  of  Seth 
Moon,  of  Annawan;  John  M.  ,a  farmer  of 
Storm  Lake,  Iowa;  Mary,  at  home;  Will- 
iam H.,  a  resident  of  Adair,  Iowa;  George, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  now 
Mrs.  Elmer  J.  Troyer,  of  Lincoln,  Nebras- 
ka ;  Dora,  who  married  John  Moon,  and  died 
in  Iowa  in  1893;  Emma  and  Oliver.  All  the 
children  received  good  common  school  edu- 
cations, and  Oliver  was  graduated  from  the 
Annawan  high  school,  and  later  took  a  two- 
years'  preparatory  course  at  Knox  college, 
Galesburg. 

The  Republican  party  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  McNeeley  a  stanch  supporter  of  its 
i:)rinciples,  but  he  has  never  taken  an  active 
part  in  jxjlitics.  He  was  officially  connected 
with  the  public  schools  of  Annawan  township 
for  many  years,  and  has  always  done  all  in 
his  power  to  maintain  good  schools.  He  was 
an  active  member  and  liberal  supporter  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  and  on  account  of 
his  strict  integrity  and  sterling  worth  is  rec- 
ognized as  a  valued  citizen  of  the  commu- 
rsitv  in  which  he  resides. 


THOMAS  J.  HUGHES. 

Thomas  J.  Hughes,  engineer  of  the  Ke- 
■wanee  water  works,  was  born  in  Liverpool, 
England,  in  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Ellen  (Jones)  Hughes,  "vvho  are  still  living 
at  Burkin  Head,  just  across  from  Livcrptx)]. 
The  father  was  born  in  that  country  in  1835, 
but  the  mother's  birth  occurred  in  Wales  in 
1837.  They  are  members  of  the  established 
church  of  England,  and  the  father  served 
as  organist  for  about  twenty  years.  By  oc- 
cupation he.  too,  is  an  engineer,  and  for 
years  has  been  superintendent  of  the  Lon- 


don &  Xorthwestern  Railway  Company. 
His  brother,  William  D.,  who  once  visited 
America,  has  also  followed  the  life  of  an 
engineer  during  his  entire  business  career. 
Our  subject  is  the  oldest  of  a  family  of 
eight  children,  the  others  being  Catherine, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Robert  Evans  and 
died  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years ; 
William,  who  died  in  Cardiganshire,  South 
Wales;  Anna,  Ellen,  and  Ellen  (second), 
who  all  died  at  about  the  age  of  two  years; 
John,  who  luiited  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  died  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen j'ears;  and  David  B.,  a  resident  of  We- 
gan,  England.  Only  our  subject  and  his 
youngest  brother  are  now  living. 

Having  very  limited  school  privileges 
during  his  youth,  Thomas  J.  Hughes  is  al- 
most wholly  self-educated.  He  began  life 
for  himself  as  coal  trimmer  for  firemen,  and 
later  was  promoted  to  the  latter  position, 
and  subsequently  was  made  engineer.  He 
served  a  two  years'  apprenticeship  in  a  ma- 
chine shop;  went  from  there  to  the  boiler 
shop,  and  later  to  tb.e  blacksmith  shoi),  be- 
coming very  proficient  in  all  of  these 
branches  of  mechanics. 

Before  leaving  England  Mr.  Hughes  was 
r.nited  in  marriage  with  Miss  Catherine  Rob- 
erts, who  was  born  in  North  Wales,  Sep- 
leml>er  29.  1853,  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Catherine  (Jones)  Roberts,  of  Anglesey, 
Whales,  where  the  father  is  still  living  at  the 
age  of  seventy-eight  years.  He  was  a  con- 
tractor and  builder  in  stone  masonry,  and 
for  many  years  served  as  sexton  of  an  Epis- 
copal Church,  in  which  he  holds  member- 
ship. He  is  well  known  and  highly  respect- 
ed in  the  community  where  he  has  so  long 
n\ade  bis  home.  His  parents  were  James 
and  Elizal>eth  Roberts.  In  1843  he  married 
Catherine  Jijnes,  \vho  die',!  April  23.   1878, 


256 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  She  was  a  loving 
wife,  an  affectionate  motlier,  an  excellent 
neighbor  and  a  thorough  Christian.  In  the 
Roberts  family  were  eight  children,  namely : 
Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Professor 
Richard  Roberts  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
six  years;  Thomas,  a  resident  of  New  York, 
who  first  married  Ellen  Owens  and  second 
Mary  Evans;  John,  a  resident  of  Anglesey, 
Wales,  who  married  for  liis  second  wife 
Jane  Jones;  Grace,  wife  of  John  E.  Jones, 
of  Csernarvonshire,  Wales ;  Catherine,  wife 
of  our  subject ;  Mary,  who  died  unmarried  at 
the  age  of  thirty-two  years;  Margaret,  who 
died  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  twelve ;  and  James, 
who  is  married  and  lives  in  Wales. 

In  1881  Mr.  Hughes,  with  his  wife  and 
one  cliild,  came  to  the  United  States,  arriv- 
ing here  a  few  weeks  before  the  assassination 
of  President  Garfield.  On  reaching  Castle 
Garden  he  had  but  a  half  penny  remaining, 
and  this  was  sjient  for  an  apple  to  appease 
the  appetite  of  the  child.  After  spending  the 
night  there  in  sleep  uixm  the  floor  they 
boarded  a  slow-going  emigrant  train,  and 
for  three  days,  from  Thursday  to  Saturday, 
were  without  food.  Two  years  were  spent 
in  Wyoming  county.  New  York,  where  ^^Ir. 
Hughes  soon  found  employment  and  was 
able  to  provide  for  his  family.  He  then 
came  to  Kewanee,  Illinois,  and  found  a  sit- 
uation with  John  and  Thomas  Pierce  in 
the  Haxton  Steam  Heater  Company's  works, 
where  his  ability  as  a  skilled  workman  was 
soon  recognized,  and  in  every  way  he  proved 
an  excellent  and  trustworthy  employe.  He 
remained  with  that  company  nine  years,  his 
work  being  core  making.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  became  engineer  at  the  Kewanee 
water  works,  and  his  long  retention  in  that 
position  plain! V  indicates  his  faithfulness  to 


duty  and  his  excellent  knowledge  of  the 
business  undertaken. 

Of  the  eight  children  born  to  INIr.  and 
Mrs.  Hughes  two,  Maggie  and  James,  died 
in  infancy.  Mar}'  C,  who  was  a  type-set- 
ter before  her  marriage,  is  now  the  wife  of 
Malcolm  Dicks  and  lives  at  home  with  her 
parents;  Darius  R.  is  learning  engineering, 
and  being  a  bright  boy  and  willing  to  work 
has  become  (juite  proficient  for  one  of  his 
years;  Ellen  J.  is  attending  school;  Grace 
Anna,  John  T.  and  Margaret  B.  are  all  at 
home. 

Mr.  Hughes  now  owns  a  pleasant  home 
in  Kewanee.  The  success  that  he  has  at- 
tained is  due  entirely  to  his  own  well-direct- 
ed efiforts  and  the  assistance  of  his  estimable 
wife,  who  has  indeed  proved  a  true  help- 
meet to  him.  Bright  and  cheerful  in  dispo- 
sition she  has  made  for  her  family  a  happy 
home,  and  has  displayed  excellent  business 
ability  in  her  management  of  affairs.  She  is 
a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of 
Kewanee,  ha\ing  brought  her  letter  frorii 
England,  while  her  husband  is  a  Primitive 
Methodist  in  religious  belief.  In  politics 
he  is  an  ardent  Republican,  and  in  his  social 
relations  is  a  member  of  the  Improved  Or- 
der of  Red  Men.  He  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
liable men  of  Kewanee,  and  his  many  ad- 
mirable qualities  have  tended  to  mak€  him 
popular  with  those  with  whom  he  has  come 
in  contact  either  in  business  or  social  life. 


XELS  J.  SVEXSSOX. 

Since  1871  X'els  J.  Svensson  has  l)een 
identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
Henry  county,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  a 
well-improved  and  \aluable  farm  on  .section 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


257 


5,  Andover  township.  A  native  of  Sweden, 
he  %Yas  born  December  2.  1844,  and  is  a  .son 
of  Swan  and  Inga  Cliristina  Xelson,  both  of 
whom  were  born  in  1819.  The  mother  died 
at  the  old  home  in  Sweden  in  1892,  but  tiie 
father  is  still  li-ving  and  continues  to  reside 
in  that  coimtry.  By  trade  he  is  a  carpenter 
and  blacksmith,  but  has  also  followed  farm- 
ing in  his  native  land.  Of  his  five  children 
Xels  J.  is  the  oldest,  the  others  being  Caro- 
lina, who  is  married  and  lives  in  Sweden, 
but  her  daughter,  Ellen  Peterson,  now  makes 
lier  home  witli  our  subject:  Carl  .\ugust,  a 
resident  of  Saline  county.  Kansas;  Li>uisa, 
wife  of  Knute  Larson,  also  of  Kansas:  and 
Mrs.  X'ictoria  Swansfjn,  a  scIuxjI  teacher  of 
Sweden. 

Xels  J.  Svensson  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  land  and 
on  the  home  farm  became  thoroughly  famil- 
iar witii  all  the  duties  which  fall  to  the  lot 
of  the  agriculturist.  He  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  in  Sweden  for  a  time,  but  believing  that 
he  could  better  his  financial  condition  in  the 
new  world,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1871, 
and  came  direct  to  Henry  county,  Illinois. 
Here  he  was  similarly  employed  until  he  had 
saved  enough  to  rent  a  farm  and  embark  in 
farming  on  his  own  account.  Prospering  in 
business  he  was  at  length  able  to  purchase 
seventy  acres  of  land  on  section  5,  Andover 
township,  to  the  improvement  and  cultivation 
of  which  he  has  since  devoted  his  energies 
with  most  gratifying  results.  He  has  re- 
modeled the  buildings,  built  fences  and  other- 
wise added  to  the  value  and  attractive  appear- 
ance of  the  place.  In  connectii^n  with  gen- 
eral farming  he  carries  on  stock  raising. 

In  1 88 1  Mr.  Svensson  was  iniited  in 
marriage  with  Mrs.  Mary  Ogren,  who  by 
her  first  union  has  one  son,  Eddie,  living  at 
home.      Mr.   and   Mrs.     Svensson    iiave    a 


daughter.  Mary.  l)orn  in  i88_'.  In  his  po- 
litical views  our  subject  is  independent  and 
supix)rts  the  men  whom  he  lielieves  best  qual- 
ified to  fill  the  ofiices  regardless  of  party 
lines.  In  1892  he  returned  to  Sweden  on  a 
visit  to  relatives  and  friends.  He  gives  lib- 
erally to  all  church  work,  and  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  most  valued  and  useful  citizens  of 
his  communitv. 


AXDREW  HALLIX. 

The  subject  of  this  review,  who  is  one 
of  the  leading  business  men  of  Kewanee. 
was  born  in  Soderbarke  Soken,  central  Swe- 
den, on  the  1st  of  August,  1850,  and  in  his 
successful  business  career  has  displayed  the 
characteristic  thrift  and  enterprise  of  his 
race.  Beginning  with  no  capital  except  that 
acquired  by  his  own  industry  he  has  built 
up  a  large  trade  as  a  tailor  and  dealer  in 
hats,  caps,  trunks  and  valises,  and  is  to-day 
one  of  the  prosperous  citizens  of  Kewanee. 

His  parents,  Peter  and  Christina  Pers- 
son  were  life-long  residents  of  Sweden, 
where  the  father  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five,  the  mother  when  about  sixty-se\en 
years  of  age.  Andrew  is  the  fourth  in  order 
of  birth  in  their  family  of  five  children.  The 
oldest,  Christina,  is  the  wife  of  D.  (jran- 
lund,  of  Minnesota,  while  the  others  are 
still  residents  of  Sweden. 

Mr.  Hallin  was  reared  and  educated  in 
the  land  of  his  birth,  and  there  learned  the 
tailor's  trade.  In  1869  he  crossed  the  Atlan- 
tic, landing  at  Ouel>ec,  Canada,  whence  he 
came  at  once  to  Kewanee,  Illinois.  At  first 
he  worked  at  anything  which  he  could  find 
to  do,  and  finding  employment  with  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Ouincy  Railroacl  Com- 


258 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


pany.  he  stuck  the  first  spade  into  the  Biula 
&:  Rnshville  branch  of  tliat  road.  For  a  few- 
months  he  worked  upon  a  farm,  but  wlien 
cold  weather  came  he  found  more  congenial 
employment  in  a  tailor  shop  in  Kewanee. 
He  worked  by  the  piece  tmtil  he  embarked 
in  business  for  himself  in  1878.  From  the 
start  his  trade  has  steadily  increased,  his 
work  having  always  given  the  utmost  satis- 
faction, and  he  furnished  employment  to 
from  eight  to  twelve  men,  having  eleven  at 
the  present  writing.  He  carries  as  complete 
a  line  of  goods  as  any  establisbment  of  the 
kind  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  re- 
ceives a  liberal  share  of  the  'public  patron- 
age. He  was  ofie  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Kewanee  National  Bank,  and  has  served  as 
director  from   its  inception. 

In  1873  ^I''-  Hallin  married  Miss  Anna 
Hallquist,  also  a  native  of  Sweden,  where  her 
parents  died  during  her  early  '  childhood. 
She  passed  away  July  14,  1896,  on  the  for- 
ty-fifth anniversary  of  her  birth.  She  was  a 
devout  and  earnest  Christian,  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  church,  and  was 
highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  her.  By 
this  union  one  child  was  born,  Forrest  L., 
who  had  charge  of  the  store  during  his  fa- 
ther's absence  in  1900,  and  is  a  cutter  in  the 
manufacturing  department  of  the  establish- 
ment. He  is  now  serving  as  master  of 
excheciuer  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  of 
Kewanee;  has  been  organist  in  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  for  the  past  eight  years; 
and  is  also  secretary  of  the  Sunday  school. 

As  a  Republican  Mr.  Hallin  takes  an 
active  and  commendable  interest  in  political 
affairs,  and  has  served  as  aid  reman  of  Ke- 
wanee. He  also  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  and  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge.  In  1900  he  W'ent  to  Europe  ami  vis- 
ited the  Paris  Exposition  and  his  old  home 


in  Sweden,  thus  pasing  four  very  enjoyable 
months.  From  his  stopping  place  in  Swe- 
den he  traveled  seven  hundred  miles  north 
to  Lapland  to  see  the  midnight  sun,  the  sun 
being  visible  there  at  twele  o'clock  at  night 
from  the  5th  of  June  to  the  nth  of  July. 
He  and  his  party  spent  five  weeks  in  north- 
ern Sweden,  viewing  the  beautiful  and  ro- 
mantic scenery  of  that  region,  and  they 
climbed  the  Dundret  mountain,  on  the  top 
of  which  no  vegetation  of  an}-  kind  will 
grow.  They  were  two  hours  in  making  the 
ascent. 

In  addition  to  his  mercantile  and  banking 
interests '  in  Kewanee,  Mr.  Hallin  has  also 
becorhe  one  of  the  prominent  real  estate  own- 
ers in  the  city,  having  built,  in  1887,  ou  Sec- 
ond street,  a  fine  brick  business  building,  25 
x/O,  two  stories  in  height,  whic?h  he  occu- 
pied from  1887  to  1899.  In  the  latter  year 
he  erected  an  elegant  three-story  stone  front 
building,  also  on  Second  street,  25x63,  the 
first  floor  and  part  of  the  third  floor  being 
occupied  by  himself,  while  the  remainder  is 
leased.'  While  not  the  largest,  it  is  the  finest 
store  room  in  the  city.  He  has  also  erected 
some  buildings  for  residence  purposes,  and 
deals  successfully  in  real  estate. 


JACOB  FRANK. 

No  better  illustration  of  the  characteristic 
energy  and  enterprise  of  the  typical  German- 
American  citizen  can  be  found  than  that  af- 
forded by  the  career  of  this  well-known  har- 
ness dealer  of  Genesee,  Illinois,  who  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  business  in- 
terests of  that  place  for  forty-five  years. 
Coming  to  this  country  with  no  capital  ex- 
cept his  abilities  he  has  made  his  wa}'  to  sue- 


^ 

^K  ^' 

^B*  "^ 

-  ~*'^^^^^9BS^7!9^^^^^| 

JACOB    FRANK. 


liBWRY 

UNIVERSllr  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBAKA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


261 


cess  tlirough  \visel_\--(Iirected  efYort  ami  he 
can  now  look  hack  witli  satisfaction  upon 
past  struggles. 

The  early  life  of  ]\lr.  Frank  was  passed 
near  the  River  Rhine,  for  he  was  born  near 
the  city  of  Worms,  Germany,  May  8,  1829, 
a  son  of  Leonard  and  Margaret  (Boas) 
Frank,  who  were  born  in  France  and  from 
that  country  remo\-ed  to  Germany,  where 
the  father  owned  a  large  vineyard  and  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
v.ine,  following  that  business  in  connection 
with  farming  throughout  his  active  life.  He 
died  in  Germany  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years,  having  long  survived  his  wife,  whose 
death  occurred  when  our  subject  was  about 
fifteen  years  of  age.  They  were  the  i)arents 
of  nine  children,  but  Jacob  is  now  the  only 
survivor.  Besides  himself  there  was  only  one 
other  member  of  the  family  who  came  to  the 
iJnited  States,  this  being  Charles  Frank, 
who  enlisted  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was 
drowned  in  the  Ohio  river  by  the  explosion 
of  the  steamer  on  which  he  had  taken  pas- 
sage for  Mexico.  His  death  left  our  sub- 
ject without  a  relative  in  this  coutnry. 

The  greater  part  of  the  education  of  Ja- 
cob Frank  was  obtained  in  the  schools  of 
liis  native  land.  In  1849,  ^t  the  age  of  twen- 
ty, he  came  to  America,  and  immediately 
after  landing  joined  his  brother  at  Ashland, 
Ohio.  Together  they  went  to  Cleveland 
where  they  worked  on  a  railroad  then  being 
constructed,  but  subsequently  returned  to 
Ashland,  where  our  subject  learned  the  har- 
ness and  saddlery  trade,  serving  an  ajjpren- 
ticeship  of  three  years  and  a  half,  in  the 
meantime  attending  school  for  three  months. 
He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  John  Mc- 
Culley  which  existed  for  three  years,  during 
which  time  they  engaged  in  the  harness  busi- 
ness at  Lucas,  Ohio,    and    established    hi.s 


present  business,  which  he  has  carried  on 
continuouly  since,  and  has  met  witli  marked 
success. 

During  his  residence  in  Ohio,  Mr.  Frank 
was  married,  September  5,  1854,  to  Miss 
Delilah  Bowman,  a  native  of  that  state  and 
a  daughter  of  David  Bowman,  a  prosperous 
fanner  of  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  who,  after 
the  death  of  his  wife,  came  to  Illinois,  to 
make  his  home  with  !Mr.  I'^rank,  but  died 
while  on  a  visit  to  a  daughter  in  Iowa  and 
was  buried  there.  To  our  subject  and  his  wife 
were  born  five  children,  namely:  (i)  Leon- 
ard D.,  a  harness  maker,  born  in  Ohio,  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Daly  and  died  in  Oregon,  in  July, 
1884,  at  the  age  of  thirty  years,  leaving  two 
sons,  Sharmcy  antl  William,  who  are  still  res" 
idents  of  that  state.  (2)  Qiarles,  born  in 
CJeneseo,  died  in  that  city  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years.  (3)  William,  a  farmer  of  Ala- 
bama, married  Kate  Celner,  now  deceased, 
by  whom  he  had  one  son,  Leonard.  (4) 
Alice  is  the  widow  of  David  McLaughlin, 
who  was  overseer  of  a  large  packing  house 
at  San  Francisco,  California,  and  was  form- 
erl}'  with  the  Armour  Company  of  Chicago. 
Her  son.  Earl,  is  now  a  stenographer  and 
expert  penman.  (5)  Minnie  is  now  the  wife 
of  William  Brown,  a  barber  of  Elgin,  Illi- 
nois, and  they  have  several  children.  Mrs. 
Frank,  who  was  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  a  devoted  wife  and 
loving  mother,  died  at  Geneseo  on  Thanks- 
giving Day,  1883,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five 
years,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Oakwood  cem- 
etery. For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Frank  mar- 
ried I\Irs.  Mary  Orr  Hall,  widow  of  William 
Hall,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Henry  county, 
now  deceased.  By  this  union  was  born  a 
son,  Ira,  and  by  her  first  marriage,  Mrs. 
Frank  also  has  a  son,  Frank  Hall,  a  cattle 
raiser  of  Idaho. 


262 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


As  a  business  man  Mr.  Frank  has  steadily 
prospered,  and  his  success  is  due  entirely  to 
l:is  industry,  perseverance  and  good  manage- 
ment, for  he  started  out  in  hfe  empty-handed 
and  has  liad  to  make  his  own  way  unaidetl. 
That  he  is  a  man  of  good  business  abiHty  is 
shown  by  the  wonderful  success  that  he  has 
achieved.  In  addition  to  his  handsome  resi- 
dence on  North  College  a\enue,  he  is  the 
owner  of  two  business  blocks  on  West  Ex- 
change street,  in  one  of  which  he  carries  on 
liis  business,  and  rents  the  other,  and  also  has 
five  vacant  business  lots  adjoining  and  a  \'al- 
uable  fami  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
in  Cornwall  township,  which  he  leases.  Mrs. 
Frank  also  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
ill  the  same  township.  These  are  well-im- 
proved places,  each  having  a  good  residence 
and  other  buildings  found  upon  the  model 
farm  of  the  twentieth  century.  He  also 
owned  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  near  The  Dalles,  Oregon,  one-half  of 
which  he  gave  to  his  son  who  is  now  de- 
ceased. The  other  one  hundred  and  sixty 
he  has  since  sold.  Mr.  Frank  has  been 
C]uite  an  extensive  traveler  making,  among 
others,  four  trips  to  the  Pacific  coast.  Mr. 
Frank  is  president  of  the  Oakwood  Ceme- 
tery Association  of  Geneseo,  which  embraces 
sixty-six  acres  of  land  and  is  beautifully  sit- 
uated just  outside  of  the  corporation,  south 
of  the  city.  Many  improvements  are  con- 
stantly being  made  to  the  grounds.  Mr. 
F'rank  is  public-spirited  and  progressive,  and 
advocates  all  measures  that  tend  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  city  and  county.  He 
was  formerly  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  now 
affiliates  with  the  Republican  party.  Relig- 
iously he  is  a  member  of  the  German  Lu- 
theran Church,  and  socially  is  connected  with 
the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  of  Geneseo,  in 
which  he  has  lield  office. 


DANIEL  D.  SHELLHAMMER. 

Among  the  representative  farmers  of 
Henry  county  is  the  subject  of  this  review, 
whose  home  is  on  section  15,  Geneseo  town- 
ship. He  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born 
in  Luzerne  county,  October  11,  1834,  and 
is  a  son  of  David  and  Catherine  (Gottschall) 
Shellhammer,  who  spent  their  entire  lives 
in  the  Keystone  state.  The  father,  who 
was  a  millwright  by  trade,  died  at  his  home 
in  Pennsylvania,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  two  years 
later  at  about  the  same  age.  In  their  family 
were  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  still 
living,  namely :  Joseph,  a  carpenter  of 
Hazelton,  Pennsylvania;  George  W.,  a  car- 
penter of  Indianola,  Iowa;  Daniel  D.,  our 
subject;  Rebecca,  wife  of  John  Wagner, 
foreman  of  a  coal  mine  of  Drifton,  Penn- 
sylvania; and  Hannah,  wife  of  Alexander 
Shiner,  a  farmer  of  Luzerne  county,  Penn- 
s}'lvania. 

In  the  count)'  of  his  nativity,  Daniel  D. 
Shellhammer  grew  to  manhood,  while  his 
education  was  obtained  in  its  common 
schools.  On  leaving  home,  in  1857,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three  years,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, and  first  located  in  Whiteside  county, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  a  carpenter 
for  a  few  years.  Subsequently  he  spent  a 
year  in  Pheni.x  township,  this  county,  work- 
ing at  his  trade  and  at  farm  labor.  After 
the  inauguration  of  the  Civil  war,  he  en- 
listed at  Geneseo,  in  August,  1862,  becom- 
ing a  member  of  Company  K,  One  Hundred 
and  Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
with  which  he  served  until  hostilities  ceased, 
being  mustered  out  at  Chicago,  in  July, 
1865,  and  discharged  at  the  same  place.  He 
was  engaged  in  some  of  the  principal  bat- 
tles of  the  war,  including  the  siege  at  Knox- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


j63 


ville,  Tennessee.  He  did  considerable 
scouting  and  was  wounded  while  in  Georgia, 
in  1864. 

\\'hen  discharged,  ]\Ir.  Shellliammer  re- 
turned to  this  county  and  located  in  Phenix 
townshi]).  where  he  worked  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  for  three  or  four  years,  after 
which  he  rented  a  farm  in  Goniwall  town- 
ship, which  he  operated  two  years.  He 
then  removed  to  his  present  farm  of  forty 
acres  on  section  15,  Genesee  township,  which 
has  now  been  his  home  for  twenty-eight 
years.  He  has  erected  thereon  a  fine  res- 
idence, a  good  barn  and  other  outbuildings, 
and  now  has  a  well-improved  place,  whose 
neat  and  thrifty  appearance  stands  as  a  mon- 
ument to  his  industry  and  diligence.  In 
connection  with  farming  he  continued  to 
work  at  his  trade  up  to  within  the  past  six 
years,  when  he  retired  from  that  occupa- 
tion. I'oliticall}-  he  affiliates  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  fraternally  he  holds 
membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 

On  the  30th  of  Xovembcr.  i8()y,  Mr. 
Shellliammer  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  W'ilhelmina  Barnhart,  only  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Rinck)  Barnhart, 
mentioned  below.  By  this  union  were  born 
iivc  children,  namely :  Frank,  born  October 
25,  1872,  died  March  30,  1881;  Ada,  born 
June  21,  1878,  is  at  home;  Bessie,  born  Jan- 
uary 30,  1882;  Grant,  born  November  11, 
1884;  and  Lucy,  born  October  27,  1887,  are 
all  at  home. 


JACOB   BARXMART. 

Prominent  among  the  pioneers  of  this 
section  of  Illinois  was  Jacob  Barnhart,  who 
was  for  several  years  actively  identified  with 


the  early  development  and  upbuilding  of 
Henry  county.  He  was  a  native  of  Nassau, 
Germany,  and  was  about  twenty  years  of 
age  on  his  emigration  to  the  United  States. 
He  first  located  near  Galveston,  Texas, 
where  he  followed  farming  for  some  years, 
and  al)out  1847  came  north.  For  about  two 
years  he  worked  at  the  stone  mason's  trade 
in  Rock  Island,  Illinois. 

In  Whiteside  county,  this  state,  Mr. 
Barnhart  was  married  in  December,  1849, 
to  Miss  Catherine  Rinck,  and  later  they  came 
to  Henry  county,  locating  in  Phenix  town- 
ship, where  he  followed  farming  until  the 
Civil  war  broke  out.  He  manifested  his 
love  for  his  adopted  country  l)y  enlisting,  in 
1862,  in  Company  1,  One  Hundred  and 
Twelfth  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry,  and  re- 
mained in  the  service  until  hostilities  ceased, 
being  honorably  discharged  in  Tennessee, 
in  1865.  He  served  as  scout  much  of  the 
time  and  was  disabled  in  the  service.  Re- 
turning to  Illinois,  ]\Ir.  Barnhart  resumed 
farming  in  this  county,  where  he  continued 
to  make  his  home  until  his  death.  He  died 
in  the  city  of  Geneseo,  in  1871,  from  the 
effects  of  injuries  received  in  the  war.  He 
was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church,  and  was  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all  who  knew  him.  As  a  pioneer 
of  this  section  of  the  .state  he  endured  all  the 
hardships  and  privations  incident  to  such  a 
life.  His  upright  autl  honorable  career 
commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all, 
and  as  one  of  the  honored  early  settlers  and 
leading  citizens  of  this  section  of  the  state, 
he  is  certainly  entitled  to  prominent  men- 
tion in  its  history. 

Mr.  Barnhart  left  a  widow  and  one 
daughter  to  mourn  his  loss,  the  latter  being 
W'ilhelmina,  wife  of  Daniel  D.  Shellhammer, 
mentioned  above.     Mrs.  P>arnhart,  who  now 


264 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lives  with  her  daughter,  was  born  in  Alsace, 
France,  now  a  province  of  Germany,  and 
was  three  years  old  when  brought  to  this 
country  by  her  parents,  Louis  and  Veronica 
(Schatta)  Rinck,  natives  of  the  same  place. 
It  was  about  1828  that  they  crossed  the  At- 
lantic and  took  up  their  residence  in  \\'ar- 
ren,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1837  came  to 
\\'hiteside  county,  where  Mr.  Rinck  took 
up  a  tract  of  government  land,  on  which  he 
built  a  log  house.  To  the  improvement  and 
cultivation  of  that  farm  of  eighty  acres  he 
devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  there 
in  December  25,  1857,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six 
years.  His  wife  passed  away  October  20, 
1857,  at  the  age  of  sixty.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Association  and  he 
was  a  Jackson  Democrat  until  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  five  children,  but  only  Airs.  Barn- 
hart,  and  her  brother,  Frank  J.  Rinck,  a 
marble  cutter  of  Geneseo,  are  now  living. 


MRS.  CAROLINE  W.  HURD. 

The  state  of  Illinois  owes  its  high  stand- 
ing among  the  sovereign  commonwealths 
that  make  up  the  L'nited  States  to  the  high 
character  and  dauntless  spirit  of  the  settlers 
who  made  their  home  within  her  borders  in 
the  early  days.  To  their  inspiration  and 
work  is  due  her  wonderful  progress  in  ag- 
riculture, manufacturing  and  the  arts. 
Among  the  honored  pioneers  of  Henry  coun- 
ty the  Little  family  occupy  a  prominent  posi- 
tion. Mrs.  Hurd,  who  is  a  worthy  represen- 
tative of  this  family  and  a  highly  esteemed 
citizen  of  \\'ethersfield,  came  to  Illinois  in 
1836,  and  therefore  has  witnessed  almost  its 
entire  development. 


She  was  born  in  Hollis,  Xew  Hampshire, 
September  15,  1821,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Abner  B.  and  Xancy  (Tenny)  Little,  also 
natives  of  the  old  Granite  state,  the  former 
born  in  Salem,  the  latter  in  Hollis.  Their 
marriage  was  celebrated  January  20,  1802. 
Coming  west  in  1836,  Mr.  Little  located 
in  A\'etliersfield  township,  Henry  county, 
Illinois,  where  with  the  assistance  of  his 
sons  he  opened  up  and  improved  a  farm, 
making  his  home  here  until  called  to  his 
final  rest,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years. 
In  his  family  were  eleven  children,  all  of 
whom  reached  years  of  maturity  and  became 
lieads  of  families,  but  only  ]\Irs.  Hurd  and 
her  sister,  Mrs.  Sarah  F.  Stewart,  of  Du- 
Intli,  are  now  living.  Five  of  the  family, 
however,  lived  to  celebrate  their  golden 
weddings.  One  son,  Hon.  H.  G.  Little,  was 
the  last  of  the  survivors  of  those  Avho  assisted 
in  organizing  this  county.  In  early  days  he 
v,as  one  of  its  most  prominent  and  influen- 
tial citizens,  and  was  called  upon  to  repre- 
sent his  district  in  the  state  legislature  and 
serve  as  sheriff  of  the  county.  He  voted  at 
the  first  election  held  in  Wethersfield.  He 
was  born  in  Gosstown,  Xew  Hampshire,  in 
1813,  and  died  in  Grinnell,  Iowa,  November 
3,  1900,  having  removed  to  that  place  in 
1867.  There  he  also  became  prominently 
identified  with  public  affairs,  did  much  to 
advance  the  interests  of  its  schools,  colleges 
?nd  churches,  and  efficiently  served  as  mayor 
of  the  city.  He  was  very  public  spirited  and 
enterprising,  and  with  two  others  bought  the 
land  on  which  Kewanee  is  now  located  and 
laid  out  the  town.  His  first  home  in  Weth- 
ersfield was  a  little  one-room  house,  sixteen 
by  eighteen  feet. 

Mrs.  Hurd  w  as  about  fifteen  years  of  age 
when  she  came  with  the  family  to  this  coun- 
tv,  and  can  well  remember  when  this  re- 


UNlVERSIli  Uh  ILLINOIS 
URBANA 


DR.  LEWIS    HURD. 


MRS.   CAROLINE  W.   HURD. 


U8RARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


269 


gioii  was  very  sparsely  settled  ami  almost 
entirely  unimproved.  On  tjie  22nd  of  Au- 
gust. 1837.  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  she  gave 
her  hand  in  marriage  to  Dr.  Lewis  Hurd. 
theirs  lieing  the  first  recorded  wedding  in 
Henry  county.  The  Doctor  was  born  in 
Hamilton.  Mailison  county.  Xew  York.  Au- 
gust 19.  181  I.  and  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  state.  In  early  life  he  deter- 
mined to  become  a  physician,  and  attended 
u'.edical  lectures.  On  first  coming  to  Illinois, 
in  1836.  he  located  in  Lafayette.  Stark  coun- 
ty, where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  for  a  time,  and  while  there  board- 
ed with  Mrs.  \Mieeler,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Hurd. 
In  this  way  he  became  acquainted  with  his 
future  wife,  .\fter  their  marriage  they  lo- 
cated in  W^ethersfield,  where  the  Doctor  en- 
gaged in  practice  for  a  few  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  later  to 
Si)ringfield,  Massachusetts,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  a  number  of  years,  his  time  be- 
ing devoted  to  his  professitMi.  Later  he 
owned  and  conducted  an  electric  institute  at 
Talmage,  Ohio,  and  in  that  enterprise  met 
with  excellent  success.  He  was  also  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Ann 
Arl)or,  Michigan,  for  a  few  years,  but  in  the 
fall  of  1865  returned  to  W'ethersfield.  and 
practically  lived  retired  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  died  here  in  1892, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  honoretl  and 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a 
^ery  prominent  physician  and  was  remarka- 
l)ly  successful,  his  specialty  l)eing  chronic 
diseases. 

For  over  iialf  a  century  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Hurd  traveled  life's  journey  together,  and  in 
1887  celebrated  their  golden  wedding.  To 
them  were  born  seven  children,  but  only  one 
reached  years  of  maturity,  Lewis  Gardner, 
who  was  educated  at  .\nn  Arbor,  and  at  the 


opening  of  the  Civil  war  cnlistetl  at  the  first 
call  for  three  year  men.  He  went  with  his 
regiment  to  Washington.  D.  C  but  was  soon 
afterward  taken  ill  with  typhoid  pneumonia, 
and  died  there  March  15.  1862.  His  remains 
were  brought  back  to  W'ethersfield  for  in- 
terment. The  other  children  were  Ann  Car- 
nline,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years; 
Julius  A.,  at  the  age  of  six  years;  .\nn  C, 
at  the  age  of  seven  months;  Eliza  A.,  at  the 
age  of  four  years;  William  L.,  at  the  age  of 
one  year;  and  Edwin  H.  N.,  abso  at  the  age 
cf  one  year.  Mrs.  Hurd  is  widely  known 
throughout  Henry  county,  and  is  highly  re- 
spected and  esteemed  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends,  who  appreciate  her  sterling  worth. 
As  a  pioneer  of  the  county  she  is  certainly 
worthy  of  prominent  mention  in  its  history. 


ALBERT  W'.  BLAIR. 

Among  the  high!}'  esteemed  citizens  of 
Genesee  is  Albert  W'.  Blair,  one  of  Henry 
county's  native  sons  and  a  representative  of 
one  of  her  honored  old  families,  whose  iden- 
tification with  her  history  dates  from  an 
early  peril hI  in  the  development  of  the 
county.  He  was  born  in  Phenix  township,, 
on  the  23d  of  September,  1844,  and  is  a  son 
of  Asa  Blair,  whose  birth  occurred  June  6,. 
1810,  in  Ontario  county.  New  York,  where 
he  lived  until  twelve  years  of  age.  Going  to^ 
Ohio,  he  worked  for  three  years  in  a  distil- 
lery at  ten  dollars  per  month,  and  being  very- 
economical  he  saved  a  part  of  his  small  earn- 
ings. Afterw  ard  he  engaged  in  farming  near 
Detroit,  Michigan,  for  about  six  years,  and 
from  that  state  came  to  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1838,  locating  in  Phenix  township, 
where  he  purchased  land  and  engaged  in 
farming  for  a  short  time.     Selling  his  clainx 


2/0 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  removed  to  Geneseo  townsliip,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  but  after 
residing  there  for  a  time,  he  was  taken  ill 
and  moved  about  three  miles  northeast  of 
that  place,  where  he  took  up  government  land 
in  Phenix  township,  making  it  his  home  for 
fifteen  years.  In  the  meantime  he  had  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Loraine  township  where  his 
last  days  were  spent,  dying  there  January 
15-  1873.  These  several  farms  were  all  wild 
land  when  they  came  into  his  possession, 
and  by  his  labors  were  placed  under  cultiva- 
tion and  improved  with  good  buildings.  He 
was  actively  identified  with  the  early  develop- 
ment and  improvement  of  the  county,  and  in 
its  transformation  from  a  wild  uncultivated 
tract  into  one  of  the  best  farming  districts  of 
the  state  he  ever  bore  his  part.  In  his  polit- 
ical views  he  was  a  Republican,  but  ne\er 
took  an  active  part  in  politics,  though  as  a 
public-spirited  man  he  advocated  all  measures 
tended  to  advance  or  improve  the  community 
in  which  he  lived.  For  some  j^ears  he  served 
as  school  director  in  Loraine  township.  Re- 
ligiously he  was  a  member  of  the  L'nited 
Brethren  Church. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  1835,  in 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  Asa  Blair  married 
Miss  Abigail  Sinnott,  who  was  born  in  St. 
John's,  Xew  Brunswick,  September  18,  1812. 
and  whose  parents  continued  to  make  their 
home  in  St.  John's  throughout  life.  She 
died  at  the  home  of  her  daughter  in  Loraine 
township,  this  county,  March  17,  1888.  By 
this  union  were  born  eight  children,  namely  : 
( I )  ^Marilla  first  married  Daniel  Beers,  by 
whom  she  has  three  children,  Frank,  Byron 
and  Dora,  but  she  is  now  the  widow  of  Lor- 
enzo Norton,  a  farmer  of  Loraine  township, 
and  resides  in  Geneseo.  By  her  second  mar- 
riage she  has  two  children,  Hugh  and  Mrs. 
Elma  Carson.  (2)  Nancy  is  the  wife  of  Will- 


i;im  Kemmis,  a  retired  farmer  of  Geneseo. 
(3)  Hiram  was  a  member  of  Company  I, 
Forty-fifth  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry  in 
the  Civil  war,  and  was  wounded  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Shiloh.  He  was  then  brought  home 
and  died  from  the  efifects  of  his  injuries  two 
weeks  later  at  the  age  of  twenty  years.  (4) 
Albert  ^^'.,  our  subject,  is  next  in  order  of 
birth.  (^5)  Sinclair  married  Emma  E.  Mun- 
ger  and  follows  farming  in  Loraine  town- 
ship. (6)  John,  also  a  farmer  of  Loraine 
township,  married  Ada  Haskins  and  has  two 
children,  Malcolm  and  June.  (7)  Anna  died 
in  1896  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years.  (8) 
Abigail  died  in  infancy. 

During  his  boyhood  Albert  ^^'.  Blair 
pursued  his  studies  in  the  common  schools 
of  Phenix  township,  and  assisted  his  father 
on  the  home  farm.  After  the  latter"s  re- 
moval to  Loraine  township,  he  continued  to 
operate  the  farm  in  Phenix  township  until 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Geneseo  in  1892. 
He  added  to  the  place  until  he  had  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-one  acres  of  valuable  land 
on  section  25,  and  made  a  number  of  im- 
provements thereon,  while  he  succesfully  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock  raising 
throughout  his  active  business  life. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  1861,  at  Geneseo. 
!Mr.  Blair  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Forty- 
fifth  Illinois  ^'olunteer  Infantry,  with  which 
he  served  two  years  and  two  months,  being 
engaged  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Henry,  Fort 
Donelson,  Shiloh,  Meeding  Station,  Tennes- 
see, and  Raymond.  Port  Gibson,  and  Cham- 
pion Hills,  i\Iississippi.  During  the  engage- 
ment at  the  last  named  place.  May  16,  1863, 
he  was  wounded  in  the  left  leg,  which  has 
left  him  a  cripple  for  life,  after  undergoing  a 
very  painful  operation.  The  bullet  taken 
from  the  wound  he  still  has  in  his  possession. 
He  was  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  line,  be- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


271 


ing  one  of  twelve  from  his  company  detailed 
to  watch  that  the  army  was  not  flanked. 
The  sergeant  in  command  ordered  a  charge 
I  in  the  enemy  entrenched  in  a  ditch,  and  they 
-captured  a  cannon,  but  in  this  encounter  Mr. 
Blair  was  wounded  after  having  his  gunstock 
knocked  from  his  hand  by  a  ball.  He  was 
wounded  while  in  the  act  of  capturing  a  rebel 
who  had  hidden  behind  a  tree.  He  was 
first  taken  to  the  plantation  belonging  to  Jef- 
ferson and  Joseph  Davis,  where  he  was  cai)- 
tured  about  a  week  later  by  a  squad  of  Con- 
federate soldiers,  but  was  paroled  after  tak- 
ing the  oath  not  to  take  up  arms  until  his 
«.xchange.  He  was  sent  to  the  barracks  at 
St.  Louis,  and  honorably  discharged  in  Xo- 
\ember,  1863.  He  now  draws  a  pension  of 
thirty  dollars  i)er  month  as  a  sort  of  compen- 
sation for  his  injuries. 

Mr.  Blair  was  married,  March  5,  1872, 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  McClellan,  who  was  torn 
in  Genesee  township,  this  county,  December 
10,  1850,  a  daughter  of  John  Wesley  and 
Tulina  (Murray)  ilcClellan,  natives  of  In- 
diana. ^^'hen  he  was  about  twenty-five  years 
of  age  her  father  came  to  Illinois,  and  for 
many  years  engaged  in  farming  in  Geneseo 
township,  where  he  died  in  1896  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  His  widow  is  still  liv- 
ing at  the  age  of  seventy  and  now  makes  her 
home  with  our  subject.  They  had  a  family 
of  four  children,  namely:  Mar\-  E.,  now  Mrs. 
Blair;  Mrs.  Evaline  Roberts,  of  Oklahoma 
territory,  who  has  one  child,  Nora,  wife  of 
^\'ilbur  Green;  Thomas,  clerk  in  a  hardware 
store  in  Latham,  Kansas,  who  married  Laura 
Fisk,  and  has  two  children,  Hugh  and  Elsie; 
and  Sarah  Jane,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Blair  have  one  child,  Cora  E.,  born 
January  12,  1873.  She  is  now  the  wife  of 
Edgar  McHenry,  who  occupies  the  old 
Blair  homestead  in  Phenix  township. 


Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  a  pleasant 
home  on  West  Cemetery  street,  Geneseo, 
where  they  delight  to  entertain  their  many 
friends.  Both  are  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  are  held  in  high  re- 
gard by  all  who  know  them.  The  Repub- 
lican party  finds  in  Mr.  Blair  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  its  principles,  and  he  efficiently 
served  as  school  director  in  Phoenix  town- 
ship for  many  years.  Fraternally  he  is  an 
h.onored  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Kepublic,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
and  the  Home  Forum,  while  his  wife  holds 
membersliip  in  the  Circle  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
the  Home  Forum,  and  the  Woman's  Chris- 
tian Temperance  Union  of  Geneseo,  of  which 
she  is  at  present  secretary. 


ANDREW  WEIDLEIN. 

This  gentleman,  who  is  a  prominent  and 
succssful  farmer  of  Geneseo,  Illinois,  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Bedford  county,  that  state,  on  the 
iTnh  of  April,  1840.  His  father,  John 
Weidlein,  was  born  in  Germany,  January  17, 
1 812,  and  emigrated  to  America  with  his 
parents  during  the  '20s.  The  grandfather 
died  many  years  ago.  In  early  life  John 
Weidlein  married  Miss  Elnora  Emmert, 
also  a  native  of  Germany,  who  died  Febru- 
ary 20,  1894,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  3'ears, 
having  celebrated  her  birthday  on  the  2nd 
of  that  month.  He  is  still  living,  however, 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  In 
1851  he  came  west  from  Pennsylvania,  and 
first  located  in  Osco  township,  this  county, 
l>ut  subsequently  removed  to  Edford  town- 
ship, and  died  at  the  home  of  our  subject  in 


2/2 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Geneseo  on  the  30th  of  December,  1900, 
He  was  widely  and  favorably  known  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged. 
Andrew  was  the  oldest  of  their  twelve  chil- 
dren, the  others  being  as  follows :  Philip,  a 
grain  inspector  of  Kansas  City;  Lavina,  who 
died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years;  Lewis,  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Jake,  a 
resident  of  Missouri;  George,  a  farmer  of 
Iowa;  Edward,  a  resident  of  Augusta,  Kan- 
sas ;  Carrie,  wife  of  George  Drehmer,  of  this 
county;  A\'allie,  a  resident  of  ^luscatine, 
Iowa;  and  three  others  deceased. 

Andrew  W'eidlein  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  removal  to  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  his  early  life  was  spent  in  plowing, 
planting  and  reaping  on  the  home  farm.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-four  he  started  out  in  life 
for  himself,  and  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing, in  which  he  has  met  with  marked  suc- 
cess. He  is  the  owner  of  a  valuable  and  well 
improved  farm  of  four  hundred  and  si.xty- 
five  acres  in  Osco  township,  which  he  him- 
self operates,  and  also  has  a  couple  of  other 
farms  now  occupied  by  his  sons. 

ilr.  W'eidlein  was  married  April  3,  1864, 
to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Conrad,  also  a  native  of  the 
Kejstone  state,  and  a  daughter  of  Almon 
and  Elizabeth  (Pierce)  Conrad,  who  came 
to  Illinois  in  1856,  and  after  spending  a  short 
time  in  Rock  Island  county,  located  in  Henry 
county,  where  both  died.  The  father  was 
fifty-five  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death 
and  was  long  survi\'ed  by  his  wife,  who 
died  August  2,  1898,  when  lacking  only  a 
month  and  five  days  of  being  ninety  years 
of  age.  Both  were  earnest  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  Of  their  children,  Fre- 
derick, John,  I\Iary  J..  James,  Thomas  and 
Elvira  are  all  deceased.     Those  living  are 


J.  H.,  a  resident  of  Dodge  City,  Kansas; 
^Margaret,  wife  of  George  Enderton,  of  Mer- 
cer county,  Illinois;  and  Sarah  E.,  wife  of 
our  subject.  Her  maternal  grandparents 
were  John  and  ^lary  (_Rice)  Pierce,  farm- 
ing people  of  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  active  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Both  lived  to  an  advanced  age, 
;Mr.  Pierce  being  over  ninety-six  years  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  his  wife  over  ninety- 
tliree. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
^Irs.  \\'eidlein,  namely :  ( i )  W.  Elmer,  a 
resident  of  Galesburg,  Illinois,  married 
Kittie  ilarlatt,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren, Grace,  Cleone  and  Lysle.  (2)  Joseph 
C,  a  farmer  of  Edford  township,  this  coun- 
ty, married  Anna  Glenn  and  they  ha\e  two 
children,  Boyd  and  Mildred.  (3)  Vina  is 
the  wife  of  Harry  King,  of  Champaign,  Illi- 
nois, and  they  have  five  children,  Jessie  M., 
Xellie  H.,  Laura  I.,  Florence  ^I.  and  Henry 
A\'.  (4)  Xora  E.  is  the  wife  of  John  Schroe- 
der,  and  they  have  one  child,  Lucile.  (5) 
L.  Arthur,  of  Edford  township,  married 
Gertie  Rogers  and  they  have  one  child, 
Marie.  (6)  Carrie  A.  is  the  wife  of  Lewis 
Schroeder,  of  Osco.  (7;  Laura  Edith  is  at- 
tending the  Geneseo  high  school,  where  she 
will  graduate  in  1903.  (8)  ilargaret  J.  died 
September  28,  1885,  at  the  age  of  eleven 
Axars. 

yir.  W'eidlein  takes  little  interest  in  pol- 
itics but  generally  supports  the  Democratic 
ticket.  He  has  served  his  fellow  citizens 
in  a  most  creditable  manner  as  road  master, 
supervisor  of  his  township  two  years,  and 
a  member  of  the  school  board  many  years. 
Religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  earnest  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  enjoy 
the  hospitality  of  many  of  the  best  homes  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


273 


Geneseo.  They  receive  and  merit  the  high 
regard  of  the  entire  community,  and  those 
who  i<no\v  them  best  are  numbered  among 
their   warmest   friends. 


GEORGE  W.  WEST. 

Tiiis  well-known  and  liighly  esteemed 
■citizen  of  Geneseo  is  a  worthy  representa- 
ti\e  of  the  agricultural  interests  of  Henry 
count}'.  He  was  born  near  Ithaca,  New 
"S'ork,  March  25,  1835,  and  on  the  paternal 
side  I)elongs  to  an  old  Colonial  family,  his 
ancestors  having  come  to  this  country  on 
the  Mayflower  or  soon  afterward.  They 
took  (juite  an  active  part  in  jniblic  affairs 
and  are  supposed  to  have  fouglit  in  the  Con- 
tinental army  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
They  were  ni  English  descent  and  had  much 
to  do  in  organizing  !3oth  the  Maryland  and 
A  irginia  colonies. 

(jarder  West,  our  subject's  father,  was 
a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  nufl  a  son  of 
Johnnie  West,  who  at  an  early  (hiy  removed 
witii  his  family  to  New  York.  Ther<.'  Clar- 
der  engaged  in  farming  ami  dairying  quite 
■e.xtensively,  and  as  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
his  community  he  served  in  .several  local 
offices.  He  and  his  wife  visited  here  but 
never  came  west  to  live.  She  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  La\ina  Pease  and  was  a 
native  of  New  York,  wiiere  she  died  at  the 
^ge  f)f  seventy-four  years.  The  father  was 
eighty-si.x  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Both 
■were  devout  members  and  zealous  work- 
ers in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
with  wiiich  he  was  officially  connected,  and 
their  home  was  always  the  stopping  place 
of  the  itinerant  ministers.  Mrs.  West's 
paternal  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Eng- 


land, and  she  was  also  of  Scotch  extraction, 
her  ancestors  being  sturdy  and  reliable  peo- 
ple. Her  father,  Thaddeus  Pease,  was  a 
life-long  resident  of  New  York,  where  he 
died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-nine 
years.  Owing  to  an  accident  his  days  were 
shortened.  He  was  a  man  of  powerful  build 
and  was  \ery  active  for  one  of  his  years.  In 
early  life  he  was  an  athlete,  and  had  the  name 
of  being  the  most  powerful  man  in  Tomp- 
kins county. 

George  ^\'.  ^^'est,  of  this  review,  is  the 
sixth  in  order  of  birtii  in  a  family  of  tea 
children,  the  others  being  as  follows:  Mary 
A.  wedded  R.  Marsh  and  died  at  about  the 
age  of  fifty  years;  Lydia  J.  is  tlie  wife  of 
Thomas  Space,  of  Tompkins  county.  New 
York;  John  T.,  a  successful  farmer  of  Osco 
township,  this  count}-,  died  at  the  age  of 
forty  years,  and  his  widow  subsequently 
married  Robert  Fleming,  of  Cambridge; 
Harriet,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Frank 
Tuttle,  of  Beloit,  Wisconsin ;  Caroline  died 
unmarried  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years; 
Nancy  J.  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-four; l_)eli)hine  married  Henry  Lormore, 
and  ilied  at  the  age  of  forty-one;  .Vdaline 
married  tjeorge  Lormore.  a  brother  of 
Henry,  and  died  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-seven ;  and  Emily,  died  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years. 

Mr.  W'est  was  reared  on  a  farm  at  Dry- 
den,  New  York,  and  after  completing  lii.> 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  local- 
ity, he  followed  farming  initil  he  attained 
his  majority.  At  Cortland,  New  York,  Le 
boarded  a  train — the  first  on  which  he  ever 
rode — and  went  to  Beloit,  Wisconsin,  and 
from  that  city  came  to  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, riding  across  the  country  on  an  un- 
broken colt  and  arriving  here  in  the  spring 
of  1855,  at  which  time  there  was  only  one 


274 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


house  between  Geneseo  and  Caml^ridge,  a 
distance  of  twelve  miles,  it  being  the  prop- 
erty of  Job  Price.  With  his  colt  and  ox 
teams,  Mr.  \\'est  assisted  his  brother,  John 
T.,  in  breaking  prairie  and  improving  the 
latter's  farm,  being  thus  employed  for  a 
year.  He  then  went  to  Iowa,  where  he 
spent  the  cold  winter  of  1856,  when  the  ther- 
mometer for  forty  degrees  below  zero  much 
of  the  time,  and  the  crust  on  the  snow  was  so 
thick  that  he  could  ride  over  fences  indis- 
criminately. He  was  engaged  in  buying 
furs  and  deer  skin,  which  he  sold  for  a  good 
profit  in  Galesburg  the  following  spring. 
Mr.  West  was  next  employed  as  collector 
for  G.  W.  Brown,  and  later  engaged  in  the 
fruit  tree  business  until  the  Civil  war  broke 
out,  when  he  turned  his  attention  to  buying 
horses  and  delivering  them  to  the  United 
States  authorities  at  Galesburg.  In  the 
meantime  he  purchased  and  improved  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Alunson  township,  this  coun- 
ty, though  he  made  his  home  in  Galesburg 
during  the  war,  and  for  nearl}-  two  years  was 
engaged  in  the  crockery  and  stoneware  busi- 
ness in  Chicago,  under  the  firm  name  of 
West  &  Tomlinson,  being  burned  out  at  the 
end  of  that  time.  Since  then  he  has  carried 
on  farming  and  stock  raising  in  this  coun- 
ty, and  has  owned  some  fine  blooded  cattle 
and  also  a  good  grade  of  horses  and  hogs. 
Success  has  attended  his  well-directed  efforts 
and  he  and  his  wife  now  have  a  well  im- 
proved and  valuable  farm  of  over  four  hun- 
dred acres.  The  Hennepin  canal  crosses 
this  property  and  cuts  off  about  eighteen 
acres.  Mr.  \\'^est  still  operates  his  farm 
with  the  aid  of  a  tenant.  In  1890  he  pur- 
chased and  brought  to  this  county  six  thou- 
sand sheep  from  ^Montana,  and  in  1897 
three  hundred  head  of  cattle  from  Colorado. 
He  has  found  stock    raising    and    feeding 


quite  profitable,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the 
most  substantial  men  of  his  community. 

In  politics  Mr.  West  is  an  ardent  Repub- 
lican, and  takes  a  commendable  interest  in 
public  matters,  especially  educational  affairs, 
which  he  has  done  much  to  promote.  He 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  that  had 
in  charge  the  erection  of  the  second  brick 
public  school  building  in  Henry  county  (  ?). 
Fraternally  he  is  identified  with  the  Ma- 
sonic order,  and  religiously  both  he  and 
his  estimable  wife  are  active  and  consistent 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church,  in 
which  she  has  been  a  member  of  the  choir 
for  over  forty-two  3"ears. 

It  was  on  the  6th  of  June,  1865,  in  Henry 
county,  that  Mr.  West  led  to  the  marriage 
altar  ^liss  ^lary  Amelia  Allan,  and  by  this 
union  were  born  three  children,  namely : 
(i)  James  Allan,  a  resident  of  Rock  Island 
and  postal  clerk  on  the  Chicago,  Rock  Islaml 
&  Pacific  Railroad  between  that  city  and 
Chicago,  married  Fay  Cinnamon,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1 89 1,  and  they  have  two  children,  Allan 
C.  and  Harold  T.  (2)  George  GL  is  a  gravl- 
uate  of  the  Northwestern  Normal  School, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  farming  near  Gene- 
seo. (3)  John  Edward  is  a  graduate  of  the 
same  institution  and  also  of  the  dental  de- 
partment of  the  Northnestern  Universit\v 
and  is  now  engaged  m  the  practice  of  dental 
surgery  at  Geneseo.  He  married  Minerva 
E.  Benedict,  in  January,  1897,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Stewart  Benedict. 

James  M.  Allan,  Mrs.  West's  father, 
was  born  in  Sumner  county,  Tennessee,  No- 
vember 23,  181 4,  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy 
(Hodge)  Allan,  and  grandson  of  Joseph, 
and  Euphemia  (Agnew)  Hodge.  Duriiig 
the  Revolutionary  war  Joseph  Hodge,  a  na- 
tive of  North  Carolina,  captured  a  Tory, 
who  had  wounded  him  most  severely  with 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


275 


a  rami'iul.  In  1S36  Jj'mes  M.  Allan  came 
to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  became  prom- 
inently identified  with  public  affairs  here. 
He  spent  the  winter  of  1836-7  at  \'andalia, 
where  the  legislature  was  then  in  session, 
and  succeeded  in  getting  Henry  county  set 
apart  from  Knox.  He  served  as  tlie  first 
county  and  circuit  clerk,,  and  also  filled  I  he 
office  of  county  judge.  In  1850  he  was 
elected  to  the  state  legislature  and  succeeded 
in  getting  a  charter  for  what  is  now  the  Chi- 
cago, Rock  Island  and  Pacific  railroad. 
Strange  as  it  may  seem  it  was  a  chfficult  mat- 
ter to  obtain  the  support  of  the  governor  and 
many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  slate,  wno 
were  much  afraid  that  a  railroad  constructed 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  canal  would  prove  det- 
rimental to  the  best  interests  of  the  state. 
Mr.  Allan  also  held  the  office  of  provost 
marshal  during  a  part  of  the  Civil  war.  In 
his  journal  he  wrote:  "One  of  the  hardest 
jobs  I  have  undertaken  with  others  is  the 
construction  of  the  Hennepin  canal.  I  have 
now  been  t\\ent\-  years  actively  working 
to  secure  this  important  improvement.  I 
think  the  Hennepin  canal  will  come  soon. 
I  have  spent  much  time  and  money  in  its 
behalf.  I  spent  winters  in  Springfield  en- 
deavoring to  get  the  legislature  to  pass  laws 
for  its  construction.  The  result  of  such 
effort  was  the  beginning  of  the  improvement 
of  the  Illinois  river  and  the  passage  of  the 
law  to  cede  to  the  general  government  the 
Illinois  «!t  Michigan  canal.  Its  enlarge- 
ment and  the  improvement  of  the  Illinois 
river,  with  the  Hennepin  canal  completed, 
would  gi\e  the  northwest  excellent  facilities 
for  cheap  transportation,  both  for  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  and  the  Great  Lakes."  Mr. 
Allan  was  in  early  life  a  member  of  and  was 
ever  in  deep  sympathy  with  the  church  and 
its  work,  and  was  highly  respected  and  es- 


teemed by  all  who  knew  him.  After  a  long 
and  useful  life  he  passed  away  December  20, 
1885.  His  father,  John  Allan,  was  a  native 
of  Hereford,  England,  was  a  Presbyterian 
minister,  who  for  the  long  period  of  thirty 
years  had  charge  of  one  church  in  Ilunts- 
ville,  Alabama.  He  sent  his  sons.  James  M. 
and  William  T.,  to  college  in  the  north, 
where  they  imbibed  the  northern  spirit  of 
enterprise,  and  soon  began  to  see  the  wrong 
of  slavery.  This  was  more  than  their  rev- 
erend father  had  bargained  for  in  sending 
them  to  school.  William  T.  Allan  was 
licensed  to  preach,  and  for  many  years  lec- 
tiu'ccl  on  the  wrongs  of  sla\cr_\-,  being  a  con- 
temporary worker  anil  in  s}nipalhy  with  the 
anti-sla\XT}-  views  as  promulgated  by  Owen 
Lo\ejoy. 

On  the  6th  of  ^Nlarch,  1S39.  James  M. 
Allan  married  Miss  Susannah  D.  Stewart, 
who  was  born  in  New  York,  January  28, 
1820.  Their  wedding  was  the  first  per- 
formed in  Henry  county,  and  she  had  the 
honor  of  teaching  the  first  school  within  its 
borders.  She  was  a  life-long  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church  and  one  of  its 
most  zealous  workers.  Her  death  occurred 
June  8,  1889.  Five  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Allan,  as  follows:  Sarah  A. 
resides  in  Geneseo.  She  taught  under  the 
A.  M.  A.  in  the  south  for  several  years. 
Hilary  Amelia,  wife  of  our  subject;  Clara  F., 
wife  of  William  Harrington;  Emily  I.,  who 
ilied  at  the  age  of  two  years;  and  Anna  L., 
wife  i>f  Frank  Williams,  of  Geneseo. 

Mrs.  Allan  was  a  daughter  of  Roderick 
R.  Stewart,  who,  in  1836,  was  one  of  the 
first  three  to  locate  in  what  is  now  Geneseo, 
the  others  being  Messrs.  Bartlett  and  Cone. 
His  grandfather,  Elisha  Stewart,  aided  the 
colonies  in  their  struggle  for  independence, 
which  makes  Mrs.  W'est  and  her  descendants 


276 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sons  and  daughters  of  the  Revolution.  In 
1812,  Roderick  R.  Stewart  married  Clar- 
issa Dresser,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  who 
served  her  country  during  the  war  of  1812 
b)'  devoting  her  spare  time  to  molding  bul- 
lets for  the  army.  She  furnished  a  full 
choir  for  the  church  from  her  own  family, 
and  was  called  the  mother  of  "the  Geneseo 
colony."  She  died  in  1867,  at  a  ripe  old 
age.  honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
her.  Roderick  R.  Stewart  organized  the 
Masonic  lodge  at  Geneseo,  which  bears  his 
name. 


JA:\IES  RAMSEY. 

James  Ramsey,  deceased,  was  for  many 
years  prominently  identified  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  Geneseo,  and  was  one  of  its 
most  highly  esteemed  citizens.  A  native  of 
New  Hampshire,  he  was  born  in  !Marlow  on 
the  29th  of  June,  1812,  and  remained  at  the 
place  of  his  birth  until  seventeen  years  of 
age.  His  parents,  James  and  Xancy  (Tin- 
ney)  Ramsey,  were  life-long  residents  of 
Marlow,  where  both  died  at  an  advanced  age. 

On  leaving  home  Mr.  Ramsey  went  to 
Boston,  ^Massachusetts,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed for  some  years,  and  first  embarked  in 
business  on  his  own  account  at  Newton.  Mas- 
sachusetts, where  he  conducted  a  grocery 
store  for  several  years.  On  disposing  of  his 
business  there  he  returned  to  New  Hamp- 
shire and  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile 
business  at  Alstead,  where  he  remained  until 
1866.  He  then  went  to  Nashua,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  until 
coming  west  in  1870.  Locating  in  Geneseo. 
Illinois,  he  purchased  a  grocery  store,  which 
lie  and  his  eldest  son,  Allen,  conducted  until 
a  few  vears  before  his  death,  when  he  re- 


tired from  active  business  and  spent  his  re- 
maining days  in  ease  and  quiet  at  his  pleas- 
ant home  on  Oakwood  avenue,  which  he 
Iniilt  shortly  after  his  arrival  in  Geneseo. 
Here  he  was  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts 
which  usually  attend  a  well  spent  life  of  in- 
dustry. His  son  continued  the  business  until 
1896,  when  he  sold  out. 

^Ir.  Ramsey  was  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  being  !Miss  Sarah  Jane  Hopkins,  of 
Nashua,  New  Hampshire,  who  died  in  Al- 
stead. that  state,  leaving  three  children, 
namely :  (  i )  Allen,  who  was  his  father's 
partner  in  the  grocery^  business,  married 
Ellen  Brady,  who  died  leaving  one  child, 
Frank.  Allen  died  in  Chestervillle,  Texas, 
October  24.  1900.  During  the  Civil  war  he 
enlisted  in  the  Eighteenth  New  Hampshire 
A^olunteer  Infantry,  and  after  serving  some 
time  was  taken  ill  and  sent  home.  In  the 
spring  of  the  following  year,  however,  he 
re-enlisted,  and  remained  in  the  service  until 
tiie  close  of  the  war.  ( 2 )  Emily  J.  is  the 
w  ife  of  Nathan  Smith,  now  probate  judge  at 
Sabetha,  Kansas,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren, Daisy,  Edith  and  Blanche.  (3)  John 
E.,  who  died  in  Erie.  Pennsylvania,  about 
twelve  years  ago.  ser\ed  for  some  years  in 
the  United  States  navy,  and  was  quarter- 
master on  the  U.  S.  S.  Brooklyn  for  a  time. 

On  the  8th  of  September.  1863.  at  Heb- 
ron, New  York.  Mr.  Ramsey  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Laura 
J.  \\'ilson,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Phcebe 
(Temple)  AX'ilson.  Isaac  \\'ilson  was  a  son 
of  James  Wilson,  of  Hebron,  New  York, 
who  served  as  a  major  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  The  father  was  a  native  of  that  place, 
and  about  1868  came  to  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, purchasing  a  farm  in  Edford  town- 
ship, where  he  continued  to  make  his  home 
until  a  short  time  before  his  death,  which 


JAMES   RAMSEY. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


I 


I 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


279 


occurred  at  the  residence  of  his  daughter. 
Mrs.  Ramsey,  Marcli  lo,  1875,  when  he  was 
eighty-one  years  of  age.  His  wife  passeil 
away  a  week  previous,  at  the  age  of  eiglity 
years.  P>y  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Ramsey 
had  two  children:  (i)  Eugene  \\'.,  horn  in 
Alstead,  Xew  Hampshire,  April  16,  1865 — 
the  day  President  Lincoln  was  assassinated 
— and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Geneseo  and  Wood  Business  C'ollege  at 
Davenport,  Iowa.  He  is  a  painter  l)y  trade. 
On  the  13th  of  September,  1899,  at  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana,  he  married  Annie  Kile,  a 
daughter  of  John  \V.  Kile,  a  farmer  of  La- 
])el,  Indiana,  and  they  have  one  child,  Har- 
old, born  in  Geneseo  June  5,  1900.  (j) 
Gertrude  P.  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Harry  Brown- 
ing, of  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  and  tliey  ha\e  one 
child,  Floy  L. 

While  a  resident  of  Alstead,  Xew  Hamp- 
shire, before  his  removal  to  Nashua,  Mr. 
Ramsey  served  as  representative  to  the  state 
legislature  on  two  different  occasions,  and 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for 
many  years  at  that  place.  Religiously  he 
was  an  earnest  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  a  regular  attendant 
upon  its  services.  He  was  held  in  high  re- 
gard by  his  fellow  citizens  on  account  of  his 
upright  dealings  and  Christian  charity,  and 
in  his  death,  which  occurred  .\pril  17.  1894. 
the  city  lost  a  prominent  and  valued  citizen ; 
his  family  a  devoted  husband  and  father. 
His  remains  were  interred  in  Oakwood  cem- 
€terv. 


LOWRY  BROTHERS. 

This  enterprising  tirm  of  liverymen  of 
Geneseo,  Illinois,  is  comiwsed  of  Andrew 
P.  and  Thomas  M.  Lowry,  both  natives  of 
Indiana  countv,  Pennsvlvania.  and  sons  of 


William  C.  and  Mary  J.  (  Duncan)  Lowry, 
who  were  also  born  in  that  state  and  are  still 
living  on  the  farm  in  Indiana  county  where 
the  birth  of  our  subject  occurred.  The  fa- 
ther is  now  about  seventy-five  years  of  age, 
while  his  wife  is  si.xty-five.  Throughout 
his  active  business  life  he  has  been  engaged 
in  agricultui'al  ptn"snils,  and  the  old  home- 
stead upon  which  he  li\es  is  composed  of 
one  hundred  and  lift}-  acres  of  rich  and  val- 
uable land.  For  several  terms  he  has  effi- 
cienth-  serxed  as  supervisor  of  his  township, 
and  has  held  other  minor  offices.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  joined  a  Pennsylvania  reg- 
iment and  served  for  about  a  year,  being 
honorably  discharged  when  hostilities 
ceased.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  faith- 
ful and  consistent  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Her  parents  were  Thomas 
autl  Jane  (Machesney)  Duncan.  Her  fa- 
ther was  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone  state 
and  a  tanner  by  trade,  which  occupation  he 
followed  until  his  death.  He  died  about 
thirty-five  years  ago,  but  his  widow  is  still 
li\'ing  and  makes  her  home  in  Marion.  Indi- 
ana county,  I'enns_\l\ania. 

William  C.  and  Marv  J.  (  Duncan) 
l.owry  are  the  ])arents  of  si.x.  children,  all 
born  in  Indiana  county,  Pennsyhania.  and 
all  still  living,  namely:  Sadie  J.,  at  home; 
.\ndrew  P.  and  Thomas  M..  of  this  review; 
Olive  B.  resides  with  parents  in  Pennsyl- 
vania; Harry  L.  resides  in  Indiana  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Settle  resides  at  home. 

Andrew  P.  Lowry  was  b(_)rn  September 
30,  1858,  and  remained  on  the  home  farm 
until  he  attainetl  his  majority,  rocei\'ing  his 
literary  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  township  in  which  he  lived.  In  1879 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Annawan 
township.  Henry  county,  where  he  engaged 
in    farming  for   se\en  years,   and   then   re- 


28o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


moved  to  the  city  of  Geneseo,  and  embarked 
in  his  present  business  with  his  brother 
Thomas  M.  They  conduct  a  general  livery 
and  feed  stable,  and  enjoy  a  liberal  patron- 
age. They  are  energetic  and  progicssive 
business  men,  and  have  met  with  well-mer- 
ited success  in  their  undertakings.  On  the 
24th  of  May,  1892,  Andrew  P.  Lxjwry  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Geneseo  with  Airs. 
Elsie  McFadden,  a  native  of  Canada,  and 
a  daughter  of  Colon  and  Catherine  (Bowen) 
Fick.  Her  mother  is  now  deceased,  but 
her  father  is  still  living  at  Annawan,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons 
and  also  operates  a  feed  mill. 

Thomas  M.  Lowry  was  born  on  the  i  ith 
of  August,  i860,  and  was  a  young  man  of 
twenty  years  wlien  he  left  the  parental  roof 
and  came  to  this  state,  being  engaged  in 
farming  in  Annawan  township,  Henry  coun- 
t}',  for  about  three  years.  He  then  came  to 
Geneseo  and  established  himself  in  the 
livery  business  with  his  brother  as  previous- 
ly stated.  He  is  a  member  of  Geneseo  Lodge, 
Xo.  1 7 J.  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  also  connected 
with  the  Mystic  ^^'orkers  of  the  World, 
while  politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  was  married  in  Rock 
Island,  Illinois,  September  8,  1887,  to  Miss 
Celia  Fick,  a  sister  of  his  brother's  wife,  and 
by  this  union  were  born  three  children : 
Charles  William,  who  was  born  in  Geneseo 
and  is  now  twelve  years  of  age;  Oral  Mary, 
who  was  born  in  the  same  place  and  is  now 
four  years  old ;  and  Bessie,  who  was  a  twin 
of  Oral  M.  and  died  in  infancw 


AAROX  PALMIER. 

For  about  forty-five  years  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  has  been  a  resident  of  Kewanee, 
his  home  at  present  being  at  Xo.  210  West 


Sixth  street,  and  during  all  this  time  he  has 
been  actively  identified  with  its  business  in- 
ests.  He  is  now  engaged  in  draying  and  gen- 
eral teaming  and  controls  the  greater  part  of 
that  business  done  in  the  city. 

Mv.  Palmer  was  born  in  Lake  county, 
Ohio,  X'ovember  20,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of 
X'orris  and  Lucy  (Emerson)  Palmer,  natives 
of  Xew  York  and  Ohio,  respectively.  The 
father  became  a  well  known  farmer  of  the 
Buckeye  state,  where  he  died  at  about  the  age 
of  forty  years.  The  Palmer  family  is  quite 
prominent  in  Concord  and  ^Mentor,  Ohio,  and. 
each  year  its  members  hold  a  reunion  either 
at  Concord  or  Painesville.  For  her  second 
husband  the  mother  of  our  subject  married 
Alexander  Li\ingston,  and  by  that  union 
had  four  children,  while  by  the  former  mar- 
riage she  had  five.  She  was  an  earnest 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  died  in 
that  faith  when  less  than  forty  years  of  age. 
Of  the  children  born  of  the  first  union  only 
our  subject  and  his  sister,  Mrs.  J.  S.  Stone, 
of  Omaha,  now  survive.  Those  deceased  are 
Grove  X'.,  Isaac  Gideon  and  George,  the  last 
named  having  died  young,  while  the  others 
grew  to  manhood. 

Aaron  Palmer  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Ohio  and  Illinois,  having  come  to 
this  state  with  his  step-father  in  1849,  and 
located  on  a  farm  in  Wethersfield  township, 
Henry  county.  For  a  time  he  and  his  broth- 
er, Grove  Xorris,  conducted  a  general  store 
in  the  village  of  Wethersfield,  and  later  were 
engaged  in  running  a  threshing  machine  and 
separator  for  eight  seasons  threshing  much 
of  the  wheat  raised  in  their  section  of  the 
county.  They  at  first  used  an  old  Elgin 
thresher,  and  later  a  J.  I.  Case  separator,, 
manufactured  at  Racine,  Wisconsin.  On  dis- 
continuing that  business  Mr.  Palmer  en- 
gaged in  raising  and  selling    hedges    and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


fruit  trees.  Since  then  lie  has  devoted  his 
time  and  energies  to  his  present  business, 
and  in  connection  with  general  teaming  and 
draying  has  also  run  a  hack,  and  engaged  in 
funeral  work,  keeping  four  teams  constantly 
busy. 

On  Christmas  day,  1856.  at  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  parsonage  on  \\'est  Fifth 
street — then  consideretl  the  finest  residence 
in  Kewanee — was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Palmer  and  Miss  Prudence  Tuimicliff, 
a  native  of  Derbyshire,  England,  wlin  came 
to  America  with  her  parents,  Edward  anti 
Sarah  Tuimicliff,  and  first  located  in  Zanes- 
ville.  Ohio.  In  1855  the  family  came  to  Ke- 
wanee, where  the  father  is  now  living  re- 
tired at  tlie  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  the 
mother  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  He  was  a 
manufacturer  of  brown  and  yellow  pottery 
ware,  his  family  in  England  being  potters. 
Mrs.  Palmer  is  the  eldest  of  his  thirteen 
children,  the  others  being  George,  now  dep- 
uty poor  master  in  Kewanee,  who  took  his 
brother  William's  place  in  the  Civil  war  and 
served  three  years;  William  C,  who  enlisted 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth 
Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry  and  died  at  Tip- 
ton, Missouri,  after  having  served  five 
months;  Joseph  S.,  who  was  also  one  of  the 
boys  in  blue  and  is  now  living  in  Bingham, 
Iowa;  John,  a  resident  of  Moline,  Illinois; 
Edward  M.,  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  and  a 
ranchman  of  Burwell,  Nebraska;  Mary, 
widow  of  Dane!  Holt,  and  a  resident  of  Ke- 
wanee; Anna,  wife  of  J.  S.  Minor,  who  is 
connected  with  the  shoe  department  of  Lay 
&  Lyman's  store  in  Kewanee;  and  five  chil- 
dren, deceased. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer  have  been 
born  ten  children,  as  follows:  Lucy  E.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  months;  Sarah, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  two  montlis  and  six- 


teen days:  .\dilie  M.,  wife  of  Bert  Roul- 
ston,  of  Bingham,  Iowa;  William  C.  wlu>- 
is  mentioned  below;  Ernest  E.,  at  home; 
Xora  J.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
months;  Walter  .V..  a  physician  of  Redwood,. 
Minnesota,  who  married  Alice  Bi)nny,  of 
Chicago,  and  has  two  sons,  Walter  L.  and 
Donald;  Bessie  M.,  wife  of  G.  C.  Stratton, 
head  clerk  in  Hoffman's  store  of  Kewanee,. 
by  whom  she  has  three  children,  Frank  P.. 
and  and  Prudence  F..  twins,  and  Genevcive; 
Grove  (i..  who  is  his  father's  assistant  in 
business;  and  Frank  X..  who  died  at  the  age 
of  five  years. 

Mr.  Palmer,  his  wife  and  family  hold 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  where  he  sang  in  the  choir  for  over 
twenty  years,  and  has  also  served  as  class- 
leader  and  leader  in  the  young  people's  meet- 
ing. Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor  and  served  as  its  secretarj- 
and  treasurer  for  many  years.  Since  casting 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  John  C.  Fre- 
mont he  has  been  an  ardent  Republican,  and 
for  one  year  he  filled  the  office  of  ta.x  col- 
lector of  Kewanee.  He  is  one  of  the  worthy 
citizens  of  that  place  and  is  a  man  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
him. 

William  L".  Palmer,  son  of  our  subject^ 
was  born  on  the  29tli  of  October,  1863.  in 
Kewanee,  and  was  etlucated  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  city  and  at  a  business  college 
in  Quincy,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1892. 
Prior  to  taking  -the  commercial  course,  he 
had  clerked  in  a  grocery  store  for  five  years, 
and  for  ten  years  was  similarly  employed  by 
the  firm  of  Lay  &  Ljnnan,  of  Kewanee.  He 
tlien  embarked  in  the  furniture  and  under- 
taking business  on  his  own  account  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Roadstrand  &  Palmer, 
but  fifteen  months  later  Mr.  Roadstrand  sold 


28: 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


liis  interest  to  Mr.  Good,  and  tlie  name  was 
changed  to  Palmer  &  Gcxid.  In  Felirnary. 
1900,  Mr.  Good  took  the  furniture  depart- 
ment, while  Mr.  Palmer  kept  the  undertak- 
ing business,  which  he  has' since  carried  on 
with  marked  success,  doing  the  largest  busi- 
ness in  that  line  in  the  city.  Politically  he  is 
a  supporter  of  the  Reiniblican  part}-,  socially 
is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
while  religiously  he  is  officially  connected 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
was  married,  June  25.  1890,  to  ^liss  Rena 
!Murchison,  by  whom  he  has  two  children. 
A\'illie  M.  and  ^lerwyn.  ]^Irs.  Palmer  was 
born  in  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Alexander  and  Maggie  Murchison.  who 
^^■ere  natives  of  Scotland  and  Pennsylvania, 
respectively,  and  are  now  residents  of  W'eth- 
ersfield  township,  this  county. 


MARTI X  ROOS. 

^lartin  Roos  comes  from  the  Fatherland, 
and  the  strongest  and  most  creditable  char- 
acteristics of  the  Teutonic  race  have  been 
marked  elements  in  his  life  and  have  enabled 
him  to  win  success  in  the  face  of  opposing  cir- 
cumstances. He  possesses  the  energy  and 
determination  which  mark  the  people  of 
German}-,  and  by  the  exercise  of  his  powers 
he  has  steadily  progressed,  and  has  not  only 
v.-on  a  handsome  competence,  but  has  com- 
manded universal  respect  by  his  straight- 
forward business  methods.  He  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  in  Geneseo. 

yir.  Roos  was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt. 
Germany,  September  22,  1816.  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Margarette  (Hinkel)  Rcx>s.  w  ho 
spent  their  entire  lives  in  that  country.     The 


father,  who  was  a  prosperous  and  progress- 
ive man,  as  well  as  an  honorable  and  upright 
citizen  of  his  community,  died  at  the  age  of 
forty-two  years,  when  ottr  subject  was  only 
two  years  old.  The  mother  survived  him, 
and  was  sixty-five  years  of  age  at  the  time 
of  her  death. 

In  their  family  of  six  children  our  sub- 
ject is  the  youngest  and  only  one  now  liv- 
ing. Of  the  others,  Henry,  'born  in  1800, 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1852.  and  lo- 
cated in  Loraine  township,  Henry  county. 
Illinois,  where  he  owned  and  operated  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  until 
his  death,  in  1872.  He  left  a  widow  and 
six  children.  Jacob,  born  April  10,  1863, 
spent  his  life  as  a  farmer  in  Germany,  where 
he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  He  mar- 
ried and  had  one  child.  Philip,  born  De- 
cember 5,  1805,  came  to  America  in  1853, 
and  died  about  twenty  years  ago,  leaving  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
Loraine  township,  this  count}',  which  is  now 
operated  by  his  son  Jacob.  Edward  P.  died 
i.i  Germany  in  the  fall  of  1839,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  years. 

Martin  Roos  grew  to  manhood  upon  a 
farm  in  his  native  land,  and  received  a  good 
common  school  education.  In  1840  he  sailed 
for  the  new  world,  and  after  a  voyage  of  thir- 
ty-two days  the  \essel  cast  anchor  in  the  har- 
bor of  Xew  York,  on  the  3d  of  June.  On 
landing  our  subject  found  that  he  had  only 
five  dollars  with  which  to  begin  life  in  a 
strange  land,  but  he  was  willing  to  work 
and  possessed  the  determination  to  succeed, 
which  have  been  important  elements  in  his 
career.  For  a  year  he  was  employed  as  a 
farm  hand  in  Pennsylvania  for  si.K  dollars 
per  month,  and  then  went  to  Delaware,  where 
he  obtainetl  work  at  double  the  salary.  A 
vcar    later    he    returned    to    Pennsyhania, 


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MARTIN    ROOS. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

UR6ANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


2S5 


u  here  lie  made  his  home  until  going  to  Chi- 
cago in  1843.  Failing  to  find  a  situation  in 
tliat  city,  he  went  into  the  country,  where  he 
worked  two  years  in  a  grist  and  saw  mill, 
and  also  hauled  flour  into  tlie  city,  a  distance 
of  forty  miles. 

In  the  spring  of  1845  •^^■'-  Roos  came  to 
Henry  countj-,  and  took  up  eighty  acres  of 
government  land  on  sections  8  and  17,  Lo- 
raine  township,  on  which  he  erected  a  log 
house.  He  at  once  commenced  to  break  and 
improve  his  land,  and  added  to  his  original 
purchase  until  he  had  over  four  hundred 
acres  of  land,  on  which  he  successfully  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock  raising 
for  forty  years,  but  since  1885  has  lived  a 
retired  life  in  Geneseo,  having  a  comforta- 
ble home  on  Russell  avenue.  He  still  owns 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  his  farm,  and 
from  it  derives  a  good  income. 

In  1845,  in  Loraine  township,  Mr.  Roos 
was  married  to  Miss  Magdalena  Leiimann, 
a  native  of  Alsace,  Germany,  who  ilied  De- 
cember 7,  1855,  and  was  buried  in  Loraine 
township.  She  was  a  devoted  wife  and  a 
kmd  and  loving  mother.  By  that  union 
there  were  five  children,  all  born  in  Loraine 
township,  namely:  (i)  Martin  J.  enlisted  at 
the  last  call  for  troops  during  the  Civil  war, 
and  served  until  hostilities  ceased.  He  is 
now  engaged  in  merchandising  and  farming 
ill  Bon  Homme  county.  South  Dakota.  He 
married  Tillie  \'oigt,  and  they  have  four 
children,  Mary,  Eddie,  Rebecca  and  Blanche. 
(2)  Philip,  a  farmer  of  Whiteside  county, 
Illinois,  married  Eveline  Sand,  and  they  have 
four  children,  Lydia,  Leonard,  Wesley  and 
Howard.  (3)  Ann  Sarah  is  the  wife  of 
Lewis  Arnett,  a  farmer  of  Portland  town- 
ship, Whiteside  county,  and  they  have  eight 
children,  Clara,  Stacey,  Roy,  Ida,  Aggie, 
Winnie,  Maude  and  Harley.      (4)   Rebecca 


is  the  wife  of  Lavinus  Heller,  who  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  .Vtkinson  township  for 
many  years,  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life 
in  Geneseo,  and  they  have  four  children, 
-Vlbert,  Frank.  Clara  and  Inez.  (5)  Sa- 
lome is  the  wife  of  Julius  Lemuel,  who  is 
employed  in  a  factory  in  Kewanee,  and  they 
have  four  children,  Frank,  Grace,  Edward 
and  Mary. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1856,  Mr.  Roos 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eva  Bar- 
bara Knapper,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  to 
them  were  born  the  following  named  chil- 
dren :  ( I )  William,  a  resident  of  Buffalo 
county,  Nebraska,  married  Sarah  E.  Lodge, 
and  they  have  four  children,  Edward  M., 
Blanche,  Jennie  and  Frank.  He  owns  cu'i 
operates  a  farm  of  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  (2)  Louisa  is  the  wife  of  Solomon  J. 
Heller,  a  farmer  of  Loraine  township,  whose 
sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume, and  they  have  four  children,  Daniel, 
Xettie,  Ralph  and  Harold.  (3)  Christin.i 
is  the  wife  of  John  Butzer,  a  merchant  and 
grain  dealer  of  Hillsdale.  Rock  Island  coui.- 
ty,  Illinois,  and  their  children  are  Ada,  Clar- 
ence, Glenn,  Frank,  Birdie,  \'ernie,  Gold'O 
and  Martin  J.  (4)  David  was  shot  and 
killed  by  a  tranii)  while  in  the  e.xercise  of 
his  duty  as  city  marshal  of  Tindall,  Bon 
Homme  county.  South  Dakota,  and  left  a 
widow  and  three  children,  Harr}*,  Clara  M. 
and  David.  (5)  George  F.,  a  farmer  of 
Marshall,  Minnesota,  is  married  and  has  one 
child,  Cecil.  (6)  Wesley  died  in  infancy.  (  ~) 
Samuel  W'.,  a  resident  of  Luverne,  Minne- 
sota, married  Rachael  Cripp.  (8)  Henri- 
etta M.  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Grant  Hum- 
phreys, a  farmer  of  Annawan  township,  tiiis 
county,  and  they  have  four  children,  Cecil. 
Fay,-  Ada  Verne  and  Eva  M.  (9)  Lydia 
^I.  is  the  wife  of  Otis  Hannah,  a  painter 


286 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  paper  hanger  of  Geneseo,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Lester  O.,  Gladys  and  Jessie 
M.  (lo)  Benjamin  H.,  a  barber  of  Gene- 
seo, married  Lilhe  Drain,  and  has  one  child, 
Cassie  J.  ( 1 1 )  Marcella  E.  B.  is  the  wife 
of  W.  M.  Baker,  of  ^luscatine,  Iowa,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Wilbur. 

yiv.  Roos  is  a  prominent  and  influential 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 
-of  Geneseo.  to  which  he  is  a  liberal  contrib- 
utor, and  in  which  he  has  served  both  as 
treasurer  and  deacon,  filling  the  latter  oflice 
for  over  thirty  years.  He  also  officiated  as 
steward  and  exhorter  for  many  years,  and 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  all  church  work. 
His  fellow  citizens  recognizing  his  worth  and 
ability,  have  called  upon  him  to  fill  public 
■offices  of  honor  and  trust,  and  he  has  most 
capably  served  as  school  trustee  and  road 
commissioner,  serving  three  terms  in  the  lat- 
ter office.  He  has  voted  the  Republican 
ticket  ever  since  the  party  was  organized. 


LEONARD  SIEBEX. 

Through  many  years  of  active  labor, 
mainly  devoted  to  stock  raising  and  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  Leonard  Sieben  acquired  a 
comfortable  competence  wliich  now  enables 
him  to  lay  aside  all  business  cares  in  ease 
and  retirement  at  .his  pleasant  home  in  Gen- 
eseo. A  native  of  Germany,  he  was  born  on 
the  15th  of  February,  1844,  in  Hesse  Darm- 
stadt, of  which  province  his  parents,  Joseph 
and  Aboline  Sieben,  were  also  natives.  In 
1852  the  family  emigrated  to  the  new 
world,  thirty-five  days  being  spent  on  the 
water.  The  mother  was  taken  ill  during  the 
long  voyage,  and  died  in  Chicago  at  the  age 
of  forty-five  years,  the  family  having  re- 
mained in  that    city  during    the  winter  of 


1852-53.  The  following  spring  they  moved 
to  Whiteside  county,  Illinois,  where  the 
father  worked  at  anything  which  he  could 
find  to  do  in  order  to  support  his  large  fam- 
ily of  seven  children,  five  sons  and  two 
daughters.  In  1857  he  married  again,  his 
second  wife  being  a  Miss  Fisk.  by  whom  he 
had  one  child.  He  died  in  ^^'hiteside  count}", 
January  i,  1859,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine 
years.  In  religious  belief  hte  parents  of  our 
subect  were  Catholics.  Their  children  were 
as  follows :'  Johii,  a  resident  of  Lorain 
township,  this  county;  Teresa,  wife  of 
Henry  H.  Hammann,  of  Osco  township ; 
\'alentine,  who  was  instantly  killed  by  a 
liorse  in  1886,  at  the  age  of  forty- four 
years;  Margaret,  wife  of  George  Arnett,  of 
Geneseo;  Leonard,  of  this  review;  and 
Henry  and  Jacob,  both  of  Montana. 

By  the  death  of  his  father,  Leonard  Sie- 
ben was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  at 
the  tender  age  of  thirteen  years,  and  has  since 
made  his  own  way  in  the  world  unaided.  For 
a  short  time  he  was  employed  by  neighbor- 
ing farmers,  but  in  1864  went  west  to  that 
part  of  Idaho  which  has  since  become  Mon- 
tana. In  company  with  three  others  he 
crosed  the  plains,  and  after  traveling  three 
nionths  and  seven  days  landed  in  \'irginia 
City,  where  he  was  first  employed  as  team- 
ster and  continued  to  follow  that  occupation 
until  the  spring  of  1866,  when  he  bought  a 
team  and  engaged  in  freighting  between 
Fort  Benton  and  \'irginia  City  to  Helena 
and  other  towns  in  the  interior,  which  were 
then  the  sites  of  mining  camps.  To  that 
business  he  devoted  his  attention  until  the 
spring  of  1870,  when  he  went  to  t'tah  and 
liought  a  herd  of  young  cattle  which  he  dro\e 
to  ]\Iontana  to  sell,  being  engaged  in  that  en- 
terprise for  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  located  on  a  stock  ranch  in  ]\Ieagher, 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


287 


now  Cascade  county,  Montana,  and  made 
his  home  there  until  the  fall  of  1879.  Sell- 
ing;: liis  interests  in  the  west,  he  returned  to 
lllinnis,  in  January.  1880,  and  purchased  a 
farm  on  section  ^8,  Phenix  township,  Henry 
county,  where  he  successfully  followed  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  for  several  years,  but  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  in  Geneseo.  He 
still  owns  a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
thirty-one  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land  in 
Cornwall  township,  this  county,  which  he 
rents,  and  also  has  twenty  and  a  half  acres  of 
timber  land  in  Phenix  township.  In  addition 
he  also  has  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
improved  land  in  the  same  township  which 
v.as  the  old  homestead. 

On  the  9th  of  April,   1878,  r\Ir.  Sicben 
married  Miss  Sarah  J.  Hines,  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois.    Her  father,  Henry  Hines,  was  born 
in  Germany,  Februarj'-  19,  1819,  l)ut  was  only 
three  years  old  when  brought  by  his  parents 
to  America,  the  voyage  being  made  in  a  sail- 
ing vessel  and  lasting    many    weeks.      The 
family  landed  in  Baltimore,  ^laryland,  and 
proceeded  to  \\'ayne   county,   Oliio,   where 
Mr.  Hines  grew  to  manhood  and    marrieil 
Miss  Susan  Henney,  a  native  of  that  county, 
and  a  daughter    of    Peter    and    Christina 
(Strayer)   Henney,  who  were  linlh  Imrn  in 
Pennsylvania.     Mr.  Henney  died  in  1873,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three  and  a  half  years,  his 
wife  in  1870  at  the  age  of  seventy- four.     In 
1850  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hines  removed  from  the 
Buckeye  state  to  Illinois,  and  took  up  their 
residence  in  Phenix  township,  this  county, 
where  he  followed  farming  throughout  his 
life,  his  death    occurring    March   18,   1870. 
Religiously  he  was  connected  w  ith  the  Evan- 
gelical Association.     His    wile,    who    still 
survives  him,  is  an  honored  resident  of  Gene- 
seo, and  an  active  member    of    the    United 
Evangelical   Church  of  that   place.     She  is 


now  seventy-five  years  of  age.  To  this 
worthy  couple  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren:  John  H.,  a  farmer  of  Kansas;  Lucy 
A.,  wife  of  George  A\'.  Rowe,  a  retired 
farmer  of  Geneseo;  Christina  S.,  wife  of 
Aaron  Rapp,  of  Geneseo;  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
Abner  Offerley,  of  Edwards  county,  Kan- 
sas; Sarah,  wife  of  our  subject;  Hattie  A., 
wife  of  John  Goembel,  of  Geneseo;  Peter 
II.,  a  resident  of  Geneva,  Nebraska;  and 
I'^rederick  A.,  a  fanner  of  Phenix  township. 
Besides  their  own  children  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hines  reared  Emma  Weeks,  now  the  wife  of 
Charles  W.  Young,  of  Geneseo. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sieben  are  the  parents  of 
five  children,  namely :  Olive  S.  has  success- 
fully taught  school  for  several  terms  in  this 
county,  and  is  now  a  student  at  Oberlin  Col- 
lege, Oberlin,  Ohio,  where  she  will  graduate 
in  1903;  Sylvia  B.  is  also  a  student  at  Ober- 
lin College  and  is  giving  special  attention  to 
music,  in  which  she  takes  great  delight  and  in 
which  she  is  quite  proficient;  Ira  L.  is  at- 
tending the  Geneseo  high  schcx>l ;  Ward  H. 
is  a  pupil  in  the  eighth  grade  of  the  public 
schools  of  Geneseo;  and  RiUh  E.  is  also  at- 
tending the  public  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
.Siel)en  are  prominent  members  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church  of  Geneseo,  in  which  he  has 
served  as  steward  and  trustee  fur  some 
years.  Politically  he  is  identified  .with  the 
Kepublican  party,  and  gi\es  a  liberal  sup- 
port to  all  enterprises  which  he  believes  cal- 
culated to  advance  the  moral  and  material 
welfare  of  town  and  couiUv. 


OLIVER  \\".  BROWN. 

Since  1839  this  gentleman  has  been  an 
honored  resident  of  Henry  county,  and  has 
therefore  witnessed  almost  its  entire  growth 


288 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


and  development.  As  an  agriculturist  he 
materially  aided  in  transforming  the  wild 
land  into  highly  cultivated  fields,  and  in 
other  ways  has  advanced  the  interests  of 
the  county.  After  a  long  and  useful  career 
ht  has  now  laid  aside  all  business  cares,  and 
is  living  a  retired  life  in  Wethersfield. 

]Mr.  Brown  was  born  in  the  town  of 
North  Coventry,  Tolland  county,  Connecti- 
cut, on  the  20th  of  June,  1820,  and  is  a  son 
of  Selah  Brown,  whose  birth  occurred  at 
the  same  place  December  11,  1783.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather  was  Josiah  Brown,  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Connecticut.  There 
Selah  Brown  grew  to  manhood,  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Betsy  Dunham,  who  was  born  in 
the  same  state  in  1786,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Stephen  Dunham,  a  Revolutionary  sol- 
dier, who  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  nine- 
ty-nine years,  and  died  in  North  Coventry. 
There  the  parents  of  our  subject  si>ent  their 
entire  lives  as  farming  people. 

During  his  boyhood  Oliver  \\'.  Brown 
attended  the  common  schools  near  his  home 
and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  un- 
til eighteen  years  of  age.  On  leaving  home 
in  1838  he  came  west  with  four  families 
from  Connecticut,  and  after  eight  weeks 
spent  upon  the  road  landed  in  McDonough 
county,  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1839  he  came 
to  Henry  county,  where  he  worked  by  the 
day  and  month  for  a  year,  receiving  ten  dol- 
lars per  month.  In  1841  he  purchased  one 
hundred  acres  of  unbroken  prairie  land  in 
Kewanee  township,  and  at  once  commenced 
to  improve  the  same  and  place  it  under  cul- 
tivation. Subsequently  he  purchased  more 
land  and  had  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred' 
acres,  which  he  improved  in  an  excellent 
manner,  receiving  one  year  the  second  pre- 
mium offered  for  the  best  farms  in  the 
county.     He  continued  to  actively  engage 


in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1875,  when  he 
sold  his  place  and  liought  a  home  in  Wethers- 
field. where  he  still  resides.  Being  a  natural 
mechanic  he  has  worked  at  the  carpenter's 
trade  to  some  e.xtent  during  his  residence 
here,  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life,  having 
laid  aside  all  business  cares.  At  one  time 
he  owned  a  well  improved  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  in  Otter  count}',  Ne- 
braska, but  has  since  disposed  of  that. 

In  Henry  county,  September  6,  1846, 
Avas  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Brown 
and  Miss  Elizabeth  Maria  Kent,  a  native  of 
Wyoming  county.  New  York,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Ebenezer  Kent,  who  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont and  when  a  young  man  removed  to  the 
Empire  state.  The  Kent  family  is  of  Eng- 
lish origin  and  the  first  to  come  to  America 
was  Richard  Kent,  who  crossed  the  Atlantic 
in  1634,  and  settled  in  Newbury,  Massa- 
chusetts. Ebenezer  Kent  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  second  wife  being  Polly  Bolt,  the 
mother  of  Mrs.  Brown.  In  1844  he  came 
to  Illinois,  and  after  two  years  spent  in 
Bureau  county,  took  up  his  residence  in 
Henry  county.  He  lived  to  be  over  ninety- 
one  years  of  age.  Of  the  ten  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  seven  are  still  living, 
namely :  Clark  K.,  who  is  married  and  lives 
in  Nebraska;  George  Oliver,  who  is  also 
married  and  resides  in  that  state;  Frank  G., 
who  is  married  and  makes  his  home  in  Cali- 
fornia; Eben  S.,  also  a  resident  of  Califor- 
nia; Milton  H.,  who  is  married  and  lives 
in  Nebraska;  Cyrus  A.,  who  is  married  and 
lives  in  Kewanee;  and  Mary  O.,  wife  of 
James  Van  Eman  of  Dwight,  Illinois. 
Those  of  the  family  now  deceased  were 
Charles  H.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
months;  Laura  P.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  months;  and  Emily  M.,  the  first 
born,  who  married  Stephen  Hurd  and  died 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


289 


in  Kewanee,  leaving  two  cliikiren :  Elizabeth 
A.,  now  the  wife  of  Alfred  Watkinson,  of 
California,  and  Harry  M.  of  Kewanee. 

Originally  ]Mr.  Brown  was  a  Democrat 
in  ix)litics.  but  in  1856  supported  John  C. 
l-"reniont  for  the  presitlency,  and  has  since 
affiliated  with  the  Republican  party,  though 
at  local  elections  he  often  votes  independent 
of  i)art\'  lines.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to 
the  county  conventions  of  his  party,  and  has 
served  as  constable,  assessor,  road  commis- 
sioner  and  school  director,  dischargnig  his 
various  official  duties  in  a  commendable  and 
satisfactory  manner.  He  is  one  of  the  few 
remaining  old  settlers  of  the  county,  and  is 
|.  to-day  tile  oldest  \oter  in  W'ethersfiekl  town- 
ship. He  was  a  pall-bearer  at  the  first  fu- 
neral held  there.  He  well  remembers  when 
this  section  of  the  state  was  all  wild  and  un- 
[  improved,  when  wolves,  deer  and  feathered 
game  were  abundant,  furnishing  many  a 
meal  for  the  early  settlers,  whose  larder 
would  otherwise  have  been  scant,  as  those 
who  had  money  were  often  unable  to  procure 
c\en  the  necessities  of  life  in  the  sparsely 
>ettled  country.  As  years  have  passed  all 
J  this  has  been  changed  and  although  the  wild 
game  has  disappeared  the  residents  of  Henry 
>  nunty  are  now  able  to  secure  all  the  deli- 
cacies which  the  markets  ui  the  world 
afford. 


J.  E.  ST.\CV 


j.  !•"..  .'^lac}-,  the  present  alderman  of  the 
Secund  ward  of  Kewanee,  and  a  manu- 
facturer, wholesale  and  retail  dealer  of  ci- 
gars and  tobacco,  his  place  of  business  be- 
ing at  Xo.  222  Second  street,  was  born  in 
Havana,  Illinois,  July  17,  1865,  a  son  of 
John  and  Ellen  (Murphy)   Stacy,  both  na- 


tives of  the  Emerald  Isle  and  members  of 
the  Catholic  Church.  The  father  died  in 
1866.  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years,  leav- 
ing two  children.  J.  \\..  our  subject;  and 
William  E.,  a  manufacturer  of  cigars  at 
Farmington,  Illinois.  For  her  second  hus- 
band the  mother  married  James  Ennis,  by 
whom  she  also  had  two  children :  Philip, 
deceased:  and  Christopher,  who  is  working 
for  our  subject.  Mrs.  Ennis  is  still  living 
at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years,  and  is  an 
honored  resident  of  Kewanee. 

During  his  minority  J.  E.  Stacy  lived 
on  a  farm,  and  as  he  was  compelled  to  earn 
his  own  livelihood  his  educational  ad- 
vantages were  limited,  though  he  attended 
the  country  schools  for  a  time.  On  start- 
ing out  in  life  for  himself  he  engaged  in 
teaming  in  Canton,  Illinois,  and  then  learned 
the  cigar  maker's  trade,  at  which  he  worked 
for  others  until  the  23d  of  May,  1897, 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  James 
Finin,  and  embarked  in  the  same  line  of 
trade  under  the  firm  name  of  Stacy  & 
Finin.  One  year  later  this  connection  was 
dissolved  by  Mr.  Stacy  purchasing  his  part- 
ner's interest  in  the  business,  which  he 
has  since  carried  on  under  the  name  of 
James  E.  Stacy.  He  manufactures  on  an 
a\erage  about  two  hundred  thousand  ci- 
gars per  year,  aiul  was  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  business  only  until  November  i, 
1900,  when  he  opened  a  retail  department. 
He  has  built  up  a  goc^d  trade  in  both 
branches,  and  the  products  of  his  factory 
being  of  a  superior  grade  find  a  ready  sale 
on    the   market. 

Mr.  Stacy  was  married.  May  27,  1896, 
tc)  Miss  Maggie  Killeen,  a  resident  of  \\  y- 
oming,  who  was  Ixjrn  in  Illinois,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Patrick  and  Bridget  Killeen, 
natives  of  Ireland.     Both  our  subject  and 


290 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  wife  are  members  of  the  CathoHc 
Church,  and  he  is  also  comiected  with  the 
CathoHc  Order  of  Foresters  and  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  L.  D.  of  A.  of  Kewanee,  and 
holds  a  retiring  card  of  the  Cigarmakers 
International  Union  of  America.  He  was 
president  of  the  cigar  union  of  Canton 
during  the  strike  of  IVIarch,  1897,  which 
lasted  two  years,  but  resigned  that  posi- 
tion on  his  removal  to  Kewanee.  He  has 
ben  a  member  of  the  trades  council  of 
this  city  nearly  two  years  and  secretary  of 
the  local  cigar  union  about  a  year ;  and 
in  connection  with  his  special  tradfe  has 
been  an  important  factor  in  union  circles 
for  the  past  four  years.  As  a  Democrat 
he  also  takes  an  active  part  in  politics,  and 
on  that  ticket  was  elected  alderman  in  April, 
1900,  for  a  term  of  two  years.  For  his 
success  in  life  ^Ir.  Stacy  deserves  great 
credit,  as  it  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  un- 
aided efforts.  His  first  business  transac- 
tion was  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  when 
he  trade  an  old  carbine  rifle,  which  was  a 
present  to  him,  for  some  tin-type  pictures 
and  seventy-five  cents  in  money.  He  has 
worked  his  way  steadily  upward  until  he 
is  now  at  the  head  of  a  good  and  constantly 
increasing  business.  In  his  career  he  has 
displayed  that  •  energ}-,  enterprise  and  de- 
termination which  marks  the  successful 
business  man. 


WILLIA:^!  OLIVER. 

Since  pioneer  days  William  Oliver  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  section  of  the  state, 
l.aving  located  in  Stark  county  in  1838,  and 
since  1854  he  has  made  his  home  in  Henry 
county.  During  his  active  business  life  he 
followed   the   occupation   of    farming   with 


marked  success,  but  is  now  living  retired 
in  W'ethersfield,  enjoying  a  handsome  com- 
petence which  he  has  truly  earned  and  richly 
deserves. 

'Sir.  Oliver  was  born  in  Rossshire.  Scot- 
land, February  7,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Margaret  (Fife)  Oliver,  both 
natives  of  Roxburghshire,  where  their  mar- 
riage was  celebrated.  In  1837  the  family 
emigrated  to  the  L'nited  States,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  took  up  his  residence  in  Stark 
countv,  Illinois,  being  among  the  first  set- 
tlers of  what  is  now  Elmira  township. 
There  the  father  of  our  subject  opened  up 
and  improved  a  farm,  which  he  made  his 
home  until  called  to  his  final  rest,  having 
survived  his  wife  for  some  years. 

There  our  subject  grew  to  manhood, 
and  the  education  which  he  acquired  in  the 
pioneer  schools  was  supplemented  by  a 
course  at  Knox  College,  Galesburg.  He 
remained  at  home  until  his  marriage, 
which  occurred  April  3,  1854,  in  Stark 
county,  Miss  Elizabeth  Trumbull  becoming 
his  wife.  She  was  born  and  reared  in 
Scotland,  and  was  a  daughter  of  \\^illiam 
Trumbull,  also  a  pioneer  of  Stark  county. 
By  this  union  were  born  ten  children.  The 
sons  of  the  family  were  Thomas,  who  is 
married  and  now  operates  the  home  farm; 
William  P.,  a  resident  of  Adams  county, 
Iowa;  Adam  E.,  who  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at 
Kewanee  until  his  death  in  1894;  George 
and  Andrew,  who  both  died  in  1891,  after 
reaching  years  of  maturity;  and  John,  a 
graduate  of  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College, 
and  now  a  physician  of  Kewanee.  The 
daughters  were  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Archie 
Turner,  of  Adams  county,  Iowa;  Anna, 
who  died  in  1898;  Nellie  and  Jane,  both  at 
home. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


291 


After  his  marriage  Mr.  Oliver  located 
on  a  farm  in  Wethersfield  township,  Henry 
county,  where  he  purchased  two  hundred 
acres  of  wild  land,  which  he  broke  and' 
placed  under  cultivation.  He  added  to  his 
landed  possessions  from  time  to  time  until 
he  had  six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  on  which 
he  built  a  good  residence  and  substantial 
barns  and  outbuildings.  He  continued  to 
successfuly  engage  in  farming  until  1898, 
when  he  rented  his  place  and  erected  a 
pleasant  residence  in  Wethersfield,  where 
he  has  since  lived  retired!  As  a  boy  he 
commenced  work  for  ten  cents  per  day; 
his  wages  were  subsequently  increased  to 
twenty-five  cents  per  day ;  and  he  was  finally 
given  ten  dollars  permonth ;  but  being  in- 
dustrious, ambitious  and  enterprising,  he 
steadily  prospered  as  time  advanced  until 
he  is  now  one  of  the  most  substantial  men 
of  the  community,  and  his  success  has  been 
worthily  achieved.  By  his  ballot  he  sup- 
ports the  men  and  measures  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  but  has  never  sought  oflicial 
honors  for  himself.  For  some  years  he 
efficiently  served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  and  as  school  director  in  his  district. 
h.aving  always  taken  a  commendable  inter- 
est in  educational  affairs.  He  and  his  fam- 
ily are  earnest  and  consistent  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Elmira,  and 
are  people  of  prominence  in  the  community 
where  they  reside. 


JOHN   H.   MURPHY. 

John  H.  Murphy,  one  of  Kewanee's 
well-to-do  and  highly  respected  citizens  who 
is  now  living  a  retired  life,  was    born    in 


county  Wexford,  Ireland,  March  7,  1832, 
and  is  the  only  survivor  in  a  family  of  seven 
children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
whose  parents  were  Gregory  and  Mary 
(O'Farrel)  ]\Iurphy,  lifelong  residents  of 
the  Emerald  Isle,  where  the  father  died  at 
about  the  age  of  eighty  years,  the  mother 
at  the  age  of  fifty-five.  The  first  of  the 
family  to  come  to  America  was  our  sub- 
ject's brother,  James,  who  crossed  the  At- 
lantic in  1846  and  took  up  his  residence 
on  a  farm  in  Will  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
lived  for  many  years,  dying  when  quite  an 
old  man.  ^^lichael  came  to  this  country  in 
1877  and  settled  in  Chicago,  where  he 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty.  The  first  of  the 
members  of  this  family  were  Margaret, 
who  married  Nicholas  Holden  and  died  in 
Ireland;  James;  Patrick  and  Ellen,  who 
also  died  in  Ireland ;  John  H. ;  and  Michael. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in 
the  land  of  his  birth.  It  was  in  1850J  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years,  that  he  emigrated 
to  the  new  world  and  located  in  Chicago, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits for  a  number  of  years.  In  1882  he 
came  to  Henry  county  and  has  since  made 
his  home  in  Kewanee,  where  he  worked 
in  the  shops  for  a  time,  but  for  the  past 
ten  years  has  lived  a  retired  life.  He  owns 
a  pleasant  home  at  No.  707  East  Third 
street,  where  he  and  his  estimable  wife  ex- 
pect to  spend  their  declining  years.  They 
are  worthy  members  of  the  Cathqlic  Church, 
and  are  highly  esteemed  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

On  the  22nd  of  October,  1864,  Mr. 
Murphy  married  Miss  Kate  Smith,  a  native 
of  New  York  and  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Burns)  Smith,  who  were  born  in 
Ireland  and  were  the  parents  of  six  children, 
namely :  Margaret,  John,  Mary,  Kate,  Will- 


292 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


jam  and  Ann.  Besides  Mrs.  Murphy  only 
Mary  is  now  living.  The  children  born  to 
our  subject  and  his  wife  are  James,  a  resi- 
dent of  Kewanee,  who  wedded  Alary  Coch- 
ran and  has  one  child,  John ;  John,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  mining  business  in  South 
Dakota;  Ellen,  at  home;  Alargaret,  wife  of 
Frank  Reynolds,  of  \\'ethersfield ;  Frank, 
v.ho  is  clerking  in  Kewanee ;  Kate,  wife  of 
Gould  Hulburt.  a  railroad  man  of  Wyom- 
ing; and  William  A.,  at  home. 


HEXRY   EKLUXD. 

Sweden  has  furnished  to  the  United 
States  many  bright,  enterprising  young 
men  who  have  left  the  old  world  to  enter 
the  business  circles  of  this  country  with  its 
more  progressive  methods,  livelier  compe- 
tition and  advancement  more  quickly  se- 
cured. Among  this  number  is  Henry  Ek- 
lund,  a  prominent  architect  of  Kewanee, 
Illinois.  He  was  born  in  Boros,  province 
of  Westergotland,  Sweden,  May  2,  1868, 
a  son  of  Andrew  and  Sophia  (Sund)  Ek- 
hind,  natives  of  the  same  province.  The 
father  is  a  well  educated  man,  who  served 
for  over  twenty  years  as  a  non-commis- 
sioned officer  in  the  Swedisli  army,  and  after 
retiring  from  military  ser\ice  embarked  in 
the  lumber  and  real  estate  business  in  Boros, 
which  he  still  carries  on.  He  has  ten  chil- 
dren, all  living,  namely:  Alma,  wife  of 
John  Josephson,  of  Boros;  Henry,  our  sub- 
ject; Mary,  wife  of  Jacob  Johnson,  of  Ke- 
wanee, Illinois;  Hilda,  wife  of  Rev.  John 
Miller,  a  minister  of  the  Swedish  ^Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  Bloomington,  Illinois; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Nordine,  of  Boros, 
Sweden;  Carl,  who  is  married  and  is  now 


pastor  of  the  Swedish  ^Methodist  Church  at 
Des  Aloines,  Iowa;  Hilma,  also  of  Des 
Moines,  Iowa ;  Judith,  Cornelia  and  Fritz, 
who  are  living  with  their  parents  in  Boros, 
Sweden. 

Henry  Eklund  began  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  town  and  later 
attended  a  private  school,  where  he  studied 
for  a  professorship.  In  1887  he  came  to 
the  new  world,  sailing  from  Gottenborg;  to 
Hull,  England,  and  from  Liverpool  to  Xew 
York.  He  remained  in  the  latter  city  for 
a  short  time  and  then  came  to  Kewanee, 
Illinois,  where  he  took  private  lessons  jn 
drafting.  Later  he  took  a  special  course  in 
architecture  at  the  University  of  Illinois, 
and  by  studying  hard  completed  the  same 
in  one  year,  after  which  he  returned  to  Ke- 
wanee, and  has  since  devoted  his  time  and 
energies  to  his  profession,  in  which  he  has 
met  with  marked  success.  In  1898  he  de- 
signed and  supervised  the  construction  of 
the  \\'ashington  school  building,  which  is 
one  of  the  finest  in  the  state,  and  in  1900 
he  recei\ed  the  commission  to  plan  and  su- 
perxise  the  construction  of  a  large  addition 
to  the  Irving  school,  the  Hallin  Block  of 
Kewanee,  a  modern  three-story  building 
with  all  the  latest  improvements;  Thomas 
]\IcClure"s  residence  on  Prosjject  street  in 
1895 ;  one  for  Juhn  AN'ilsey  on  Tremont 
street;  one  for  Asa  Barney  on  Cliestnut 
street;  and  one  for  X.  Caverno  on  South 
Tremont  street,  beside  many  other  resi- 
dences and  buildings.  Mr.  Eklund  also  has 
had  considerable  work  throughout  this. 
Stark  and  Knox  counties.  He  conscien- 
tiously fulfills  his  part  of  every  contract, 
and,  being  a  skilled  architect,  the  buildings 
erected  by  him  are  among  the  finest  and  liest 
in  this  section  of  the  state. 

On  the  2^th  of  October.  1899,  was  cele- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


293 


brated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Eklund  and  Miss 
Esther  Xelson,  of  Chicago,  a  daughter  of 
Swan  Xelson  of  that  city.  Slie  has  a 
brotlier  Arthur,  who  is  still  at  iiome  with 
liis  parents.  ^Ir.  Eklund  is  an  active  and 
consistent  meniher  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church ;  has  been  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  at  Kewanee  for  eight 
years,  and  is  now  vice-president  of  the 
same.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  ^loderiT  Wood- 
men of  America,  and  is  trustee  of  the  former 
liidge.  Since  coming  to  this  country  he  has 
affiliated  with  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
taken  an  active  and  commendable  interest 
in  public  affairs,  as  every  true  American 
citizen  should.  For  three  years  he  has  been 
a  member  of  the  public  library  board,  and 
he  gives  a  cheerful  support  to  all  enterprises 
which  have  for  their  object  the  betterment 
of  mankind. 


THOMAS  PORTER  LIKEX. 

One  of  the  early  settlers  and  prominent 
citizens  of  Henry  county,  Mr.  Liken  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  tiie  city  of  Geneseo, 
liis  home  being  on  S<-)Uth  Mechanic  street. 
He  was  born  near  Pittsburg,  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania,  Xovember  20.  1846, 
and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Sands) 
Liken.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
Avho  came  to  Pennsylvania  when  nine  years 
old,  living  there  until  1865,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Munson  township, 
Henry  county,  where  he  purchased  a  farm, 
making  it  his  home  until  called  from  this 
life,  in  1895,  at  the  age  at  seventy-three 
years.  Throughout  his  active  business  ca- 
reer he  followed  the  occupation  of  farming. 


His  wife  survived  him  alx)ut  two  years,  dy- 
ing on  the  old  homestead  in  Munson  town- 
ship, at  the  age  of  seventy-two.  Of  their 
nine  children  four  are  still  living,  Thomas 
P.  being  the  oldest  of  the  family. 

During  his  minority  our  subject  assisted 
his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm,  and  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  his  mar- 
riage. He  began  his  education  at  his  birth- 
place, and  attended  the  i)ublic  schools  of 
Geneseo  after  coming  to  this  state.  On  the 
j8th  of  December.  1870,  in  Munson  town- 
ship, he  married  Miss  Rachel  \'.  Hill,  who 
was  born  in  Augusta  county.  \'irginia,  April 
2-j,  1 85 1,  a  daughter  of  William  T.  and 
Elizabeth  (Lockhart)  Hill.  The  birth  of 
lier  father  occurred  in  Rappahannock  county, 
the  same  state.  April  10,  1821,  and  about 
1855  he  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  Munson  township,  being  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock  raising  on  section  24 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1890, 
when  he  was  well  advanced  in  years.  Hi» 
wife  had  passed  away  a  number  of  years  pre- 
viously. They  had  a  family  of  fourteen  chil- 
dren, eleven  of  whom  are  still  living,  Mrs. 
Liken  being  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  Mr. 
Hill  was  a  large  land  owner  and  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  men  of  his  community,  as 
well  as  one  of  its  most  highly  respected 
citizens. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Liken  are  the  parents  of 
five  children,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  Mun- 
son township.  In  order  of  birth  they  are  as 
follows :  William  E.,  Iwrn  February  24, 
1872,  was  educated  at  the  Collegiate  Insti- 
tute of  Geneseo,  and  now  follows  farming, 
while  he  makes  his  home  with  his  parents; 
Maude  E.,  born  March  16,  1875,  is  the  wife 
of  Joseph  F.  Combs,  a  farmer  residing  on 
section  2}^,  Osco  township,  this  county,  and 
thev  have  one  child,  Herbert  P. ;  Clvde  T., 


294 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


born  May  7,  1878,  is  now  editor  oi  the  Gen- 
esee Daily  and  Weekly  Arena,  and  is  repre- 
sented on  another  page  of  this  volume ;  Myr- 
tle M.,  born  June  14,  1880,  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  Geneseo  and  a  young  ladies' 
seminary  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  is 
now  at  home  with  her  parents ;  and  Grace 
M.,  born  January  27,  1884,  is  attending  the 
Geneseo  high  school. 

After  his  marriage  ^Nlr.  Liken  emliarked 
in  farming  for  himself  on  a  place  adjoining 
that  owned  by  his  father  in  Munson  town- 
ship. He  purchased  one  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  7,  and  to  it  he  sub- 
sequently added  until  he  had  a  fine  farm 
comprising  five  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in 
Munson  township,  besides  a  tract  of  two 
hundred  acres  in  Iowa.  In  this  county  he 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing quite  extensively  until  1895,  when  he 
gave  up  active  business  and  removed  to  Gen- 
eseo, where  he  has  since  lived  a  retired  life 
at  his  pleasant  home  on  South  Mechanic 
street,  surrounded  by  the  comforts  Avhich 
usually  attend  a  well  spent  life  of  industry. 
His  beautiful  residence  is  surnuinded  by  a 
large  and  well-kept  lawn,  and  is  situated  on 
one  of  the  principal  residence  streets  of  the 
city. 

While  living"  in  !Munson  townshii)  Mr. 
Liken  served  as  school  director  for  some 
years,  but  has  never  cared  for  political  hon- 
ors. He  is,  however,  a  public  spirited  man, 
and  advocates  all  measures  tending  to  ad- 
vance or  improve  the  community  in  which 
he  lives.  Politically  he  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party,  and  fraternally  affiliates 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. For  many  years  he  was  an  ekier  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Munson;  has  al- 
ways been  an  active  Christian  worker,  and 
a  liberal  donator  to  the  support  of  his  church. 


At  present  he  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Geneseo  Collegiate  Institute, 
and  has  for  some  years  served  as  treasurer 
of  that  organization.  In  his  farming  opera- 
tions he  has  met  with  that  success  which 
usually  follows  the  industrious  and  enter- 
prising man,  and  is  now  enabled  to  live  in 
ease  and  comfort  upon  the  proceeds  of  his 
former  toil.  He  still  retains  his  farms  in 
]\Iunson  township,  which  are  now  occupied 
by  tenants.  He  has  witnessed  almost  the 
entire  development  of  the  county,  and  in  its 
upbuilding  he  has  ever  borne  his  part.  His 
life  has  been  manly,  his  actions  sincere,  and 
his  example  is  well  worthy  of  emulation. 


CLYDE  THOMAS  LIKEN. 

Clyde  T.  Liken,  editor  and  proprietor  of 
the  Geneseo  Daily  and  Weekly  Arena,  is  the 
third  child  in  order  of  birth  in  the  family  of 
Thomas  P.  and  Rachel  V.  (Hill)  Liken,  of 
Geneseo,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  He  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  ^lunson  township,  ilay  7,  i878_. 
and  at  the  age  of  fi\'e  years  commenced  at- 
tending the  district  school  of  that  locality, 
where  he  pursued  hi.-;  studies  until  sixteen. 
In  the  fall  of  1894  he  entered  the  Geneseo 
Collegiate  Institute,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated after  taking  a  three  years'  course.  He 
was  a  close  and  careful  student,  who  did 
good  and  conscientious  work,  and  always- 
stood  well  in  his  classes.  He  was  president 
of  his  class  during  his  senior  year,  and  was 
chosen,  as  a  representative  of  the  institute, 
to  take  part  in  several  oratorical  contests. 
At  present  he  is  a  member  of  the  Alumni 
Association  of  that  school.  In  the  fall  of 
1897  he  entered  the  Xorth western  Univer- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


295 


sity  at  Evanston,  where  he  continued  his 
studies  until  January  i,  1898,  when  he  en- 
tered the  freshman  class  at  Knox  College, 
Galesburg.  He  was  a  student  there  two 
years,  taking  the  scientific  course,  and  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  different  phases  of 
college  life,  taking  part  in  the  literary 
societies  and  the  athletic  sports. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  the  fall  of  1899, 
Mr.  Liken  became  a  reporter  on  the  Geneseo 
Daily  .\rcna,  and  a  few  months  later  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  the  paper,  being  a 
partner  of  II.  W.  lUickle  in  the  publication 
of  the  same.  In  Alarch,  1900,  he  purchased 
the  interest  of  Air.  Buckle,  and  has  since 
been  sole  proprietor.  The  Daily  Arena  is  a 
four-page,  seven-column  paper,  independ- 
ent in  politics;  while  the  Weekly,  which  is 
published  e\ery  Thursday,  supports  the 
Democratic  party.  The  paper  was  estab- 
lished in  1895  by  the  Henry  County  Pub- 
lishing Company,  and  under  the  able  and 
efficient  management  of  uur  subject  has  be- 
come one  of  the  Icatling  journals  of  the 
county. 

Air.  Liken  is  a  member  of  Stewart  Lodge, 
No.  9J,  F.  &  A.  AL,  and  also  of  the  Presb)-- 
terian  Church  of  Geneseo.  He  stands  de- 
servedly high  in  both  church  and  social  cir- 
cles, and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  young 
men  of  the  citv. 


J.  WILLIAM  JOllXSOX. 

This  well-known  citizen  and  successful 
agriculturist  of  W'ethersfield,  was  born  in 
Kansas  City,  Kansas,  January  4,  1858,  and 
is  a  son  of  J.  W.  Johnson,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1816,  and  was  educated  at 
Williams  College,  of  which  he  was  a  grad- 


uate. The  paternal  grandfather  was  Dr. 
J.  V.  Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  New  York,  in  1786,  and  became  a 
prominent  physician.  The  father  of  our 
subject  fitted  himself  for  the  legal  profes- 
sion, and  at  an  early  day  located  in  Prince- 
ton, Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law  for  a  time.  While  there  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Eliza  Win- 
ship,  a  daughter  of  Horace  and  Sarah  Win- 
ship,  who  settled  in  rrinccton  in  1833. 
Later  Air.  l<ihnson  remo\cd  to  Wyandotte, 
Kansas,  now  Kansas  City,  and  there  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until 
his  death  in  1859.  His  widow  returned  to 
her  ])eople  in  Princeton,  Illinois,  but  later 
married  John  Jacobs  and  resided  al  Morris, 
Illinois,  where  she  departed  this  life  in  1865. 

Being  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  seven 
years,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  early 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources  to  battle  with 
the  world.  In  1869  he  came  to  W'ethersfield 
to  make  his  home  with  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hurd, 
by  whom  he  was  reared  as  their  own  son. 
A  sketch  of  this  worthy  couple  will  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  Air.  Johnson  was 
provided  with  good  school  privileges,  and 
completed  his  education  at  the  high  .school 
of  Kewanee.  He  remained  with  the  Doctor 
and  his  wife  until  nineteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  commenced  earning  his  own  live- 
lihood l)y  working  b_\-  the  month  as  a  farm 
hand  in  different  parts  of  the  slate,  in  1885 
he  located  permanently  in  W'elhersfield 
townshij),  this  county,  u])on  a  farm  of  ninety 
acres,  which  he  has  operated  in  connection 
with  other  land.  He  is  a  thorough  and 
skillful  agriculturist,  and  in  his  labors  is 
meeting  with  excellent  success. 

At  Princeton,  Illinois,  in  1891,  was  cel- 
ebrated the  marriage  of  Air.  John.son  and 
Aliss  Daisv   AI.   Garman,  a  native  of  that 


296 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


place  and  a  daugliter  of  Samuel  Garman. 
By  this  union  were  born  two  children.  Caro- 
line and  Mary  E.  The  latter  died  May  i  1 , 
1899,  at  the  age  of  one  year.  In  his  politi- 
cal views  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  stanch  Repnl)- 
lican.  and  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  James  A.  Garfield.  He  is  public  spir- 
ited and  progressive,  and  takes  a  deep  and 
commendable  interest  in  public  afl^airs. 


REV.  :M.  F.  FOLEY. 

There  is  no  ])osition  held  by  man  more 
important  than  pastor  of  a  church,  nor  is 
there  a  position  that  has  attached  to  it 
greater  importance  or  responsibility  when 
properly  conceived  and  consciously  dis- 
charged. This  is  more  essentially  the  case 
with  tlie  clergymen  of  the  Catholic  faith, 
for  he  is  held  more  as  an  instructor  and 
guide,  not  onlv  in  religious  matters,  but  in 
moral  and  social  conduct,  by  his  congrega- 
tion. There  are  few  men  bv  character  and 
education  better  fitted  to  preside  over  a  peo- 
ple in  all  these  relations  than  the  reverend 
gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head 
of  this  biography. 

A  nati\e  of  London,  England.  Father 
Foley  was  born  in  Horse  Ferry  Road,  West- 
minster, November  i,  1867,  and  is  a  son  of 
Martin  and  Catherine  (O'Brien)  Foley,  the 
former  a  native  of  County  \\'aterford.  Ire- 
land, the  latter  of  County  Cork.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather  was  taken  from  his  bed 
one  night  and  pressed  into  the  English  na- 
vy. He  jumi)ed  overboard,  but  was  recap- 
tured and  sentenced  to  forty-eight  lashes. 
He  was  ])ardoned  from  this,  however,  by 
his  landlord,    but  was  n(.)t  released  from  the 


navy.  The  press  gang  also  captured  his  eld- 
est son.  Father  Foley's  parents  crossed  the 
ocean  about  the  same  time  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  located  in  Canada.  Two  years  later 
they  removed  to  Spring  Valley,  Illinois, 
where  the  father  engaged  in  the  shoe  busi- 
ness until  his  death.  Subsecpiently  the 
mother  remmecl  with  her  family  to  Peoria, 
where  she  is  now  living.  Of  their  ten  chil- 
dren, five  died  in  Ireland,  the  others  being 
M.  F..  our  subject;  Thomas,  of  Peoria; 
]\Iichael  P.,  wdio  lives  with  his  mother:  and 
Katie,  who  died  in  Peoria. 

In  November.  1875.  Father  Foley  went 
to  County  Cork,  Ireland,  and  entered  the 
Brothers  school  at  Fermoy,  a  great  military 
town,  where  he  remained  ten  years,  half 
of  this  time  being  spent  at  St.  Colman's 
College.  Those  were  the  days  of  the  martial 
and  coercion  laws,  when  citizens  had  to  be 
in  at  eight  o'clock  at  night.  Father  Foley 
belonged  to  a  reading  club,  which  the  police 
would  raid  to  see  if  the  members  had  any 
firearms  about  them,  and  this  proved  very 
trying  to  the  independent  spirit  of  the  young 
Irish  l3oy.  \Mule  there  he  received  a  great 
many  prizes.  \\'hen  only  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  carried  ofif  an  exhibition  prize  of 
sixty  pounds  sterling,  which  amounts  to 
about  three  hundred  dollars  in  our  money. 
This  made  him  an  eligible  candidate  for 
subsequent  examinations  for  any  government 
position,  and  he  was  offered  a  position  as 
military  engineer.  Coming  to  America  the 
loth  of  April,  1885,  Father  Foley  entered 
St,  Michael's  College  at  Chatham,  New 
Brunswick,  where  he  remained  until  Septem- 
ber 15.  1888.  He  was  next  a  student  at  Le 
Grande  Seminary  in  ^lontreal,  Canada,  un- 
til June  26,  i8go.  when  he  went  to  Balti- 
more,  ^Maryland,   and   took   up   higher   the- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


299 


ology  at  St.  Mary's  College,  which  is  one 
oi  the  oldest  institutions  in  America. 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1892,  Father 
Foley  left  Baltimore  for  Milwaukee,  and 
there  was  ordained  a  priest  on  the  26th  of 
May,  hy  Bishop  Messmer,  of  Green  r>ay. 
\\'isconsin.  he  being  the  only  priest  ordained 
at  that  lime.  He  was  first  appointed  assist- 
ant pastor  at  Chebanse,  Iroquois  county.  Illi- 
nois, where  he  remained  eleven  months:  wris 
then  at  Odell  two  months;  Keithsburg  six 
months :  and  Peoria  three  years.  On  the 
27th  I  if  June,  1896,  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment as  pastor  of  the  Catholic  Church  at 
Carthage,  where  he  remained  until  Novem- 
ber, T898,  when  he  was  appointed  pastor  of 
St.  Malachy's  Church  at  (ieneseo.  He  has 
already  done  a  good  work  here,  and  has 
made  many  friends  among  all  denominations 
as  well  as  his  own  ])arishioners. 

Father  J.  G.  Alleman.  a  celebrated  Ger- 
man missionary,  was  tlie  first  priest  to  say 
mass  in  this  part  of  the  state,  his  district 
lying  along  the  Mississippi  river  from  St. 
Louis  to  Rock  Island  and  across  the  state 
to  Peoria,  and  he  built  the  lirst  Catholic 
church  at  Rock  Island,  taking  the  material 
from  the  Xauvoo  Mormon  temple  which  he 
had  purchased.  He  traveled  all  over  the 
country  on  horseback,  and  organized  the  first 
jjarish  in  (ieneseo,  saying  the  first  mass  in 
James  Warren's  house.  He  was  succeeded 
l?y  Father  Mueller,  of  Chicago,  who  said 
mass  in  the  seminary  building,  and  he  in 
turn  was  followed  by  Rev.  John  Dclan,  who 
succeeded  Father  .\lleman  at  Rock  Island. 
He  also  said  mass  in  James  Warren's  bouse, 
as  did  Father  Murphy,  who  next  had  charge 
■of  the  parish.  Later  Father  McElherne  said 
mass  in  Perry's  hall.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Father  Corbinian,  a  famous  missionary  from 
Chicago,  who  said  mass  in  Sniff's  ball.     .V 


church  was  l)uilt  in  1866,  and  was  under  the 
charge  of  Fathers  ?^Ieinrod,  Shuitl)ert,  Ma- 
thias  and  Dionisius,  all  of  Chicago.  .Vt  that 
time  the  congregation  numbered  ninety-nine 
families.  The  first  resident  [jriest  was  Rev. 
Thomas  J.  Acklcy.  who  was  succeeded  by 
]\c\'.  F.  W.  .Smythe.  an  Englishman,  who 
had  been  con\erte<l  to  the  Catholic  faith. 
He  also  had  charge  of  the  out  missions  at 
llooppole,  Atkinson.  .Vnnawan,  Sheftield, 
Bradford  and  Kewanee,  and  during  his  pas- 
torate here  baptized  six  hundred  and  forty 
peo])le.  This  luiglish  priest  on  his  coal- 
black  horse  was  a  familiar  sight  in  and 
around  (ieneseo.  After  seven  vears  of  faith- 
ful ser\ice  he  returned  to  England,  where 
his  death  occurred.  He  was  fnlldwed  liy 
Re\-.  Hugh  0'(jara  McShane,  who  remained 
until  1877,  when  the  Chicago  diocese  was 
divided,  and  the  Geneseo  parish  became  a 
part  of  the  Peoria  diocese.  Father  McShane 
is  now  the  pastor  of  the  Enunciation  Church 
at  Paulina  street  and  Wabansia  a\cnue, 
Chicago.  The  next  pastor  was  I-'alher  L. 
J.  Dunne,  who  remained  se\en  years,  and 
was  then  succeeded  l)v  heather  l'"allihee,  now 
of  Arlington,  Illinois.  In  i88y  Rev.  Will- 
iam O'Hara  became  pastor,  and  nine  years 
later  was  succeeded  by  Father  Foley.  When 
our  subject  took  charge  here  the  church  was 
three  thousand  dollars  in  tlebt.  hut  this  has 
all  been  ])aid  oft',  and  he  has  niaile  ni;ui\-  im- 
l)rovements  in  the  clnn-ch  pniperty,  includ- 
ing steam  beat  and  electric  lights.  The  fur- 
nace and  heating  apparatus  was  the  gift 
of  J.  H.  O'Brien,  a  prominent  grocer  of 
(ieneseo,  and  an  elegant  bath  room  has  been 
l>ut  in  the  pastor's  residence,  it  being  the 
gift  of  Cornelius  Hayes.  The  (ieneseo  con- 
gregation consists  of  about  four  hundred 
adults.  Father  I'oley  also  has  charge  of  Co- 
lona.   where  there  is  also  a  church:   Cam- 


300 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


bridge. where  he  says  mass  in  private  houses; 
Orion,  Briar  Bkiff,  Carbon  CHff  and  Cleve- 
land. 


GEORGE  A.  MORTOX. 

George  A.  ^lorton,  an  energetic  and  en- 
terprising farmer  residing  at  Xo.  517  East 
Prospect  street,  Kewanee.  is  a  native  of 
Henry  county,  his  birth  liaving  occurred  in 
Anawan  township,  August  g,  1866.  His  pa- 
rents, Daniel  and  Catherine  (Potter)  Mor- 
ton, were  natives  of  Oliio  and  Connecticut, 
respectively,  and  early  settlers  of  this  coun- 
t)%  where  the  father  took  up  a  tract  of  gov- 
ernment land  and  improved  a  farm.  '  This 
tract  remained  in  his  possession  until  his 
death,  but  at  that  time  he  was  living  a  retired 
life  in  Kewanee.  Prior  to  coming  to  Illi- 
nois he  owned  and  operated  a  farm  in  Mich- 
igan, which  he  sold  on  his  removal.  He 
and  his  wife  made  the  journey  to  Henry 
county  in  a  wagon,  and  first  settled  in  Ana- 
wan  tOAvnship,  where  she  died.  There  he 
owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land, 
and  also  had  two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres 
in  Kewanee  township,  seventy  acres  in  the 
corporation  of  Kewanee,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  Wethersfield  township,  and 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Bureau 
county.  He  was  prominently  identified  with 
the  early  development  and  upbuilding  of 
Henry  county,  and  experienced  many  of  the 
hardships  and  difficulties  of  pioneer  life. 
On  first  locating  here  he  sold  all  his  grain 
in  sacks  and  his  hogs  dressed.  In  1875  he 
removed  to  Kewanee.  which  at  that  time  was 
a  mere  village.  He  owned  considerable 
property  in  the  city  and  was  quite  well-to 
do.  He  was  a  man  of  affairs,  taking  an 
active  interest  in  all  enterprises  for  the  bene- 


fit of  his  community,  and  served  as  consta- 
ble at  an  early  day.  While  living  in  the  east 
he  held  membership  in  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  He  was  born  May  15,  1815,  and 
died  August  19,  1899.  For  his  second  wife 
he  married  ]\Irs.  Catherine  (Potter)  Buck- 
ley, of  Princeton,  who  had  been  a  resident  of 
Bureau  county  for  many  )-ears,  and  is  now 
living  with  her  son-in-law  in  Galva.  She 
was  seventy  years  of  age  on  the  31st  of  De- 
cember, 1900.  Mr.  ilortou  was  the  father 
of  five  children  by  the  first  marriage.  The 
three  by  the  second  marriage  were  Helen, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  four  j-ears;  Mrs. 
Edna  Taylor,  who  has  two  children,  Addie 
and  Lloyd;  and  George  A.,  our  subject. 

During  his  boyhood  and  \outh  George 
A.  Morton  pursued  his  studies  in  the  public 
schools  of  Kewanee,  and  early  became  fa- 
miliar with  agricultural  pursuits,  and  now 
owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  well 
improved  land  in  Xeponset  township.  Bu- 
reau county,  Illinois.  He  has  made  farming 
and  stock  raising  his  life  occupation,  and  is 
meeting  with  excellent  success.  On  the  8th 
of  August,  1888,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  ^liss  Emma  Duff,  a  native  of  this  city, 
whose  parents,  James  and  Eliza  Duff,  came 
to  this  country  from  Ireland.  She  was  only 
two  years  old  when  she  lost  her  mother,  but 
her  father  survived  for  many  years,  dying 
X'ovember  i,  1897,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four.  Their  other  children  ■were  Ada,  wife 
of  Wesley  Kimball,  of  Kansas;  James,  a  resi- 
dent of  Lonetree,  Iowa";  William,  of  Stock- 
ton, California;  and  Lida,  wife  of  ^^'rigllt 
Smith,  of  St.  Joseph,  Michigan.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Morton  have  one  child,  Ethel,  who  is 
the  pride  and  joy  of  their  home.  They  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  Mr. 
^lorton  is  also  connected  with  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men.     In  his  political  \iews- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


30  f 


lie  is  ail  ardent  Republican.  He  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  one  of  tlie  old  and  promi- 
nent families  of  the  county,  and  is  a  man 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  him. 


LIBERTY  STIMSOX. 

Liberty  Stimson,  deceased,  was  one  of 
the  honored  pioneers  of  Henry  county  and 
a  leading  representative  of  its  farming  and 
stock  raising  interests.  He  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Dedham,  Massachusetts,  in  1804, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  1836,  locating  first 
in  Bureau  county.  In  1838  he  entered  three 
eighty-acre  tracts  of  land  in  Henry  county, 
and  at  the  land  office  in  Galena  he  received 
the  government  patents,  which  are  now  in 
possession  of  his  widow.  He  located  upon 
his  property  in  1840,  and  later  added  to  it, 
but  subsequently  sold  a  portion  of  the  estate, 
though  his  widow  still  owns  one  hundred 
and  eighty-two  and  a  half  acres  in  Geneseo 
township.  The  Geneseo  colony  was  organ- 
ized in  Bergen,  Geneseo  county,  New  York, 
in  1835,  but  did  not  locate  here  until  a  year 
or  two  after  his  arrival.  He  was  therefore 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  this  part  of  the 
county,  and  for  many  years  was  known  to 
almost  every  resident  within  its  borders. 
He  bought  stock  in  all  parts  of  the  county, 
became  quite  an  extensive  farmer,  and 
bought  and  sold  much  land,  though  he  al- 
ways retained  the  tract  on  which  he  origin- 
ally located  and  which  is  still  in  possession 
of  the  family.  His  brother,  Moses,  also 
owned  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Geneseo 
township,  their  homes  being  near  each  other. 
The  latter  never  married,  and  died  before 
our  subject's  death. 

With  the  early  development  and  improve- 


ment of  this  section  of  the  state  ^Ir.  Stim- 
son was  prominently  identified  for  many 
years,  and  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
most  useful  and  valued  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity. He  was  an  earnest  and  consistent 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and 
died  in  that  faith,  July  26,  1878,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years  and  five  months.  Be- 
coming widely  and  favorably  known,  he 
made  many  friends,  and  his  death  was  a  loss 
to  the  entire  community. 

On  Christmas  day,  1837,  Mr.  Stimson 
married  Miss  Leah  Clark,  of  Tiskilwa,  Bu- 
reau county,  Illinois,  who  died  December  17, 
1863,  and  the  two  children  born  of  this  union 
are  also  deceased.  In  1844  Mr.  Stimsoa 
was  again  married,  in  Geneseo,  his  second 
wife  being  Mrs.  Remembrance  Ogdeii,  nee 
Evans,  who  b}'  her  former  marriage  had 
five  children,  namely:  Elizabeth,  widow  of 
John  Taylor  and  a  resident  of  Burns  town- 
ship, this  county;  Mrs.  Emeline  Dawson; 
Samuel,  who  married  Amanda  Tibbs ;  Thom- 
as, who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years ; 
and  John,  who  married  a  Miss  Graff. 

On  the  13th  of  February,  1867,  at  the 
residence  of  the  bride's  brothers  in  Rock 
Island,  Mr.  Stimson  was  united  in  marriage 
with  iliss  Hannah  E.  Reynolds^  a  native  of 
!Montpelier,  \  ermont,  and  a  daughter  of  E, 
P.  and  Betsey  (Stuart)  Reynolds.  Her  fa- 
ther was  born  in  Kinderhook,  New  York, 
and  was  a  descendant  in  direct  line  from  Sir 
Joshua  Reynolds,  the  famous  painter  of  Eng- 
land, while  the  mother  was  a  native  of  Jef- 
fries, New  Hampshire,  and  traced  her  an- 
cestry back  to  Mary.  Queen  of  Scots.  They 
were  married  in  Albany,  New  York,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Mr. 
Reynolds  followed  contracting  and  building 
for  some  years,  and  served  as  captain  of  a 
company  in  the  war  of  18 12.   He  was  a  fine 


302 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


looking  man.  being  over  six  feet  tall  and  of 
commanding  appearance.  He  took  quite  a 
prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  and  was 
tlnis  identified  with  several  counties  of  \'er- 
mont.  In  early  life  he  was  a  minister  of  the 
Free  \\'ill  Baptist  Church,  but  after  his  re- 
moval to  the  Green  ^Mountain  state  he  united 
with  the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  there 
being  no  church  of  the  former  denomination 
in  his  community.  He  was  ever  active  and 
influential  in  religious  work,  and  was  a  per- 
sonal and  valued  friend  of  Bishop  Elisha 
Scott.  He  was  accidentally  killed  at  Shore- 
ham,  \'emiont,  by  a  wagon  load  of  Ijoxes 
tipping  over  on  him,  when  fifty-fi\e  years  of 
age.  His  wife  survived  him  five  years  and 
died  at  the  same  age.  She  was  a  Congrega- 
tionalist  in  religious  belief,  and  was  an  earn- 
est Christian  worker. 

Mrs.  Stimson  is  the  eighth  in  order  of 
birth  of  the  ten  children  born  to  this  worthy 
couple,  the  others  being  as  follows :  Harmon 
G.,  an  attorney,  married  Louisa  Thompson, 
now  deceased,  and  he  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years.  Xazro  B.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-nine,  first  married  Sarah 
Bennett  and  second  Sai-ah  Dillon.  Mary  A., 
a  good  Methodist,  married  Palmer  Stearns, 
now  deceased,  and  she  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty.  Elisha  P..  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight,  married  first  Eliza  Young 
and  second  Mrs.  Amanda  Ogden.  who  is 
still  living.  Betsey  S.  is  the  wife  of  B.  H. 
Kimball,  of  Rock  Island,  Illinois.  Martha 
^^'.  is  the  widow  of  Thomas  B.  ^^'oods  and 
a  resident  of  Woodstock,  \*ermont.  Lucy 
H.  married  Hosea  V.  French,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  Both  she  and 
her  husband  were  consistent  members  of  the 
Cniversalist  Church.  John  R..  an  Episco- 
palian in  religious  belief,  married  Elizabeth 
Bennett  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-one, 


in  Los  Angeles,  California,  where  his  widow 
still  resides.  Record  S.,  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  was  married  in  San 
Francisco.  California,  and  died  at  Gold  Hill. 
Xevada,  at  the  age  of  forty-one  years. 

Mrs.  Stimson,  who  is  familiarly  known 
by  her  many  friends  as  Aunt  Hannah,  was 
educated  at  ^Montpelier  and  Woodstock.  \'er- 
mont,  and  Lebanon,  Xew  Hampshire.  She 
then  taught  school  for  one  year  in  the  latter 
state;  two  years  in  graded  schools  in  Massa- 
chusetts: three  years  in  graded  schools  in 
Xew  York ;  six  months  in  a  parish  school  in 
Louisiana;  and  two  jears  and  a  half  in  a 
select  school  at  ^larshall,  Harrison  county, 
Texas,  on  the  Red  river,  near  Shreveport. 
She  was  at  the  last  named  place  when  the 
Civil  war  broke  out,  and  had  much  difficulty 
in  reaching  her  friends  in  the  north.  She 
obtained  a  passport  signed  by  the  governors 
of  Texas  and  Louisiana,  with  which  she 
was  able  to  travel  as  far  as  A'icksburg, 
where  their  jurisdiction  ended.  Here  thir- 
teen lady  teachers  were  recommended  to  the 
tender  mercies  of  General  Kirby  Smith,  of 
the  Confederate  army,  who  was  a  native  of 
X'ew  York,  but  had  married  a  southern  lady. 
They  spent  ten  days  at  ^'icksburg  during 
the  siege  in  the  fall  of  1862.  stopping  at  the 
American  House,  and  saw  General  Grant's 
forces  kept  at  bay  by  shot  and  shell.  The 
leading  Confederate  generals  at  that  place 
were  Bragg.  Stonewall  Jackson.  \'an  Doren. 
Beauregard.  Todd  and  Slaughter.  Major 
Watts  was  there  for  the  exchange  of  pris- 
oners. They  were  all  very  gentlemanly  and 
nice  to  the  lady  teachers,  who  were  finally 
taken  to  the  giuiboat  Monarch  in  closed  car- 
riages, as  the  people  of  the  city  were  very 
hostile  to  northerners.  On  this  boat  were 
several  hundred  exchanged  prisoners  under 
Captain  La  Salle,  a  Union  officer.      They 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


303 


stopped  at  Lake  Providence,  on  the  Arkansas 
side  of  the  river,  and  four  more  teachers 
came  on  board,  under  Captain  Dubb,  also  a 
Union  officer.  Between  that  place  and  Hele- 
na a  battle  was  fon.s^lit  between  the  contend- 
ing forces,  which  lastetl  four  hours.  Xo 
one  on  the  Monarch  was  injured,  though  one 
man  wlio  was  ill  died  from  fright  and  dis- 
turbance. The  battle  was  precipitated  by  a 
man  on  Lieutenant  I'ritchard's  boat  being 
shot  by  a  Confederate  from  the  Mississippi 
side.  They  finally  reached  Memphis  in  safe- 
t)-.  At  Helena  some  gentlemen  came  on 
boanl  for  the  purpose  of  buying  their  Con- 
federate monev.  but  they  were  not  allowed 
to  sell.  At  Memphis,  however.  Mrs.  Stim- 
son  disposed  of  what  Confederate  money  she 
had,  receiving  only  thirty-seven  and  a  Half 
cents  on  the  dollar.  At  Cairo,  Illinois,  the 
company  separated  and  ^Irs.  Stimson  came 
l)ack  to  Rock  Island,  where  she  had  been 
mourned  for  lost  many  days,  and  was  looked 
upon  as  one  risen  from  the  dead.  She  then 
taught  in  the  graded  schools  of  that  city  and 
the  schools  of  Hampton.  Illinois,  until  her 
marriage,  in  1867.  That  siie  was  considered 
an  excellent  instructor  is  evinced  by  the  num- 
ber of  years  she  was  retained  in  the  same 
school.  She  was  progressive  in  her  meth- 
ods, was  a  great  student,  and  had  that  love 
for  her  profession  without  which  there  can 
be  no  success.  She  is  an  active  and  promi- 
nent member  of  Grace  Evangelical  Church 
of  Geneseo,  being  converted  at  the  early  age 
of  ten  years  under  the  ministry  of  IJishop 
Scott,  and  she  is  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed i^y  all  who  know  her  on  account  of 
her  sterling  worth.  Previous  to  uniting  with 
the  Grace  Evangelical  Church  she  was  con- 
nected for  many  years  with  the  I'^piscopal 
Church,  being  confirmed  by  liishoj)  Hoj)kins, 
of  X'ermont.     The  mother  of  Mr.  Stiiuson 


was  a  first  cousin  of  lienjamin  Franklin,  and 
the  family  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  in 
and  around  Boston. 


JAMI;:S  STEELE  IIAMILTOX. 

Among  the  early  settlers  and  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  Henr\-  count}'  was  Mr. 
Llamilton,  of  Geneseo,  who  was  affection- 
ately kntnvn  by  many  as  L^ncle  Steele.  He 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, on  the  1 2th  of  June,  181 2,  and 
lived  at  the  place  of  his  birth  vintil  coming 
to  Illinois.  His  father,  Alexander  Hamil- 
ton, was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  wiien  a 
young  man  came  to  this  country,  settling  in 
Westmoreland  county,  Pennsyhania,  where 
he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Steele.  There 
he  engaged  in  farming  throughout  his  life, 
and  died  November  18,  1845.  His  wife 
had  i)asse(l  away  November  10.  1834.  They 
were  the  parents  of  se\en  children. 

For  a  number  of  years  our  subject  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  the  county  of  his  na- 
tivity, and  when  but  a  xoung  man  came  to 
Henry  county.  Illinois.  He  puchased  a  farm 
in  Cornwall  township,  which  he  o|)erated 
for  several  years,  and  then  removed  to  lien- 
ton  county,  Iowa,  where  he  was  also  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  for  nine  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  period  he  returned  to  this 
county  and  took  up  iiis  abode  in  the  city  of 
Geneseo,  where  he  li\ed  a  retired  life  until 
h.is  death,  whicii  occurred  .March  15.  1889.  at 
the  present  home  of  his  widow. 

On  the  5th  of  March.  1S40,  in  Cornwall 
township.  Henrv  count)'.  Mr.  Hamilton  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  K.  'i"ay- 
lor.  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Polly 
(Brown)   Tayk)r.      Her    father  was    bom 


304 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


January  17.  1789,  in  New  Hampshire,  where 
lie  grew  to  manhood.  After  his  marriage 
lie  remnvetl  to  New  York,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  for  some  years,  an<l  then  went  to 
Indiana,  where  he  continued  to  follow  that 
jnirsuit  until  coming  to  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois. Locating  in  Cornwall  township,  he 
bought  a  farm,  which  he  operated  until 
■called  from  this  life  at  an  advanced  age. 
i\Irs.  Hamilton's  mother  had  died  in  New 
York  some  years  previous. 

Seven  chiklren  were  born  to  ^Ir.  and 
j\lrs.  Hamilton,  namely :  {  i )  Priscilla  died 
at  the  age  of  about  live  years.  (2)  John 
T.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  hardware  busi- 
ness in  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  married  Annie 
Jones,  and  they  have  two  children,  James  E. 
and  Faun.  (3)  Alexander  died  at  the  age 
of  one  year.  (4)  \\'illiam  W'.,  who  is  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  John  T.,  in  the 
hardware  business  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa, 
married  Josephine  Allsop,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Louise,  Jane  S.  and  Joseph- 
ine. (5)  Porter  H.,  who  is  also  connected 
with  his  brothers  in  business  at  Cedar  Rap- 
ids, but  is  now  in  California,  married  Car- 
lota  Sargent,  and  they  have  six  children, 
Alfred,  Richard,  Guy,  Clifford,  Porter  and 
Carlota.  (6)  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  William 
Orr,  a  retired  farmer  of  Geneseo,  and  they 
have  three  children,  I\Iary  E.,  Viella  and 
Roy. 

By  his  ballot  JNIr.  Hamilton  always  sup- 
ported the  men  and  measures  of  the  Deiiio- 
'Cratic  party,  but  never  cared  for  the  honors 
■or  emoluments  of  political  office,  though  he 
was  a  public  spirited  citizen  and  was  an  ad- 
vocate of  all  that  tended  to  improve  or  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  the  community  in 
which  he  lived.  He  was  a  man  of  many 
friends  and  no  enemies,  was  a  devoted  hus- 
l)and,  a  kind  and  indulgent  father,  and  true 


friend.  He  won  the  confidence  of  all  by 
whom  he  was  surrounded.  A  man  of  pow- 
erful ph3'sifjue,  he  was  also  a  man  of  firm 
mind  and  strong  will  power,  and  was  un- 
swerving in  what  he  beliexxd  to  be  right. 
He  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  and 
was  honored  for  his  strict  integrity  and  up- 
right character. 


THERON  H.  CHESLEY. 

Theron  H.  Chesley,  a  prominent  attor- 
ney of  Kewanee  and  president  of  the  Star- 
Courier  Printing  Company,  was  born  in 
Caledonia  county,  Vermont,  October  22, 
1857,  a  son  of  Albert  and  Lucretia  (Smith) 
Chesley.  He  traces  his  ancestry  back  to 
two  brothers  who  came  to  this  country  from 
England  in  the  early  part  of  theseventeenth 
century  and  settled  in  New  Hampshire, 
where  they  were  given  land  grants.  From 
that  state  the  paternal  grandfather  re- 
moved to  Vermont,  and  it  was  there  that  the 
father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  1828. 
Completing  his  education  in  the  local  schools 
he  engaged  in  farming  and  finally  embarked 
in  business  as  a  boot  and  shoe  dealer  at 
Sheffield,  \'ernioiit,  and  continued  the  same 
until  after  the  Ci\'il  war  broke  out.  In  the 
spring  of  1862  he  entered  the  army  and  re- 
mained in  the  service  until  hostilities  ceased. 
He  died  in  June,  1867.  His  widow  made 
her  home  with  our  subject  in  Illinois  from 
the  spring  of  1878  until  her  death  in  1888. 
Their  children  were  Theron  H.,  of  this  re- 
\iew;  and  Ella,  wife  of  Dr.  T.  B.  Keene, 
of  Montezuma,  Iowa.  By  a  former  mar- 
riage the  father  had  two  sons,  M.  A.,  pub- 
lisher of  the  Democrat  at  Chetopa,  Kansas; 
and  Albert  S.,  a  grocer  of  Kewanee. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


305 


The  early  education  of  our  sul)ject  was 
acquired  in  tlie  common  schools  of  the 
Green  Mountain  state,  and  there  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  i)rinter"s  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  in  different  places  in  Ver- 
mont, first  at  Lyndon.  In  1877  he  came  to 
this  state  and  at  once  found  employment 
wiili  the  Kewanee  Courier.  He  spent  a 
few  months  in  Cambridge,  and  in  1878  be- 
came local  editor  of  the  Kewanee  Courier. 
In  the  fall  of  1879  he  leased  the  paper  in 
connection  with  his  brother,  and  they  car- 
ried it  on  together  for  six  years.  In  1882 
Mr.  Chesley  purchased  the  whole  stock  and 
continued  its  publication  until  1S92,  when 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  L.  \\'.  Chand- 
ler, now  of  Independence,  Iowa.  In  the 
spring  of  1896  our  subject  started  a  daily, 
but  in  October  of  the  same  year  sold  out 
to  Delano  &  Plenderson,  who  continued  its 
publication  for  about  eighteen  months.  Mr. 
Chesley  then  bought  back  the  Courier  plant 
and  organized  a  company.  In  1898  he  con- 
solidated the  Star  and  Courier,  and  became 
president  of  what  is  known  as  the  Kewanee 
Printing  and  Publishing  Company,  which 
issues  both  a  daily  and  weekly  journal  and 
also  does  job  printing  of  all  kinds.  He 
started  in  business  here  on  a  small  scale, 
but  his  oiifice  is  now  equipped  with  the  most 
modern  improvements,  including  folding 
and  type-setting  machines.  He  owns  the 
Iniilding  occupied  by  him.  it  being  a  good 
brick  structure,  which,  with  adjoining 
buildings,  occupy  64x100  feet  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Main  and  Third  streets,  and  also 
has  a  pleasant  residence  in  Kewanee  be- 
sides farm  land  in  Nebraska.  Mr.  Ches- 
ley took  up  the  study  of  law  in  1891,  and 
four  years  later  entered  the  Kent  College 
of  Law  at  Chicago,  where  he  completed  his 


stutlies  and  was  graduated  in  1896.  In  the 
spring  of  the  following  year  he  commenced 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Kewanee, 
and  has  alread}-  met  with  fair  success  in  that 
enterprise. 

In  October.  1881,  ^Ir.  Chesley  was 
united  in  marriage  with  !Miss  Minnie  Whit- 
ney, who  was  born  in  Hastings,  Minnesota, 
October  28,  1861,  but  was  living  with  her 
parents  in  Kewanee  at  that  time.  Her  fa- 
ther. Dr.  C.  N.  ^\'hitney,  founded  the  Ke- 
wanee Courier  in  1876,  and  at  different 
time  has  edited  the  Ouincy  Whig  and  vari- 
ous papers  in  the  state.  He  is  a  well-edu- 
cated man,  who  has  been  a  Methodist 
preacher  and  temperance  lecturer,  but  is 
now  living  retired  at  Kingston,  Jamaica. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chesley  have  four  children, 
namely:  Merton  W.,  born  in  1882;  Willis 
[■'.,  in  1884;  Ella,  in  1887;  and  Theron  H., 
jr.,  in  1893.  All  are  now  attending"  school, 
and  the  oldest  son  also  aids  his  father  in  the 
printing  office. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Ches- 
ley has  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  done  all  in  his  power  to  ad- 
vance its  interests  and  insure  its  success. 
He  served  as  postmaster  of  Kewanee  under 
President  Harrison's  administration,  from 
1891  to  1895.  He  is  a  typical  business  man 
of  the  west — w^ide-awake  and  energetic — 
and  in  his  undertakings  has  been  eminently 
successful.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member 
of  the  blue  lodge,  chapter  and  council  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Kewanee,  and  also 
belongs  to  the  Modern  W^oodmen  of  Amer- 
ica, the  Royal  Circle  and  the  Mystic  Workers 
of  the  World.  Socially  he  is  quite  popular, 
Ijeing  genial  and  pleasant  in  manner,  and 
has  the  happy  faculty  of  making  friends 
readily,  and  as  easily  retaining  them.     He 


3o6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


gives  his  support  to  the  Congregational 
Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  an  earnest 
member. 


GEORGE  ALLEN  VAWTER,  D.  D.   S. 

Among  the  representative  professional 
and  business  men  of  Henry  county,  none 
stand  higher  in  the  estimation  of  the  general 
public  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who 
has  been  a  prominent  factor  in  business, 
professional  and  political  circles  of  the 
county  for  more  than  twenty-one  j-ears.  He 
is  a  native  of  the  state,  born  in  JNIacomb, 
the  county  seat  of  McDonough  county, 
(January  4,  1858.  His  father,  Allen  T. 
\'awter,  was  born  in  Cumberland  county, 
Kentucky,  December  14,  1830  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  JNIcDonough  count}-,  Illi- 
nois, in  1833.  On  a  farm  near  Macomb,  he 
grew  to  manhood.  He  then  moved  to  the 
city  of  Macomb,  in  1851,  when  he  engaged 
in  the  nursery  business,  being  one  of  the 
earliest  nurserymen  in  central  Illinois,  in 
which  line  of  business  he  is  still  engaged, 
having  a  record  of  forty-nine  years  of  con- 
tinual service  in  one  line  of  business. 

The  first  ancestor  of  the  family  settled 
in  Virginia,  where  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject.  Russell  Vawter,  was  born.  He 
always  lived  in  his  nati\e  county,  CuliJepper. 
His  son,  Beverly  Vawter,  was  born  in  Cul- 
pepper county,  \'irginia,  September  22,  1782, 
and  when  twenty-one  years  old  he  moved  to 
North  Carolina  where,  on  the  13th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1807,  he  married  Elizabeth  Hutchins, 
In  181 3  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  from  thence  to  JNIcDonough 
county,  Illinois,  in  1833,  becoming  a  pioneer 
farmer  in  that  county,  where  he  died,  April 
21,  1845.     He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 


1812.  On  the  14th  of  March,  1854,  Allen 
T.  \'awter  was  united  in  marriage  with 
^liss  Florida  Elizabeth  Kellogg,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  born  June  9,  1836.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  in  the  Civil 
war  gave  his  life  for  his  country.  Of  the 
seven  children  born  to  Allen  T.  Vawter  and 
wife  but  three  survive — Lemuel  E.,  now  of 
Macomb,  Illinois;  Harry  M.,  a  dentist  of 
Knoxville,  Iowa,  and  a  director  in  one  of 
the  leading  banks  of  that  city ;  and  our  sub- 
ject. The  parents  are  both  members  of  the 
Alethodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Macomb, 
the  father  having  been  for  many  years  one 
of  its  trustees. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Macomb,  Illi- 
nois, our  subject  received  his  education,  be- 
ing a  graduate  of  the  high  school  of  that 
city  in  the  class  of  1876.  Soon  after  his 
graduation  lie  commenced  the  study  of 
dentistry  with  Dr.  H.  H.  \\'hissen,  of 
]\Iacomb.  At  that  time  there  were  but  few- 
dental  schools  in  existence,  and  the  differ- 
ent states  had  no  definite  requirements  for 
the  practice  of  dentistry.  In  after  years 
the  Doctor,  for  his  own  gratification,  took 
a  full  course  in  dentistry  in  the  dental  de- 
partment of  the  State  University  of  Iowa, 
graduating  from  that  institution  in  JMarch, 
1894.  He  located,  however,  in  Cambridge, 
in  1879,  and  there  he  has  since  continued  to 
reside  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Few 
dentists,  even  in  the  larger  cities  have  had  a 
larger  or  more  lucratice  practice.  In  1892 
he  built  a  model  dental  office  of  the  cottage 
type,  suiTounded  by  a  nice  lawn,  and  com- 
plete in  every  detail.  It  is  equipped  with  a 
mantle  and  fireplace,  and  is  supplied  with 
hot  and  cold  water,  with  fountain  cuspidor. 
Telephones  and  electric  lights  show  evidence 
of  twentieth  century  progress.  It  has  a 
large  plate  glass  window  in  the   front  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


307 


anotlier  one  in  tlie  north  which  furnishes 
the  hglit  with  wliich  to  operate  by,  and  with 
the  aid  of  a  lady  assistant  his  office  is  always 
kept  neat  and  tidy. 

Dr.  Vawter  is  a  stalwart  Republican, 
and  he  has  always  been  a  hard  worker  for 
his  party.  At  present  he  is  chairman  of  the 
Republican  central  committee  of  Cambridge, 
in  which  position  he  has  shown  good  ex- 
ecutive ability,  doing  much  to  advance  the 
interests  of  the  party.  He  has  served  on 
the  town  board  as  trustee,  and  also  as  presi- 
dent of  the  board.  \\'hile  on  the  board  he 
was  one  of  the  committee  that  put  in  the 
splendiil  water  works  plant  of  Cambridge. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Eastern  Star,  and 
Si  Psi  Phi,  the  latter  being  a  dental  so- 
ciety. In  each  of  these  organizations  he  has 
taken  an  active  part. 

On  the  14th  of  Xovember,  1883,  Dr. 
\'awter  was  united  in  marriage  with  JNIiss 
Xellie  I.  Gould,  daughter  of  L.  Y.  and 
I  Orlano  Paddock  (ilead)  Gould,  and  they 
reside  in  a  good  home  in  the  south  part  of 
the  city,  where  their  many  friends  always 
receive  a  cordial  welcome.  They  attend  and 
support  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
which  they  have  taken  much  interest,  though 
not  members.  For  a  number  of  years  the 
Doctor  has  been  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees. 

,  Dr.  ^'awter  has  been  a  successful  busi- 
ness man,  and  he  is  essentially  a  self-made 
man.  Inheriting  no  projierty,  all  that  he 
has  gained  has  been  acquired  by  his  own 
exertions  and  good  management.  He  as- 
sisted in  organizing  one  of  the  banks  in 
Cambridge,  and  has  also  been  interested  in 
the  organization  of  others.  He  is  now  con- 
nected with  some  large  business  enterprises, 
among  which  is  the  Philippine  Lumber  and 


Development  Company,  of  which  he  is  a 
director.  The  company  is  composed  of  some 
of  the  wealthiest  and  best  business  men  in 
the  country.  The  Philippine  islands  con- 
tain vast  quantities  of  timber,  of  which  there 
are  m^re  than  four  hundred  varieties  hi 
hardwood,  at  least  fifty  having  a  high  com- 
mercial value.  The  compan}^  with  its  ample 
capital,  propose  acquiring  and  developing 
the  vast  resources  of  the  country,  and,  be- 
ing the  first  to  enter  the  field,  will  doubtless 
reap  bountifully.  The  Doctor  is  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  Coliseum  Company  of 
Chicago,  the  directors  of  which  are  nearly 
identical  with  those  of  the  Philippine  Com- 
pany. P>w  men,  with  the  limited  means  at 
their  disposal  in  commencing  life  have  ac- 
complished more  than  Dr.  Vawter,  and  while 
he  has  been  prosperous,  he  is  imaffected  by 
his  gains,  is  easily  approached,  and  enjoys 
in  a  high  degree  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  the  people  with  whom  he  has  so  long  been 
associated. 


ADA-M  DUXLAP. 

.\mong  the  honored  citizens  and  retired 
farmers  of  Geneseo  none  is  more  worthy  of 
notice  in  this  volume  than  Adam  Dunlap, 
who  is  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest  at  his 
pleasant  home  on  North  State  street.  A  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Wayne  county 
on  the  18th  of  December,  1833,  and  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Nancy  (Finley)  Dunlap, 
whose  birthplace  was  the  north  of  Ireland. 
Coming  to  America  in  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  the  father  located  in 
\\'ayne  county,  Ohio,  where  he  became 
owner  of  a  good  farm  of  three  hundred 
acres,  on  which  he  made  his  home  through- 
out the  remainder  of  his  life.     He  was  born 


3o8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  1798,  and  died  February  23,  1852,  hav- 
ing only  survived  his  wife  nine  days,  her 
deatli  occurring  on  the  14th  of  the  same 
montli.  Both  were  earnest  and  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  were 
most  estimable  people.  Their  children  were 
as  fcillows:  ]\Iargaret  is  now  the  witlow 
of  i\.  J.  P5urns,  and  a  resident  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, California:  Thomas,  born  in  1832, 
died  Septeml)er  15,  1885;  Adam,  our 
subject,  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  Elizabeth, 
born  Xo\-eml)er  23,  1836,  died  in  1838; 
Mary  E.,  born  in  1838,  married  John 
Schnebly,  died  in  Lucas  county,  Iowa,  in 
1869;  Alexander,  born  January  13,  1841,  is 
engaged  in  farming  near  Winterset,  Iowa ; 
Nancy  J.  was  married  and  died  in  Califor- 
nia, August  15,  1866,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three;  James  P.,  born  April  18,  1845, 
is  a  druggist  and  express  agent  in  Califor- 
nia; William,  born  October  9,  1847,  died  in 
1857;  Archibald  F.  is  editor  of  the  "Repor- 
ter," a  newspaper  in  West  Salem,  Ohio; 
and  Andrew  J.  is  section  boss  on  the  Erie 
railroad  at  that  place. 

The  early  life  of  Adam  Dunlap  was 
passed  upon  his  father's  farm,  and  his  ed- 
ucation was  obtained  in  the  district  schools 
of  the  neighborhood.  In  1852  he  started 
out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and 
two  years  later  came  to  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  Phenix  township,  where 
he  -worked  on  a  farm  until  after  the  Civil 
war  broke  out.  In  1862  he  responded  to  his 
country's  call  for  aid  by  enlisting  in  Com- 
pany K,  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry.  His  first  engagement 
was  the  battle  of  Richmond,  Kentucky,  and 
the  winter  of  1862-3  was  spent  in  that  state. 
The  following  spring  the  regiment  went  in 
pursuit  of  Morgan,  and  was  later  at  Camp 
Nelson  on  the  Cumberland  river.     Being  ill 


and  unable  to  engage  in  active  army  service 
Mr.  Dunlap  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps,  and  sent  to  Jeffersonville, 
Indiana,  and  later  to  IMadison,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  remained  until  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment expired,  being  mustered  out  in  1865. 

Returning  to  Illinois,  he  was  married  on 
the  lotli  of  August,  that  year,  to  Airs.  Ala- 
linda  Merriman,  who  was  born  on  the  26th 
of  May,  1 81 3,  in  New  York  state,  and  died 
March  24,  1891.  She  was  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
was  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  her.  There  were  no  children  by  this 
union  but  by  her  former  marriage  Mrs.  Dun- 
lap had  six  children,  of  whom  mention  is 
made  in  the  sketch  of  William  Alerriman  on 
another  page  of  this  \olunie.  Our  subject 
was  again  married  December  5.  1895,  his 
second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Caroline 
Sieben,  widow  of  \^alentine  Seiben,  of  this 
county.  She  was  born  November  19,  1839, 
and  died  November  29,  1898.  She  held 
membership  with  the  United  Evangelical 
Churcli.  On  the  23d  of  October,  1900,  Mr. 
Dunlap  married  Mrs.  Lavilla  Schnaufer, 
v.itlow  of  Jacob  Schnaufer,  and  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Mary  Fatzinger,  nati\es  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  Mrs.  Dunlap  was  also 
l)orn.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  two 
children,  George  D.,  who  is  living  with 
our  subject,  and  Frank  J.,  now  attending 
Northwestern  College,  Napierville,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Dunlap  is  a  Methodist  in  religious 
belief,  and  officially  connected  with  the 
church  of  that  denomination  at  Geneseo. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Jenkins  Post, 
G.  A.  R.,  and  politically  is  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party.  For  many  years  he 
was  one  of  the  active  and  progressive  far- 
mers of  Henry  county,  as  well  as  one  of  its 
most  reliable  and  honored  citizens,  and  now 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


309 


in  his  declining  3-ears  he  is  enjoying  a  well- 
earned  rest,  free  from  the  cares  and  respon- 
sibilities of  business  life.  Throughout  the 
■county  he  is  widely  and  favorably  known. 


JOHN  M.  D.VVIS. 

John  M.  Dayis,  the  well-known  alderman 
of  the  first  ward  of  Kewanee,  Illinois,  was 
born  in  Wales,  on  the  20th  of  June,  1865, 
and  the  following  year  was  brought  to  .\mer- 
ica  by  his  parents,  Morgan  and  Joanna 
Dayis,  who  first  settled  in  Utah,  but  two 
jears  later  remoyed  to  Joliet,  Illinois. 
Troughout  his  actiye  business  life  the  father 
was  employed  as  a  roller  in  a  rolling  mill. 
He  died  in  1885,  at  the  age  of  seyenty- 
seyen  years,  and  his  wife  departed  this  life 
in  1882,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  The\' 
were  formerly  connected  with  the  Latter  Day 
Saints,  but  later  held  membership  in  the 
^Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  To  this  wor- 
thy couple  were  born  fourteen  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  youngest.  His 
brothers  and  sisters  who  are  still  li\ing  are 
William,  who  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Wales;  Dayid,  a  resident  of  Idaho:  Morgan, 
of  Illinois;  Jane,  wife  of  William  I'ickerel. 
■of  South  Chicago,  Illinois;  May  A.,  widow 
of  James  Mathews;  and  Miriam,  wife  of 
John  Fellen,  a  coal  miner  of  Kewanee,  all 
of  whom  are  liying. 

John  M.  Dayis  was  reared  in  Joliet,  Illi- 
nois, and  receiyed  his  education  in  its  pub- 
lic schools.  He  began  his  business  career 
as  a  nail  packer;  then  for  oyer  a  year  he  was 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  nails  in  Chi- 
cago as  an  employe ;  later  was  employed  in 
the  steel  department  of  a  rail  mill  and  subse- 
■quently  learned  the  puddler"s  trade,  to  whicli 


he  has  since  deyoted  his  energies.  In  1884 
lie  came  to  Kewanee,  and  has  since  been  em- 
plnyed  in  the  rolling  mill  at  this  place,  as  a 
puddler. 

Here  Mr.  Dayis  was  married,  in  1886,  to 
Emily  Jones,  who  was  born  in  Kewanee 
township,  this  county,  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Margaret  Jones.  She  is  one  of  a  fam- 
ily of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing are  Hying:  William,  a  resident  of  Ke- 
wanee, who  married  Martha  Jenkins  and  has 
fne  children,  John,  Lizzie,  Cassie,  George 
and  James ;  Jennie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Carr 
Mittin,  of  Kewanee,  and  has  two  children, 
George  and  Audrey;  and  Cassie,  wife  of 
James  IMercer,  of  Kewanee,  by  whom  she  has 
three  children,  Jessie,  Lola  and  Claude.  Mary 
J.,  another  sister  of  Mrs.  Dayis,  wedded 
Thomas  Palmer,  and  died  in  1893,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-nine  years,  leaying  four  children, 
Alargaret,  Abram,  Emma  and  May.  To 
Mr.  and  IMrs.  Davis  were  born  live  children, 
of  whom  the  eldest,  Dayid,  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one  months.  Those  living  are 
Raymond,  Opal,  Harry  and  Mary  A. 
(ieorge  Jones  was  born  in  Wales,  January 
I,  1830,  and  his  wife,  Margaret  Birch,  was 
also  born  in  Wales  June  20,  1832,  and  was 
there  married  and  came  to  Pennsylvania 
where  they  located  about  1865.  About 
1867  they  moved  to  Kewanee  township 
where  he  bought  a  farm  and  lived  until  re- 
tiring to  Kewanee  in  1887.  They  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Latter  Day  Saints.  He  was  ta.x 
colector  of  the  city  one  term. 

By  his  ballot  Mr.  Davis  su])ports  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Republican  party,  with 
which  his  father  and  the  other  members  of 
the  family  also  affiliated.  He  takes  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs,  and  in  April,  1900 
was  elected  alderman  of  the  first  ward  of  Ke- 
wanee, which  office  he  is  now  most  creditably 


3IO 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  satisfactorily  filling.  He  is  now  serving 
as  chairman  of  the  hall  committee,  and  is 
also  chairman  of  the  committee  on  sewer:? 
and  nuisances.  He  belongs  to  the  Royal 
Circle  and  Kewanee  Lodge,  Xo.  3,  of  the 
Amalgamated  Association  of  the  Iron,  Steel 
&:  Tin  Workers  of  which  he  is  now  treas- 
urer. Mrs.  Davis  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist  Cliurch. 


JOSEPH  H.  RINK. 

The  motto  "merit  always  commands  its 
reward"  is  well  exemplified  with  the  career 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  after  many 
3'ears  of  active  labor  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Geneseo,  surrounded  bj-  all  the  com- 
forts and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life  which 
have  been  gained  through  former  toil.  He 
was  born  in  Alsace,  Germany,  October  24, 
1833,  and  was  a  lad  of  tliirteen  years  when 
he  came  to  the  United  States  with  his  par- 
ents, Joseph  Herman  and  IMagdeline 
(Smith)  Rink.  After  spending  a  short  time 
in  Buflfalo,  Xew  York,  they  came  west  and 
settled  on  the  Rock  River  bottom.  It  was 
not  long  after  this,  however,  that  the. family 
took  up  government  land  in  Loraine  town- 
ship, this  county,  and  transformed  the  wild 
tract  into  a  good  farm.  There  the  parents 
both  died  at  an  advanced  age,  and  were 
buried  in  Eight  Mile  Grove  cemetery,  Lo- 
raine township.  In  their  family  were  six 
children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living,  Mr. 
Rink  being  the  only  surviving  son. 

Joseph  Rink  continued  to  reside  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Loraine  township  until 
1899,  when  he  removed  to  Geneseo,  and  has 
since  lived  a  retired  life.  On  first  coming  to 
this  county  he  took  up  forty  acres  of  land, 
to  which  he  added  from  time  to  time  as  his 


financial  resources  permitted  until  he  owned 
seven  hundred  and  forty  acres,  which  he 
placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
improved  with  good  buildings.  Since  his  re- 
moval to  Geneseo  he  has  erected  a  large  and 
modern  cit}-  residence  on  Palace  street,  where 
he  is  now  living  in  ease  and  quiet. 

At  Hooppole,  Illinois,  he  was  married, 
]\Iarch  II,  1857,  to  Miss  Helen  Egert,  also  a 
native  of  Alsace,  Germany,  and  one  of  a 
family  of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are 
now  living.  She  was  fifteen  years  of  age 
on  her  emigration  to  the  new  world  in  com- 
pany with  her  parents,  George  and  Anastasia 
(Yagley)  Egert,  who  located  at  Hooppole. 
There  the  father  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three,  the  mother  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 

Of  the  thirteen  children  bom  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Rink  six  are  living,  namely :  ( i )  Frank 
is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Loraine  township, 
this  county,  though  a  part  of  his  farm  is  in 
\\hiteside  county.  He  married  Kate  Kirsh- 
ner  and  they  have  four  children,  Ida,  Law- 
rence, Cletus  and  Etta.  (_2)  Lewis  lives 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Loraine  township. 
(3)  Joseph,  a  fanner  of  the  same  township, 
married  Xellie  Collins,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Ruth  and  an  infant.  (4)  Sarah 
and  (5)  William  are  both  with  their  par- 
ents.    (6)  Mathias  lives  on  the  home  farm. 

Mr.  Rink  and  his  family  are  communi- 
cants of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and 
are  people  of  prominence  in  the  community 
where  they  reside.  Their  new  home,  erected 
in  1900,  is  one  of  the  finest  of  Geneseo.  Mr. 
Rink  was  very  poor  when  he  started  out  in 
life  for  himself.  As  his  father  was  paralyzed 
and  unable  to  care  for  himself  and  family 
thus  the  burden  fell  upon  the  shoulders  of 
the  young  man  who,  however,  was  equal  to 
the  emergency,  and  well  did  he  perform  its 
arduous  duties.     By  industry,  energ}'  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3" 


good  management  he  worked  his  way  stead- 
ily upward  until  lie  became  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  citizens  of  Loraine  township, 
having  accumulated  a  handsome  property. 
Recently  he  has  been  afflicted  with  deafness, 
now  being  unable  to  carry  on  a  conversation 
except  in  writing,  but  he  bears  patiently 
his  great  affliction,  and  takes  a  deep  interest 
in  all  that  is  going  on  alxjut  him,  especially 
in  that  pertaining  to  the  welfare  and  happi- 
ness of  his  family. 


ERICK  HANSON. 

Erick  Hanson,  whose  home  is  at  711 
South  Tremont  street,  Kewanee,  Illinois, 
was  born  near  Stockholm,  Sweden,  on  the 
24th  of  January,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Hans 
and  Anna  Anderson,  who  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  that  country.  The  father  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade  in  early  life  and  ever 
afterward  followed  contracting  and  building. 
He  died  at  the  ripe. old  age  of  eighty-three 
years,  and  his  wife's  death  occurred  when 
she  was  seventy-four  years  of  age.  In  their 
family  were  twelve  children  who  reached 
years  of  maturity,  namely :  Mary,  John, 
Anna,  P^eter,  Erick,  Carrie,  Sophia,  Emma, 
Letta.  Axel,  Hattie  and  August.  Peter  is 
now  deceased;  Sophia  is  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Bergren  of  Michigan ;  and  the  others  are  All 
residents  of  Sweden  with  the  exception  of 
our  subject. 

Erick  Hanson  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  land,  \\hen  his 
school  days  were  over  he  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  which  he  followed  until  he 
attained  his  majority,  and  then  gave  his  at- 
tention to  carpenter  work,  being  a  natural 
mechanic  and  skillful  in  the  use  of  all  kinds 


of  tools.  In  1870  he  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  America  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Moline,  Illinois,  where  he  spent  two  years 
and  a  half.  He  then  removed  to  Genesee, 
where  he  built  a  fine  home  and  he  followed 
shoemaking  until  1892,  since  which  time  he 
has  engaged  in  carpentering  in  connection 
with  otherwork.  Since  the  fall  of  1900  he 
has  made  his  home  in  Kewanee,  and  al- 
though his  residence  here  is  of  short  duration 
he  has  gained  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact  either 
in  business  or  social  life.  He  is  the  owner 
of  a  nice  home  in  this  city,  having  sold  his 
Geneseo  residence. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1872,  at 
Geneseo,  Mr.  Hanson  married  Miss  Chris- 
tina L.  M.  Ericson,  a  native  of  Sweden,  born 
December  i,  1849,  ^^'^o  came  to  America  in 
1871.  Six  years  later  her  parents,  Alex- 
ander and  Stinagreta  (Swanson)  Erickson, 
also  came  to  the  United  States,  settling  first 
at  Geneseo.  The  father  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years,  but  the  mother  is  still  liv- 
ing at  the  age  of  seventy-eight,  an  honored 
and  highly  respected  resident  of  Kewanee. 
Mrs.  Hanson  is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of 
four  children,  the  others  being  Caroline, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Charles  .Peterson 
and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years; 
Peter,  who  died  February  i,  1898,  at  the 
age  od  forty-two  years;  and  A.  G.,  a  farmer 
of  Kewanee  township. 

Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Hanson  are  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  namel}' :  Almina  M.,  a 
successful  dressmaker  of  Kewanee,  takes  a 
great  interest  in  church  work  and  has  been 
a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school  for  the  past 
ten  years.  Nellie  D.  was  educated  at  the 
Geneseo  high  school,  and  for  seven  years 
has  taught  in  the  schools  in  Henry  county, 
in  the    meantime    attending    the    teachers' 


312 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


training  scliool,  known  at  the  N.  I.  T.  I., 
for  five  summers.  Ellen  E.  is  a  photog- 
rapher of  Geneseo.  Martin  E.  was  graduated 
from  the  Geneseo  Collegiate  Institute  in 
1900,  and  is  now  taking  a  post-gaduate 
course.  He  took  first  prize  in  a  declamatory 
contest  held  at  Geneseo  May  25,  1900,  re- 
ceiving ten  dollars  in  gold,  and  was  president 
of  his  class  which  numbered  eighteen.  Su- 
san M.  is  clerking  in  Kewanee.  Florence  C. 
and  Paulus  F.  are  both  attending  the  public 
schools.  Otelius  L.  died  January  5,  1896, 
at  the  age  of  two  years,  tlu'ee  months  and 
nineteen  days.  The  family  hold  membership 
in  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  and  while 
a  resident  of  Geneseo  Mr.  Hanson  served  as 
janitor  of  his  church  for  four  years,  and 
and  also  acted  as  librarian,  having  charge  of 
three  hundred  volumes  published  in  both 
English  and  Swedish.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  also  members  of  the  Fraternal  Tribune 
of  which  he  is  now  trustee  and  are  held  in 
high  regard  by  all  who  know  them. 


LEVI  FRONK. 


Among  the  honored  pioneers  and  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  Henry  county  was  num- 
bered Levi  Fronk,  now  deceased.  He  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  on 
the  4th  of  December,  1815,  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Sarah  Fronk.  Dauphin  county  was 
also  the  birth  place  of  his  father,  who 
throughout  his  active  business  life  followed 
the  occupation  of  farming.  About  1841  he 
came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  settled 
in  Cornwall  township,  where  he  made  his 
home  until  called  to  his  final  rest,  about 
thirty  years  ago,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 
His  wife  died  two  years  previous  at  the  age 


of  sixty.  They  were  the  parents  of  five 
children  of  whom  one  is  still  living. 

Levi  Fronk  grew  to  manhood  m  the 
place  of  his  birth,  and  there  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  coming  to  this  county 
in  1838.  He  became  the  owner  of  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  rich  land  in 
Cornwall  township,  which  was  all  wild  when 
it  came  into  his  possession.  He  erected 
thereon  a  log  house  in  which  the  family 
lived  while  he  broke  the  virgin  soil  and  im- 
proved the  place.  He  was  a  hard  wi  irking, 
industrious  man,  and  through  his  well  di- 
rected efforts  accumulated  a  comfortable 
competence.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  engaged  in  stock  raising  to  some 
extent,  .\bout  1885  he  laid  aside  business 
cares  and  remo\-ed  to  Geneseo,  where  he 
spent  his  remaining  days  in  ease  and  quiet 
at  his  pleasant  h(^me  on  East  Pearl  street. 
There  he  died  after  two  years'  illness  No- 
vember 14,  1900,  and  was  laid  to  rest  iu 
Liberty  church^-ard. 

Before  leaving  Penns}'l\ania  ]\Ir.  Fronk 
married,  January  i,  1838,  to  !Miss  Xancy 
Shields,  a  native  of  Juniata  county,  that 
state,  where  she  resided  until  her  marriage. 
Her  parents,  Frank  and  ]\Iary  ( Baricke- 
man)  Shields,  were  lite-long  residents  of 
Penns}-l\'ania.  ar.d  the  father  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  She  is  the  only  one  of  their 
ten  children  now  living.  Unto  ^Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Fronk  were  born  twelve  children,  as 
follows:  Henrietta,  wife  of  John  Murphy, 
a  retired  farmer  of  Geneseo,  by  whom 
she  has  three  children.  Flora,  Xancy  and 
Emma;  Sarah,  wife  of  Sheldon  H.  Ayres, 
a  farmer  of  Olathe,  Kansas;  Rebecca,  wife 
of  W'iliam  Bellairs,  of  \'alley  Junction, 
Iowa;  Cyrus,  who  died  Xovember  29,  1883, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years;  ]\Iatilda, 
v.idow  of  George  Armstrong,  of  Cornwall 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


313 


township,  tliis  county,  wlio  died  August  9, 
1900,  aged  forty-seven  years;  Joseph  L.,  a 
resident  of  Grant  City,  Missouri ;  Clemen- 
tine, wife  of  Bryan  Runiler,  of  Cambridge, 
Illinois;  Henry  B.,  a  resident  of  Kansas 
Citj*;  Margaret,  wife  of  a  yir.  Rowe.  of 
Grass  Valley,  California;  Tamson,  wife  of 
Andrew  Rush,  of  Chicago,  by  whom  she  has 
due  sun,  Edward;  Ellen,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; and  Jolm,  a  resident  of  Hamilton, 
i\Iissouri. 

On  coining  to  Henry  county  Mr.  Fronk 
f(.>und  this  region  nearly  all  wild  with  \ery 
few  settlements;  the  houses  were  widely 
scattered  and  deer  and  wolves  were  often 
seen  on  the  prairies,  but  during  his  residence 
here  this  was  all  changed,  the  county  became 
thickly  settled,  and  highly  cultivated  farms 
and  thriving  cities  and  towys  were  to  be 
seen  in  every  direction.  In  the  work  of 
development  and  progress  he  ever  bore  his 
part  and  was  accounted  one  of  the  most  use- 
ful and  valued  citizens  of  his  community. 
By  his  ballot  he  supported  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  and  as  a 
public-spirited  citizen  he  advocated  all 
measures  tending  to  improve  or  advance  the 
interests  of  the  comnumity  in  which  he 
lived.  He  was  an  active  and  consistent 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  was  a 
man  who  made  many  friends  and  no 
enemies,  being  generous,  honest,  and  upright 
in  all  his  tlealings. 


WILLI. \M  WILSOX  STEVEXS. 

William  Wilson  Stevens,  deceased,  was 
one  of  the  honored  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  Kewanee.  He  was  born  in  Pem- 
broke, Xew  York,  August     13,     1822,    his 


parents  being  Ira  and  Elizabeth  (\\'el)b) 
Stevens,  who  came  to  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1850  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  W'eth- 
ersfield  township,  which  the  father  operated 
until  his  death.  His  wife  had  died  several 
years  previously,  passing  away  in  1853. 
They  were  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  were  held  in  high  regard  by 
all  who  knew  them.  Of  their  five  children 
William  \\".  w  as  the  oldest ;  Charlotte  first 
married  a  Mr.  Harding  and  second  a  Mr. 
Wood,  and  is  now  deceased ;  Adelaide  is  the 
wife  of  Rev.  John  Thompson,  district  super- 
intendent of  the  Bible  Society  in  Califor- 
nia ;  Isabel  married  Andrew  Ziegler  and 
died  in  California;  and  Ira  is  a  farmer  of 
Iowa. 

In  his  native  state  William  W.  Stevens 
was  reared  and  educated,  in  early  lite  he 
traveled  extensively  through  the  southern 
states  as  salesman  for  a  Xew  York  con- 
cern, and  made  his  home  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, for  many  years.  From  there  he  came 
to  Wethersfield,  where  he  owned  a  large 
farm  and  other  propert}-.  He  was  marrietl 
Xovember  2,  1854,  to  ^liss  Xancy  M. 
Loomis,  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Celah  and  Easther  ( Howard )  Loomis 
of  that  state,  but  who  located  in  Wethers- 
field township  in  1850,  where  he  lived  a  re- 
tired life.  The  father  was  born  April  25, 
1785,  and  died  February  8,  1872,  while  the 
mother  was  born  X'ovember  2,  1784,  and 
died  December  14,  1870.  Both  were  earnest 
and  consistent  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  in  which  the  father  served  as 
deacon  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life. 
To  them  were  born  nine  children,  of  whom 
two  died  in  infancy.  The  others  were  Mary 
S.,  who  wedded  Joseph  A.  Talcott  and  botli 
are  now  deceased;  Harriet  E.,  who  mar- 
ried Albert  Kellugg  and  died  in   Wethers- 


314 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


field,  this  county;  William  C,  who  married 
Emeline  Isbel  and  died  in  Henry  county, 
his  widow  being  still  a  resident  of  Kewanee : 
Lyman,  who  died  in  Michigan;  Cynthia, 
deceased  wife  of  A.  Chapin;  Orin  H.,  who 
is  represented  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume; and  Nancy  M.,  now  Mrs.  Stevens. 
The  five  children  born  to  our  subject  and 
his  wife  were  as  follows :  Elizabeth  \\'., 
v.ife  of  William  H.  Lyman,  who  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  firm  of  Lay  &  Ly- 
man, merchants  of  Kewanee,  and  by  whom 
she  has  one  son,  W.  H.,  Jr. ;  Clark  L.,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance 
business  in  Kewanee;  ^lar)-  C,  wife  of  C. 
B.  Piatt,  of  \  an  Meter,  Iowa,  by  whom  she 
has  one  child,  Allen  S. ;  Helen  L.,  and 
William  Howard,  who  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth  and  died  in  1859,  at  the  age  of 
three  years. 

It  was  in  1854  that  ^Ir.  Stevens  came  to 
Henry  county,  and  throughout  the  remain- 
der of  his  life  made  his  home  in  AN'ethers- 
field  and  Kewanee.  He  was  here  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business  for  a  few  years, 
but  practically  lived  retired,  although 
serving  as  one  of  the  early  directors  of  the 
Union  National  Bank.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  school  board  for  nine  years,  and 
also  served  on  the  town  board  for  a  time. 
By  his  ballot  he  supported  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
was  an  active  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  to  which  his  widow 
also  belongs.  He  died  ^larch  23,  1900,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  and  his  death 
occasioned  the  deepest  regret  throughout 
the  community.  He  was  a  man  of  the  high- 
est respectability,  and  those  who  were  most 
intimately  associated  with  him  speak  in  un- 
qualified terms  of  his  sterling  integrity,  his 
honor  in  business    and  his    fidelitv  to    the 


duties  of  public  and  private  life.  He  was 
faithful  to  his  church,  to  his  country  and  to 
his  friends,  and  in  his  home  was  a  most  ex- 
emplary husband  and  father,  ilrs.  Stevens 
is  an  estimable  lady  of  many  sterling  quali- 
ties, and  has  a  large  circle  of  friends  in  the 
communitv. 


L\MES  BLAIR. 


James  Blair,  deceased,  was  for  thirty 
years  a  prominent  farmer  of  Kewanee  town- 
ship, owning  and  operating  one  hundred  and 
sixt}-  acres  of  land  on  section  18,  where  his 
widow  now  resides.  He  was  born  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  on  the  5th  of  July,  1829.  a 
son  of  James  and  [Margaret  (Hall  Blair. 
The  father  was  born  in  Cadiz,  Ohio,  and 
removed  earn-  to  Peoria  county,  Illinois, 
where  his  death  occurred  in  1850.  The 
mother  was  a  native  of  County  Armagh, 
Ireland,  and  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when 
she  came  with  her  parents  to  the  United 
States.  She  died  in  this  county  about  1866. 
Of  her  seven  children  only  one  is  now  liv- 
ing, David,  a  resident  of  Silver  Creek,  Ne- 
braska. 

On  reaching  manhood  James  Blair  was 
married  in  La  Salle  count}",  Illinois,  Decem- 
ber 26,  1854,  to  Miss  Lucy  E.  Emerson, 
who  was  born  in  Greenbriar  county.  West 
\'irginia,  ^Nlay  18,  1830.  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  ^lary  (Hinkley)  Emerson, 
born  in  ^Massachusetts  and  Ohio,  respect- 
ively. He  came  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried, and  soon  after  moved  to  \\'est  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  died  December  28,  1859, 
and  his  wife  December  20,  1893.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal  Church. 
The  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife  were  as  follows:  {i)  Amos,  born  June 


UNIVtHii  1 1  Uf  ILLINOI 
URBANA 


JAMES   BLAIR. 


MRS     LYDIA   E.    BLAIR. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


319 


6,  1856,  married  Evelyn  Lorey,  and  lives  on 
the  adjoining  farm.  (2)  Augusta,  born 
January  16,  1858,  is  the  wife  of  William 
D.  Oliver,  a  farmer  of  Burns  township,  and 
they  have  three  children,  James  C,  Perry  A. 
and  Harold  C.  (3)  John  L..  liorn  in  Ke- 
wanee  township  August  31,  1859,  married 
Fannie  Scott,  and  they  liave  two  children, 
Florence  F.  and  Ellis  S.  (4)  Benjamin  V., 
born  February  12,  1862,  is  a  farmer  of  El- 
inira  township.  Stark  county,  Illinois.  He 
wedded  Mary  H.  Avery,  and  they  have  four 
children,  Orlando  V.,  Alice  A.,  Elsie  I.  and 
Virgil.  (5)  ^lary  Elma  born  December  30, 
1863,  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Milburn,  of 
Burns  township,  Henry  county,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  three  children,  Lee,  Edith 
May  and  Cecil.  (6)  Sarah  Ella,  twin  sis- 
ter of  Mary  Elma,  died  in  1868,  at  the  age  of 
four  years  and  four  months,  having  been  ac- 
cidentally burned,  from  the  effects  of  which 
she  never  recovered.  (7)  Lucy  Ida,  born 
August  3,  1874,  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  H. 
Ensminger,  a  farmer  of  Wethersfield  town- 
ship, and  they  have  two  children,  Alta  Jklay 
and  Hazel  Fern. 

In  1856,  soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Blair  came  to  Henry  county,  and  rented  the 
John  Rathbon  farm  in  Burns  township  for 
three  years.  His  first  purchase  of  land  con- 
sisted of  ten  acres  in  Kewanee  township,  for 
which  he  paid  fifty  dollars,  and  from  which 
he  cut  the  timber.  Later  he  bought  twenty 
acres  for  twenty  dollars  per  acre,  and  sub- 
sequently sold  the  tract  to  F.  Gunther  for 
five  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars.  He 
then  purchased  eighty  acres  of  the  home- 
stead,to  which  he  later  added  another  eighty- 
acre  tract.  He  placed  the  land  under  culti- 
vation and  made  many  permanent  improve- 
ments thereon.  Here  he  made  his  home  until 
called  to  his  final  rest,  on  the   i  =ith  ni  Julv. 


1883.  He  was  widely  antl  favorably  known 
throughout  the  county  where  the  best  years 
of  his  life  were  passed,  and  he  always  com- 
manded the  confidence  and  respect  of  those 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact  either  in 
business  or  social  life.  Mrs.  Blair  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Ebenezer,  Burns  township,  and,  like  her  hus- 
band, she  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who 
know  her. 


SA^IUEL  GOEMBEL. 

The  subect  of  this  sketch  is  a  leading 
representative  of  the  business  interests  of 
Geneseo,  Illinois,  where  he  is  extensively 
engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  grain,  and 
also  deals  in  hard  and  soft  coal.  A  native 
of  this  state,  he  was  born  in  Tazewell 
county,  March  12,  1850,  his  parents  being 
Jacob  and  Louisa  (Luther)  Goembel.  The 
father  was  born  in  Niederaula,  Kreis 
Herschfeld,  Kurfeustenthun,  Hessen,  Ger- 
many, on  the  17th  of  May,  1824,  and  in 
TS34  came  to  America  with  his  i)arents,  Se- 
bastian and  Anna  (Schaeffer)  Goembel. 
After  sixty-three  days  upon  the  water,  the 
family  landed  at  New  Orleans,  June  9, 
1834,  whence  they  proceeded  up  the  Miss- 
issippi and  Illinois  rivers  to  Peoria,  and 
across  the  country  to  Tazewell  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  Sebastian  Goembel  bought  a 
farm  and  also  secured  a  quarter  section  of 
government  land.  His  last  days  were  spent 
in  Washington,  that  county,  where  he  died 
at  about  the  age  of  seventy-si.x  years.  His 
v.ife  was  over  eighty-three  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  her  death.  For  many  years  they 
held  membership  in  the  Evangelical  Associa- 
tion, and  were  highly  resjiected  by  all  who 
knew  thoni.     Of  their  nine  children  onlv  the 


320 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


eldest  daughter.  Catherine,  wife  of  John 
Minch,  of  Washington,  and  Jacol:),  father  of 
our  subject,  are  now  living. 

Jacob  Goembel  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  educated  in  the  German  language, 
having  never  attended  English  schools. 
The  family  came  directly  to  Peoria,  Illinois. 
They  located  five  miles  from  that  city,  in 
Tazewell  county,  where  he  assisted  his 
father  and  older  brother  in  opening  up  a 
farm.  They  marketed  their  grain  in  Chi- 
cago, conveying  it  thither  with  a  four- 
horse  team,  such  as  is  now  seldom  seen  in 
this  part  of  the  west.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one,  he  left  the  farm  and  A\-ent  to  Chicago, 
where  he  worked  as  a  teamster  for  ten  dol- 
lars per  month.  In  1846  he  was  married  in 
Lake  county,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Louisa  Lu- 
ther, a  native  of  New  York,  born  January 
28,  1826,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Jacob  Lu- 
ther, wild  came  to  this  country  from  Ger- 
many about  1 82 1.  She  is  one  of  a  family 
of  ten  children,  three  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing. After  his  marriage  Mr.  Goembel 
worked  in  a  slaughter  house  in  Peoria  for  a 
year,  and  then  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  Farm  creek,  Tazewell  county,  which 
he  sold  in  185 1  on  coming  to  Henry  county. 
Here  he  entered  a  tract  of  government  land 
on  section  30,  Yorktown  township,  and  en- 
gaged in  its  cultivation  until  1863,  when  he 
bqught  another  farm  in  the  same  locality, 
and  made  his  home  there  until  his  removal 
to  Geneseo  in  1876.  He  is  still  the  owner 
of  a  valuable  tract  of  ninety-one  acres  in 
Yorktown  township,  but  is  now  living  a 
retired  life  in  Geneseo.  His  political  sup- 
port is  given  the  Republican  party,  and  he 
filled  the  office  of  school  trustee  for  many 
years.  He  and  his  wife  are  prominent  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Association,  and  he 
is  now  a  trustee  of  the  church. 


This  worthy  couple  are  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  namely :  W.  SA-dney,  a  resi- 
dent of  Geneseo,  married  Laura  Early  anil 
h.ad  three  children,  Lowell  (deceased,  Ethel 
and  Leanora;  Samuel,  our  subject,  is  next  in 
order  of  birth;  Edward,  a  farmer  of  York- 
town  township,  married  Emma  Rapp  and 
has  three  children,  Ada,  Harvey  and  Bessie ; 
Peter,  a  farmer  of  Minnesota,  married 
Christina  Rapp  and  has  six  children,  Olive, 
Arthur,  Jesse,  Perry,  Edith  and  Vernon ; 
Anna  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Glabe,  a  contrac- 
tor of  Tazewell  countv:  Lvdia  is  the  wife  of 
Isaac  Krimbill.  of  ^linnesota,  and  has  five 
children.  Blanche,  \'era,  \\"innie,  Clarence 
and  Archie;  John  E.,  an  attorney  of  Rock- 
ford,  Illinois,  married  ^linnie  Grosskopp; 
A\'ilhelmina  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years ; 
and  Catherine  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
months. 

Samuel  Goeml)el  attended  the  district 
school  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  then 
assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm  until  he  attained  his  majority.  After 
leaving  the  parental  roof  he  continued  to 
engage  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  July 
31.  1897,  when  he  came  to  Geneseo  and  em- 
barked in  the  grain  and  coal  business,  which 
he  is  now  so  successfully  carrying  on.  He 
owns  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
wel  improved  and  highly  cultivated  land  in 
Yorktown  and  Loraine  townships,  this 
townships,  this  county,  besides  his  pleasant 
residence  and  two  lots  in  Geneseo,  where  he 
resides.  He  also  has  a  half  interest  in  the 
Arnold  &  Goembel  elevator  at  this  place. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  1872,  Mr.  Goem- 
bel was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Re- 
becca Zinser,  of  Washington,  Tazewell 
county,  who  was  born  in  Clark  county,  this 
state,  a  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Catherine 
(Tobias)     Zinser.     Her    father,    who    was. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


32f 


1)orn  ill  1818.  died  in  1884,  while  her  mother 
died  in  October,  1899,  at  tlie  age  of  nearly 
seventy-six  years.  In  their  family  were 
eleven  children  as  follows :  I'rank,  married 
Agnes  Casebeer,  of  Pennsyhania,  and  is 
now  engaged  in  dairy  fanning  in  Colorado; 
]\Iary  is  the  wife  of  .\clam  Coker.  a  farmer 
of  Tazewell  county,  Illinois;  Elizabeth  is 
the  wife  of  John  Ott.  of  Clear  Lake.  Iowa; 
Caroline  is  the  wife  of  Amos  Smith,  of 
Plainfield.  Illinois;  Rebecca,  wife  of  our 
subject,  is  ne.xt  in  order  of  birth;  George 
married  Priscilla  Boyer,  and  is  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business  of  Manhattan,  Illi- 
nois; Solomon  married  Lizzie  Bloomershine 
and  follows  farming  in  Tazewell  county; 
.Amelia  is  the  wife  of  George  Ferner.  of 
Washington,  Illinois;  Daniel  married  Sarah 
Goesle  and  lives  in  Chicago;  Sophia  is  the 
widow  of  Edward  Kale  and  a  resident  of 
Washington,  Illinois;  and  two  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Air.  and  Mrs.  Goembel  are  the  parents 
of  nine  children:  Harry  S.,  who  married 
Ida  Apples  and  has  two  children,  Russell 
and  Harold;  Franklin  J.,  who  married 
Sarah  Weiterholt  and  lives  an  a  farm  in 
this  county;  Sylva  Etta,  wife  of  \\'illiam 
Countryman,  living  on  section  20,  Yorktown 
township;  Lottie  \lola,  wife  of  Edwin 
Countryman,  a  carpenter  and  contractor  of 
Hooppole,,  by  whom  she  has  one  child 
Ruth;  and  Mabel  B.,  Emory  W'.,  Estella, 
Roscoe  G.  and  Cassie  L.,  all  at  home. 

Air.  Goembel  and  wife  hold  membership 
in  Grace  L'nited  Evangelical  Church,  of 
which  he  is  a  trustee,  and  he  also  belongs  to 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  .\merica  and  the 
Knights  of  the  Globe.  In  political  senti- 
ment he  is  independent.  For  twelve  years 
he  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
and  was  township  clerk  eight  years.    Of  ex- 


cellent business  ability  and  broad  re- 
sources, he  has  attained  a  prominent  place 
among  the  substantial  citizens  of  his  juirt 
of  the  county,  and  has  won  success  by  his 
well-directed,  energetic  cfi'orts.  his  pros- 
perity  being   well    deserved. 


A.  C.  T.WLOR. 

Among  Henry  county's  native  sons  is 
tliis  well-known  business  man  of  Kewanee, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Wethedsfield  town- 
ship on  the  -'3(1  of  May.  1853.  His  father. 
John  Taylor,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
of  which  state  the  grandfather,  David  Tay- 
lor, was  a  life-long  resident,  his  occupation 
being  that  of  farming.  In  the  latter's  family 
were  five  children,  namely:  David;  Enoch, 
a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyhania; 
John,  father  of  our  subject;  Ellen,  wife  of 
Garrett  Brown,  of  Kewanee,  Illinois;  and 
Mary,  wiilow  of  E.  T.  Bevan,  who  was  a 
farmer  of  ^^■ethersf^eld  township,  thi.s 
county.  John  Taylor  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  state, 
and  in  early  life  learned  the  trade  of  broom 
making.  In  1850  he  came  to  Plenry  county, 
Illinois,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  ^^'etll- 
ersfield  township,  where  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  the  only 
improvement  thereon  being  a  small  house. 
He  broke  his  land  with  oxen  and  placed  it 
under  cultivation.  .\s  his  financial  re- 
sources increased  he  added  t-o  his  landed 
possessions  from  time  to  time  until  he  had 
six  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  of  which  five 
liundred  and  sixty  acres  were  in  Henr\- 
county,  while  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
this  amount  were  in  Galva  township  and  the 
remainder   in    \\'ethersfield   township.      He 


322 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


married  Deborah  Barrett,  whose  parents 
died  during  her  childhood,  and  by  this  union 
four  children  were  born,  namely:  Alary 
Ellen,  wife  of  Benjamin  Clyde,  of  Alilburn, 
Dallas  county,  Iowa,  by  whom  she  had  one 
child,  Raymond;  A.  C,  our  subject;  Frank; 
and  Tames  C,  who  married  Cora  Potter  and 
lives  on  the  old  home  place.  The  father 
died  June  4,  1898,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine, 
but  the  mother  is  still  living,  and  continues 
to  reside  on  the  old  homestead  with  her 
son,  James  G.  She  is  a  native  of  New  York. 

During  his  boyhood  A.  C.  Taylor  ac- 
quired a  fair  knowledge  of  the  common 
English  branches  of  learning  in  the  schools 
of  W'ethersfield  township,  and  when  old 
enough  to  be  of  any  assistance  commenced 
work  on  the  home  farm,  remaining  under 
the  parental  roof  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority. He  then  rented  land  of  his  father  in 
the  same  township,  and  while  operating  it 
he  boarded  at  home  for  two  years. 

]\Ir.  Ta}-lor  was  married,  February  18, 
1879,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  ]iliss 
!Mary  A.  Clyde,  who  was  Ixirn  in  Henr}- 
county,  but  was  living  in  Aurora,  Kane 
county,  at  the  time  of  their  marriage.  Her 
parents,  Frederick  and  Sarah  (Barber) 
Clyde,  were  natives  of  England  and  Ohio, 
respectively.  For  many  years  the  father 
was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania,  and  on  lea\ing  that 
place  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  followed  fanning  for  a  number  of  years, 
but  his  last  days  were  spent  in  Aurora, 
Vvhere  his  death  occurred.  His  widow  still 
makes  her  home  in  that  city.  iNIr.  antl  Airs. 
Taylor  have  two  children :  Earl,  born 
April  24,  1888,  and  Irene,  born  February 
21,  1890.  Both  are  attending  school  in 
Kewanee. 

For  about  four  vears  Air.  Taylor  con- 


tinued to  rent  his  father's  land,  and  then 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  Jerry  Bickford, 
and  later  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  his 
father,  making  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  on  sections  8  and  17,  Wethersfield 
township,  which  he  still  owns.  Besides  this 
property  he  also  has  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Murray  county,  Minnesota.  He  continued 
to  actively  engage  in  farming  until  1897, 
when  he  removed  to  Kewanee,  and  is  now 
erecting  a  beautiful  residence  with  all 
modern  conveniences  on  Chestnut  street. 
Since  1S93  Air.  Taylor  has  been  connected 
with  the  Minneapolis  Thresher  Company  as 
a  traveling  salesman,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
business  in  Kewanee  as  a  dealer  in  threshers, 
shellers  and  iron  bridges.  He  is  a  wide- 
awake, energetic  business  man,  whose  sound 
judgment  and  capable  management  have 
brought  to  him  a  well  merited  success.  In 
h.is  political  affiliations  he  is  a  Republican, 
but  he  has  never  cared  for  office,  preferring 
to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness interests.  His  wife  holds  membership 
in  the  Congregational  Church. 


WASHINGTON  DUNBAR. 

There  is  probably  no  man  in  Wethers- 
held  township  wider  or  more  favorably 
known  than  \\'ashington  Dunbar,  who  has 
been  identified  with  its  agricultural  inter- 
ests for  almost  half  a  century  and  is  recog-' 
nized  as  one  of  the  important  factors  in  its 
progress  and  development.  He  was  born 
in  Breckinridge  county,  Kentucky,  Septem- 
ber 21,  .1822,  his  parents  being  \\'illiam 
and  Alary  (Prayter)  Dunbar,  natives  of 
Pennsyhania  and  Kentucky,  respectively. 
In  1833  they  came  to  La  Fayette,  Stark 
countv,    Illinois,    and    settled    at   Fraker's 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


323 


Gn)\e.  when  there  were  only  three  families 
ill  that  locality.  The  family  endured  all  the 
h.ardships  and  privations  incident  to  pioneer 
life.  As  it  was  a  long  distance  to  mill  they 
often  ground  their  meal  in  an  old  hand 
mill.  In  those  early  days  the  father,  who 
was  a  hatter  by  trade,  would  catch  the 
beavers  and  manufacture  the  fur  into  hats, 
which  he  would  then  strap  on  his  back  and 
start  out  to  sell  to  the  settlers.  He  also 
cleared  and  improved  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  in  Stark  county,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  some  years,  though  his  last 
days  were  spent  in  California.  In  his  fam- 
ily were  thirteen  children,  and  those  still 
living  besides  our  subject  are  Robert  R.,  a 
lawyer  of  Argentine,  Kansas;  Mrs.  Jane 
Driscoll,  of  Eagle  Grove,  Iowa;  and  Mrs. 
Missouri  Lee,  of  Twin  Springs,  Kansas. 

Washington  Dunbar's  early  educational 
advantages  were  meager  as  there  were  but 
few  schools  in  this  section  of  the  state  when 
the  family  located  here.  In  1852  he  came  to 
Henry  county,  and  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land  on  section  31,  W'etherstield  township, 
to  which  he  added  from  time  to  time  as  his 
financial  resources  merited  until  he  now  has 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  valuable 
land,  which  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  In  past  years  he  has  prob- 
ably cleared  and  improved  more  land  in 
Henry  county  than  any  other  of  its  citizens, 
but  is  now  living  a  retired  life  while  his 
sons  operate  the  farm.  He  has  been  emi- 
nently successful,  having  by  hard  work  and 
tireless  energy  accumulated  a  handsome 
property. 

On  the  24th  of  December,  1846,  ilr. 
Dunbar  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Anna  Lee,  who  was  born  in  Warren  county. 
New  York,  June  10,  1825,  and  was  the 
third  in  order  of  birth  in  a  familv  of  twelve 


children,  whose  parents  were  Josephus  and 
Elizabeth  (Bennett)  Lee,  also  natives  of 
New  York  state.  This  family  removed  to 
Stark  county,  Illinois,  about  1844.  Mrs. 
Dunbar  died  on  the  i.st  of  April,  1S97.  at 
De  Funiak  Springs,  near  Pensacola,  Flor- 
ida, whither  she  had  gone  in  company  with 
her  husband  with  the  hope  of  recovering 
her  health,  which  had  been  bad  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Her  remains  were  interred  in 
La  Fayette  cemetery,  Stark  county,  Illinois. 
Religiously  she  was  a  memljer  of  the  Uni- 
versalist  Church.  By  this  union  ]Mr.  Dun- 
bar had  nine  children,  namelj^:  Oscar;  Or- 
ville,  deceased;  Orson;  Alburtus,  who  mar- 
ried Nellie,  daughter  of  Louis  Clark,  of 
Sheffield;  .'\delia,  wife  of  De  Witt  ^^'inney. 
of  Knox  ccjunty,  Illinois;  Burwell,  deceased; 
Charles,  who  married  Viola  White,  of  La 
Fayette;  Effie  L.,  wife  of  Bradford  Eynder 
of  Sark  county,  Illinois;  and  Harry,  who 
married  Bessie  Newell,  of  Galva. 

Mr.  Dunbar  was  again  married,  June  7, 
1900,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Anna  Cardiff,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
a  daughter  of  William  V.  antl  Catherine 
(Sipes)  Cardiff,  both  of  whom  died  and 
were  buried  in  Galva.  this  ounty.  She  is  one 
of  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  se\'en  of 
whom  are  still  living.  Mr.  Dunbar  is  a 
man  of  sterling  character,  whose  word  is 
considered  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  is  high- 
ly respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
him.  In  politics  he  is  a  strong  Republican 
and  for  many  years  he  efficiently  served  as 
school  director. 


WILLIAM  DONALDSON. 

Among  the  honored  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  W^ethersfield  is  numbered  William 
Donaldson,  who  was  horn  in  county  Lon- 


324 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


donderry,  Ireland.  February  -,  1827,  and 
tliere  grew  to  manliood.  receiving  but  lim- 
ited educational  advantages.  He  is  there- 
fore a  self-educated  as  well  as  a  self-made 
man.  \\'ith  the  hope  of  bettering  his  condi- 
tion in  the  new  world,  he  took  ship  at  Bel- 
fast, in  184S,  and  on  the  Charles  of  Balti- 
more, a  sailing  vessel,  crossed  the  broad 
Atlantic,  being  six  weeks  and  three  days 
upon  the  water.  In  a  fog  on  the  banks  of 
Xew  Foundland  the  ship  on  which  he  sailed 
ran  into  another  vessel,  but  was  only  slightly 
damaged  and  reached  New  York  in  safety 
in  May  of  that  year.  Mr.  Donaldson  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Philadelphia,  and  there 
^vent  to  Pottstown,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
joined  a  cousin  who  was  foreman  on  rail- 
road construction.  After  working  there 
for  a  little  while  he  went  to  Cincinanti, 
Ohio,  \\here  other  cousins  were  living,  antl 
where  he  engaged  in  d  raying  for  some 
time.  On  coming  west  in  1855,  he  first  lo- 
cated near  Elmira,  Stark  county,  Illinois. 
\vhere  he  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  six  years. 

Wliile  a  resident  of  Cincinnati,  Mr.  Don- 
aldson was  married,  December  0,  1852,  to 
Miss  Eliza  Blackwood,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  where 
her  father,  Robert  Blackwood,  spent  his 
entire  life.  They  have  seven  children  liv- 
ing, namely:  Robert,  who  is  married  and 
lives  in  Kewanee;  George,  who  is  married 
and  is  employed  as  boss  in  the  Kewanee 
tube  works;  Tillie,  one  of  the  teachers  of 
Wethersfield;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Xorman 
Oliver,  of  Kewanee;  Emma,  a  teacher  in  the 
Kewanee  schools;  William,  a  carriage  trim- 
mer in  Chicago;  and  Clara,  wife  of  Fred 
Shepherd,  of  Peoria.  They  also  lost  two 
-children :     Thomas,  wlio  died  at  the  age  of 


four  years;  and  Maggie,  who  married 
Robert  N.  Martin  and  removed  to  Ne- 
braska, but  died  at  the  home  of  her  father 
in  1888,  leaving  five  children,  two  of  whom, 
William  and  Alfred  N.,  reside  with  their 
grandparents.  The  others  are  Harry,  Ella 
and  Elsie. 

Mr.  Donaldson's  first  purchase  of  land 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  timber  in  Kewanee  township,  Henry 
county,  which  he  bought  on  coming  to  this 
county  in  1861.  This  he  cleared,  fenced 
and  placed  under  cultivation,  but  after  re- 
siding thereon  for  about  six  years  he  sold 
the  place  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
prairie  land  in  Burns  township,  to  which 
he  subsecjuently  added  until  he  has  a  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  made 
many  excellent  improvements  upon  the 
place,  and  continued  its  cultivation  until  his 
removal  to  Wethersfield  in  1886.  Here  ha 
purchased  a  residence  which  he  has  since 
remodeled,  and  now  has  a  very  pleasant  and 
attractive  home.  To  his  diligence,  persever- 
ance and  industry  may  be  attributed  his  suc- 
cess in  life  for  he  came  to  the  new  world 
empty  handed,  and  has  had  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world  unaided. 

Originally  Mr.  Donaldson  was  an  old 
line  Whig  and  cast 'his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Zachary  Taylor,  but  since  the  formation 
of  the  Republican  party  in  1856,  he  has  been 
a  supporter  of  its  principles,  and  has  sup- 
ported all  of  its  presidential  nominees.  He 
was  once  elected  justice  of  the  peace  but  re- 
fused to  qualify,  preferring  to  give  his  un- 
divided attention  to  his  business  interests. 
He  has,  however,  served  as  school  director 
and  given  his  children  good  educations,  fully 
realizing  the  ad\antages  of  such  a  training. 
He  and  his  wife  were  reared  in  the  Presbv- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


325 


tcrian  Church  and  still  adhere  to  that  faith, 
while  his  daughters  hold  membership  in  the 
Congregational  Church.  The  family  is 
Avidely  known  and  highly  respected. 


E.  X.  PETERSOX. 

Xumhered  among  the  prominent  and 
successful  young  faniers  of  Andover  town- 
ship is  E.  X'.  Peterson,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 34,  where  he  was  born  February  3, 
1875.  His  father,  C.  P.  Peterson,  was  a 
native  of  Sweden  and  was  single  on  his 
emigration  to  America.  Coming  to  Henry 
county.  Illinois,  he  located  in  Andover 
township,  and  was  one  of  its  honored  early 
settlers.  It  was  in  1849  that  he  bought  the 
land  on  which  our  subject  now  resides,  it 
being  at  that  time  all  wild  prairie,  which  he 
at  once  began  to  break  and  improve.  He 
was  married  in  Andover  township,  in  1854. 
to  Miss  W'ilhelmina  Bloomberg,  who  was 
also  born  in  Sweden,  and  the\'  became  the 
parents  of  four  children,  of  whom  our  sub- 
ject is  the  youngest,  the  others  being  Mrs. 
Clara  Almeda  Lofgren,  a  resident  of  Knox 
county,  Illinois;  C.  A.,  who  is  married  and 
lives  in  Clover  township,  Henry  cnunty: 
and  Frank  William,  of  Knox  county.  The 
mother  died  in  1875,  during  the  infancy  of 
our  subject,  but  the  father  long  survived 
her,  passing  away  in  Andover  township 
July  4,  1897,  honored  and  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  was  one  of  the  promi- 
nent Republicans  of  his  community  and 
took  quite  an  active  part  in  political  affairs. 
E.  N.  Peterson  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Andover  township  and  reared 
upon  the  old  homestead  which  he  now  owns 
and  occupies.     It  is  a  good  farm  of  one  hun- 


dred and  sixty  acres,  being  well  improved 
and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  In  1900 
ht  built  a  fine  barn,  fifty-two  by  fifty-six  feet, 
with  a  capacity  of  forty  tons  of  hay,  and 
has  made  an  addition  to  his  house,  so  that 
it  is  now  one  of  the  best  residences  in  the 
locality.  He  carries  on  general  farming  and 
stock  raising,  and  in  his  labors  is  meeting 
with  excellent  success. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  1897,  in  Andover 
township,  Mr.  Peterson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Matilda  V.  Hultgreen,  a  na- 
tive of  that  township  and  a  daughter  of  An- 
drew V.  and  Christina  Hultgreen,  pioneers 
of  Andover.  Mr.  Peterson  gives  his  polit- 
ical support  to  the  Republican  party  and  its 
l)rinciples,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  Andover. 


GEORGE  \\'ESTOX. 

George  \\'eston,  deceased,  was  for  thirty 
years  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  honor- 
ed citizens  of  Kewanee  township,  his  home 
being  on  section  16.  He  was  born  on  the 
28th  of  January,  1827,  in  Morgan  county, 
Ohio,  and  was  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Ma- 
tilda (Anderson)  Weston,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Xew  Hampshire,  the  latter  of  Mary- 
land. In  the  Buckeye  state  he  was  reared 
to  manhood  and  was  educated  in  its  public 
schools.  Coming  west  in  1850  he  first  lo- 
cated in  Iowa,  but  after  spending  a  short 
time  in  that  state  he  removed  to  this  county, 
antl  took  up  iiis  residence  on  section  16,  Ke- 
wanee township,  where  he  followed  farming 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Here 
he  steadily  prospered,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  owned  about  three  hundred  acres  of 
valuable  farmine  land. 


326 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


On  the  23d  of  October,  1863,  Mr.  \\'es- 
ton  was  united  in  marriage  with  ^Nlrs.  Helen 
(Stark)  Stephenson,  widow  of  Henry 
Stephenson,  who  was  born  in  Xew  York  and 
died  in  Michigan  in  1856,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren :  lona,  wife  of  J.  W.  Adams,  of  Kan- 
sas City,  Kansas,  and  Isett,  wife  of  Henry 
Spurlock,  of  Kansas  City,  Kansas.  Mrs. 
\\'eston  is  a  nati\e  of  Pennsylvania  and  a 
daughter  of  Stutely  and  Eliza  Ann  (Steven- 
son) Stark,  natives  of  ^Massachusetts  and 
Xew  York,  respectiveh*.  Her  paternal  grand- 
father was  born  in  A'erniont  and  his  wife  in 
Xew  Hampshire.  In  1833  her  family  re- 
moved to  ^ledina  county,  Ohio,  where  they 
made  their  home  until  coming  to  Illinois 
in  1864,  when  they  took  up  their  residence 
in  Bureau  county.  Three  years  later  they 
removed  to  Galesburg.  where  Mr.  Stark 
lived  retired  until  his  death  in  1869.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  Subsequently 
his  widow  went  to  Kansas,  and  died  in 
Perry,  that  state,  in  18S9.  They  reared  a 
family  of  eight  children.  Unto  ilr.  and 
!Mrs.  \\'eston  were  born  five  children,  name- 
ly Ina,  wife  of  Warren  Lester,  who  now 
lives  on  ilrs.  \\'eston's  farm;  May,  a  den- 
tist of  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  Stutely,  a 
farmer  of  Kewanee  township;  Tillie,  wife 
of  U.  G.  Pyle,  of  the  same  township ;  and 
Lee,  at  home  with  his  mother.  Mrs.  ^^'eston 
has  a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and  eighty 
acres,  and  from  it  derives  a  good  income. 
She  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Kewanee,  and  is  highly  re- 
spected and  esteemed  by  all  who  know  her. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Weston  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Grange.  He  always  took  a 
deep  and  commendable  interest  in  educa- 
tional affairs,  and  efRcientl)'  served  as  school 
director  in  his  district  from  the  time  of  its 
organization  until  his  death,  which  occurred 


August  II,  1886.  He  was  recognized  as 
one  of  the  valued  and  useful  citizens  of  his 
community,  and  his  death  was  mourned  by 
a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances 
who  esteemed  him  highly  for  his  sterling 
worth. 


SIMEOX  HELLER. 

Simeon  Heller,  deceased,  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Loraine 
township,  owning  and  operating  a  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres  on  section  5.  He  was 
born  ^larch  21,  1821,  in  Luzerne  countv, 
Pennsylvania,  of  which  state  his  parents, 
David  and  Catherine  Heller,  were  life-long 
residents.  By  occupation  the  father  was  a 
farmer. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  our  sub- 
ject attended  school  only  three  months,  the 
remainder  of  the  time  being  devoted  to  the 
work  of  the  home  farm.  On  leaving  the 
parental  roof  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he 
came  b)'  w-ay  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
rivers  to  Illinois,  where  his  brother  Da\id 
was  living,  and  worked  for  him  for  a  time. 
At  the  age  of  twentythree  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Maud  Arnett,  a  native 
of  Alsace-Loraine,  France,  who  came  with 
her  parents  to  this  county  and  settled  in 
Whiteside  county,  Illinois,  in  the  early  '30s. 

After  his  marriage  !Mr.  Heller  pre- 
empted a  tract  of  government  land  in  Lo- 
raine township,  to  the  improvement  and  cul- 
tivation of  which  he  devoted  his  energies 
until  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California, 
v.hen  he  crossed  the  plains  with  his  wife's 
brothers,  George,  Jacob  and  \\'illiam  Ar- 
nett. The  trip  was  made  with  an  ox  team 
and  consumed  six  months.  While  engaged 
in  mining  he  received    news    of  his    wife's 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


327 


deatli,  but  being  penniless  he  was  unable  to 
return  home  at  that  time.  The  news  was 
sucli  a  shock  to  him  that  tor  several  months 
he  was  hardly  conscious  of  where  he  was. 
He  remained  on  the  Pacific  coast  for  twehe 
years,  and  met  with  good  success  before  re- 
turning home.  On  again  reaching  this  state 
he  located  upon  the  land  which  he  had  pre- 
empted in  Henry  county,  and  throughout 
the  remainder  of  his  life  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  died  on  the  30th  of  June, 
1 88",  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in 
Loraine  cemetery.  In  his  political  views  he 
was  a  Republican,  and  religiously  he  was  a 
consistent  member  of  the  jNIethodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  be- 
longed. 

Mr.  Heller's  first  wife  died  in  the  early 
■fifties,  leaving  one  child,  Susan,  now  the 
wife  of  Peter  Lininger,  of  Boone,  Iowa.  He 
was  again  married  February  15,  1864,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Mary  Pobanz, 
a  native  of  Prussia,  Germany,  where  her 
l^arents,  David  and  Mary  Pobanz,  were  also 
born.  In  1863  the  family  came  to  America 
and  located  in  Osco  township,  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  where  the  father  engaged  in 
farming  for  five  years,  but  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  life  in  Dodge  county,  Nebraska. 
He  had  three  children:  John,  deceased; 
^lar}-,  now  Mrs.  Heller;  and  a  daughter, 
who  died  in  infancy.  By  his  second  mar- 
riage Mr.  Heller  had  twelve  children,  name- 
ly :  Lewis  D.,  who  first  married  Josephine 
Egert  and  second  Annie  W'ahlheim  and 
lives  in  Loraine  township;  Emma  K.,  a 
trained  nurse  now  in  St.  Paul's  hospital, 
Butte,  Montana,  and  a  member  of  the  East- 
ern Star  at  Prophetstown,  Illinois;  Joseph 
S.,  wlio  is  mentioned  below:  William  D., 
a  barl^er    of    Twin    Bridge,  Montana,  who 


married  Clara  Polinger,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  blue  lodge  and  Eastern  Star  chapter 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Erie,  Illinois; 
Levi  A.,  a  farmer  of  Dudge  omnty,  Ne- 
braska, who  married  Rose  Kopisk_\'  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  .\mer- 
ica;  Annie  M.,  wife  of  Clarence  Bollen,  of 
Taylor  county,  Iowa;  Phebe  and  Alice  R., 
both  at  home;  Louisa  Matilda,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years;  Elsie,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  months;  Perry  O.,  at  home;  and 
Leonard,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year 
and  nine  months. 

Joseph  S.  Heller,  son  of  our  subject, 
was  born  December  i,  1867,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  home  school  and  the  North- 
western Normal  at  Geneseo.  He  assisted 
in  the  labors  of  the  farm  until  1893,  when  he 
went  to  Twin  Bridge,  Montana,  where  he 
was  on  a  ranch  for  a  time,  and  from  there 
went  to  Minnesota  and  Iowa.  On  his  re- 
turn to  this  county  in  the  spring  of  1894,  he 
took  charge  of  the  home  place  and  has  since 
successfully  managed  the  same,  being  a 
man  of  good  business  ability  and  sound 
judgment.  Politically  he  is  identifietl  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  fraternally  is  a 
member  of  Bollen  Lodge,  No.  412,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  of  Spring  Hill,  in  which  he  has  served 
as  junior  warden. 


SAMUEL  RUSSELL. 

Samuel  Russell,  who  is  practically  living 
a  retired  life  in  the  city  of  Kewanee,  Illinois, 
was  born  in  Wilmington,  Clinton  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  6th  of  October,  1834,  but  was 
only  seven  years  old  when  he  removed  to 
Delaware  county,  Indiana,  with  his  parents, 
John  and  Susanna   (Wickersham)    Russell, 


328 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  former  also  a  native  of  the  Buckeye 
state,  and  the  latter  of  Virginia,  although 
she  was  only  three  years  old  when  she  be- 
came a  resident  of  Ohio.  Our  subject's  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  James  Russell,  was  born 
in  Ireland,  and  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  years 
Avhen  he  came  with  his  parents  to  the  United 
States,  the  family  being  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood 
and  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  His 
death  occurred  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana. 
In  his  family  were  eleven  children,  of  whom 
nine  reached  years  of  maturity. 

John  Russell,  the  eldest  of  this  family 
and  the  father  of  our  subject,  received  but  a 
limited  education,  learning  to  read,  write 
and  cipher  after  he  attained  his.  majority. 
He  was  only  able  to  attend  school  a  short 
time  during  the  winter  and  then  had  to  wade 
through  the  snow  three  miles  to  the  school 
Jaouse.  His  early  life  was  devoted  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
j'ears  he  learned  the  plasterer's  and  brick 
mason's  trades,  at  which  he  worked  for 
about  twenty  years.  In  1841  he  removed  to 
Delaware  county,  IndiSna,  where  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  throughout  the  remainder 
^of  his  life.  Politically  he  was  first  a  Whig 
and  an  abolitionist  and  later  a  Republican, 
and  religiously  was  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  served  as 
class  leader  and  steward  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  died  in  1857  at  about  the  age  of 
fifty-two  years,  and  his  wife,,  who  long  sur- 
vived him,  passed  away  in  1881.  She  had 
made  her  home  in  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
from  1859.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
i^hildren,  namely:  James,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years;  Samuel,  our  subject; 
jNIiriam,  wife  of  Jeremiah  Bickford,  a  re- 
tired citizen  of  Kewanee :  and  Caroline,  wife 


of  James  Stafford,  a  retired  citizen  of  Al- 
bany, Delaware  county,  Indiana. 

When  tlie  family  located  in  Delaware 
county,  Indiana,  that  region  was  very  wild, 
and  on  starting  his  children  to  scliool  tlie- 
father  blazed  the  trees  through  the  heavy 
forest  that  they  might  find  their  way  home. 
There  was  scarceh-  a  frame  house  in  the 
county,  outside  of  iluncie.  the  county  seat, 
where  there  were  a  few.  The  dwellings  were 
nearly  all  built  of  logs,  with  one  door  and 
one  window,  with  large  fire  place  built  of 
rough  stone  and  mud,  the  chimnies  being  of 
split  sticks  and  mud.  Xails  were  not  known, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  made  by  the 
blacksmith.  A\'ooden  pins  were  used  in- 
stead of  nails,  an  auger  or  a  gimlet  being 
used  to  make  the  hole,  in  which  the  wooden 
pin  was  inserted  and  driven  in  solidly.  The 
school  houses  were  also  built  of  logs,  with 
seats  made  of  small  logs  split  in  two  parts, 
wooden  pins  being  inserted  on  the  round  side 
for  legs,  thus  giving  a  flat  surface  on  which 
to  sit.  There  was  neither  back  or  cushion 
to  the  seats.  The  roofs  of  the  houses  were 
made  of  split  boards  about  two  and  a  half 
or  three  feet  lonp-  called  clapboards,  which 
were  laid  on  timbers  called  ribs,  and  held 
there  by  poles  laid  on  them,  one  pole  being 
used  to  a  tier  of  clapboards.  The  floors 
were  made  of  puncheons,  that  is  slabs  split 
out  of  large  timber  from  three  to  four  inches 
thick,  while  a  board  placed  on  pins  formed 
a  desk  on  which  the  scholars  practiced 
writing  about  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  a  day, 
that  being  all  the  teacher  thought  necessary 
to  devote  to  that  accomplishment.  Amid 
such  primitive  surroundings,  young  Russell 
acquired  liis  education,  walking  a  mile  antl 
a  quarter  to  school  each  morning  and  re- 
turning home  at  night.  He  was  onlv  per- 
mitted to  attend  in  the  winter,  and  never 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


329 


longer  than  thirty-five  days  in  one  year.    At 
I       the  age  of  eighteen  his  education  was  com- 
i        pleted,  so  far    as  liis    school    life  was  cdu- 
l        cerned.  and  he  then  dexnted  his  entire  time 
to  work.     He  remained  at  home  until  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois  in  1859.  with  the  exception 
■of  a  few  months    spent    in  Minnesnta    and 
Illinois. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  i85t>.  Mr.  Rus- 
sell married  Miss  ^Matilda  Zehner,  who  was 
born  in  Wayne  county.  Indiana,  and  is  the 
third  in  order  of  birth  in  a  famil}"  nf  nine 
children,  whose  parents  were  Benjamin  and 
Hester  Zehner,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
early  settlers  of  Wayne  county,  Indiana. 
,  from  which  they  later  removed  to  Delaware 
county,  the  same  state.  Of  the  six  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell,  Francis  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years,  Cora  at  the  age  of 
three,  and  Mary  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  John 
B.,  a  graduate  of  Wheaton  College  and  now 
superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of 
Wheaton,  Illinois,  married  Isabel  Gunn,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Edna  L..  and  Ever- 
ett C.  Frank  H.  is  a  physician,  now  cm-^ 
nected  with  the  Presbyterian  hos])ital  ni 
t'hicago.  He  is  also  a  graduate  of  Wheatnn 
College,  Rush  ^ledical  College  and  the 
Theological  Seminary  of  the  CDUgregational 
(."hurch  of  Chicago.  Eva  M.  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Kewanee  high  schof)l,  and  is  now 
taking  the  literary  course  at  the  Chicago 
University. 

In  1859  Mr.  Russell  and  his  family  came 
to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  located  on  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  which 
he  had  purchased  in  1856  in  Clover  town- 
ship, at  that  time  all  wild  and  unimproved. 
He  erected  there(in  a  house,  fourteen  by 
twenty  feet,  in  which  he  lived  while  break- 
ing his  land  and  placing  it  under  cultivation. 
On  disiX)sing  of  that  property  in    1865  he 


bought  a  partially  improved  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Wethcrsfield 
township,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
removal  to  Kewanee  on  the  first  of  January. 
1 89 1.  During  his  youth  he  learned  the  brick 
mason's  and  plasterer's  trades  with  his 
father,  but  has  not  followed  that  occupation 
for  forty  years.  While  engaged  in  farming 
he  gave  considerable  attention  to  the  raising 
and  feeding  of  stock,  generally  keeping 
about  one  hundred  hogs  and  twenty  head  of 
cattle.  He  still  oversees  the  management  of 
his  farm,  though  he  has  retired  from  active 
labor.  He  is  an  active  member  and  steward 
of  the  Free  Methodist  Church.  Politically 
he  is  a  Prohibitionist. 


LEWIS  URICK. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  the  agricultural  interests 
of  Loraine  township,  his  home  being  on  sec- 
tion 9,  and  is  also  prominently  identified 
w  ith  public  affairs.  He  was  born  November 
5.  i860,  on  the  farm  where  he  still  resides, 
his  parents  being  Rudolph  and  Mary 
( Shafer)  L^rick,  the  former  a  nati\e  of 
Switzerland,  the  latter  of  Germany.  In  his 
natix'e  land  the  father  learned  the  mason's 
trade  which  he  followed  for  many  years.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  crossed  the  board 
Atlantic  and  located  in  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  was  thus  employed  for  fi\e  years.  On 
coming  west  he  settled  at  what  is  kncnvn  as 
lOutch  Bottom,  Portland  township,  White- 
side county,  Illinois,  in  1844,  and  took  up 
government  land,  which  he  operated  for  a 
few  years.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  in 
Loraine  township.  Henry  county,  on  which 
he  located,  and  became  (piite  a  large  land 


330 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


owner,  tliough  lie  divided  his  property  among 
his  children  prior  to  his  death.  He  died 
April  lo,  1899,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years 
and  nine  months,  and  his  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Loraine  cemetery.  He  retained  his 
mental  faculties  until  the  last,  but  for  fif- 
teen years  was  blind,  owing  to  some  mortar 
getting  in  his  eyes  while  working  at  his 
trade.  He  continued  to  follow  that  occu- 
pation in  connection  with  farming  for  many 
years,  and  in  all  his  undertakings  was  em- 
inently successful.  He  affiliated  with  the 
Republican  party  from  its  organization,  and 
was  an  earnest  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church. 

Rudolph  Urick  was  twice  married,  his 
first  union  being  with  Catherine  Rapp,  b}' 
whom  he  had  six  children,  four  still  living, 
namely:  Catherine,  wife  of  Samuel  Arnett, 
of  Geneseo;  Isaac,  a  resident  of  Portland 
township,  \\'hiteside  county;  Jacob,  a  ranch- 
man of  Colorado;  and  Louisa,  wife  of  Jo- 
seph Kopp,  a  farmer  of  Andubon,  Iowa. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  in  1856, 
and  the  father  subsequently  wedded  Mary 
Shafer.  To  them  were  born  two  sons: 
David,  who  married  Matilda  R.  Huntington 
and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Portland 
township,  \Miiteside  county ;  '  and  Lewis, 
our  subject.  The  mother  is  still  living  at 
the  age  of  seventy-seven  years  and  lives  on 
the  old  homestead  with  her  son  Lewis. 

In  early  life  our  subject  attended  the  dis- 
trict school  near  liis  home  and  remained  un- 
der the  parental  roof.  Prior  to  his  marriage 
he  took  charge  of  the  farm,  and  has  since 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising.  He  also  feeds  cattle  and 
hogs  for  market.  He  has  some  fine  stock 
upon  his  farm,  his  specialty  being  Aberdeen 
Angus  cattle.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  three 
hundred  and  twentv  acres  of  land  in  one 


body,  two  hundred  acres  of  which  he  re- 
ceived from  his  father,  and  since  then  has 
added  one  hundred  and  twenty,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  prosperous  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  1889,  Mr.  Urick 
married  ^liss  Hattie  M.  Sieben,  a  native 
of  this  county,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
Sieben,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  The  children  born  of  this  union 
were  Clarence,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
3-ears;  Perry  and  Ira.  Religiously  the  par- 
ents are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church, 
of  which  ]\Ir.  Urick  is  a  trustee.  In  his  po- 
litical affiliations  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  been  a  delegate  to  various  county  con- 
ventions. He  is  now  serving  his  tenth  year 
as  township  clerk,  and  has  filled  the  office 
of  school  director  a  number  of  years.  In 
the  spring  of  1900  he  was  census  enumer- 
ator for  Loraine  and  Phenix  townships,  and 
devoted  eighteen  days  to  the  work  of  that 
office.  He  is  quite  prominent  in  local  pol- 
itics and  in  church  work,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity. 


AMBROSE  MATHEWS. 

Among  the  honored  veterans  of  the 
Civil  war  and  representative  citizens  of  this 
county,  who  are  now  living  a  retired  life 
in  W'ethersfield  is  Ambrose  ^lathews,  who 
smce  1845  has  been  a  resident  of  Henry 
county.  He  was  born  in  Seneca  Falls. 
Seneca  county.  New  York,  on  the  20th  of 
December,  1830,  and  on  the  paternal  side 
is  of  Scotch  ancestry,  his  grandfather,  Henry 
Mathews,  being  a  native  of  Scotland  and  a 
pioneer  farmer  of  Seneca  county.  New  York. 
There  the  father,  A.  W.  Mathews,  was  born 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


33» 


and  reared,  and  on  reaching;  nianliood  mar- 
ried Miss  Margaret  Conner,  a  native  of  tlie 
same  state  and  of  Irish  extraction.  From 
liis  native  county  lie  removed  to  Geauga 
count\%  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  about  sixteen  years  and  also  owned 
and  operated  a  saw  and  grist  mill.  lie 
traded  his  farm  in  that  county  for  a  share 
in  the  property  of  the  W^ethersfield  colony  in 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  receiving  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  prairie  land,  twenty 
acres  of  timber  land,  and  a  village  lot  of 
two  and  a  half  acres.  By  team  he  removed 
to  this  county,  arriving  here  July  31,  1845. 
He  purchased  a  house  and  lot  in  \\'ethers- 
field,  where  he  made  his  home  while  his  older 
sons  improved  the  farm.  Here  he  died  in. 
1884,  at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  ninety- 
three  years.  His  first  wife,  who  was  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  had  passed  away 
some  years  previously,  and  he  married  again, 
his  second  wife  surviving  him.  He  served 
as  a  drummer  in  the  war  of  1812. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Ambrose 
Mathews  attended  the  common  schools,  com- 
pleting his  education  in  this  Cdunly.  Ik- 
was  seventeen  years  of  «ge  when  he  came 
to  Illinois  with  his  father,  but  after  spend- 
ing two  years  here  he  returned  to  Chardon, 
Geauge  county,  Ohio,  where  he  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade  with  a  brother,  remain- 
ing there  two  years.  On  his  return  to  this 
county  he  worked  at  his  trade  in  \\'ethers- 
field  with  his  brother,  who  carried  on  a  shop 
there  for  some  years. 

Our  subject  was  thus  employctl  until 
after  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  when  he  en- 
listed July  17,  1862,  in  Company  A,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  which  was  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee  under  command  of 
■Generals  Grant  and  Sherman.     He  was  first 


under  fire  at  Thompson  Hill,  ^Mississippi, 
and  later  participated  in  the  battles  of  Port 
Gibson  and  Bakers  Creek.  He  was  in  a  hun- 
ning  fight  at  Jackson  Crossroads,  and  in 
the  battle  of  Champion  Hills,  which  was 
one  of  the  most  important  engagements  of 
the  war.  He  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Black 
River  Bridge  and  for  forty-seven  days  par- 
ticipated in  the  siege  of  \^icksburg.  being 
a  member  of  General  Logan's  brigade,  which 
was  the  first  to  enter  the  city  after  its  sur- 
render. He  has  a  picture  of  Generals  Grant 
and  Pemberton  taken  after  the  surrender  and 
mounted  in  a  case  made  from  the  famous 
I'emberton  Oak,  under  which  the  surrender 
was  made.  Later  Mr.  Mathews  was  on 
guard  and  provost  dul_\'  in  that  city  for  some 
time,  and  then  mrirclieil  with  his  command 
througli  Louisiana  to  Monroe,  which  jilace 
they  captured,  after  which  they  returned  to 
Vicksburg,  remaining  there  on  provost  duty 
until  the  following  spring,  in  the  meantime 
going  on  several  scouting  expeditions  to 
Jackson.  They  then  went  to  Mobile,  and 
took  part  in  the  siege  of  Spanish  b'ort, 
which  lasted  three  weeks.  They  dug  under 
the  walls,  and  entered  the  fort  at  two  o'clock 
ir.  the  morning  much  to  the  surjjrise  of  the 
rebels.  Mr.  Mathews'  command  then 
marched  to  Montgomery,  Alabama,  which 
the  rebels  evacuated  after  rolling  cotton  in 
the  streets  and  setting  fire  to  it.  In  August 
they  were  ordered  north  to  Chicago,  where 
Mr.  Mathews  was  honorably  discharged 
August  9,  1865,  and  then  returned  to  his 
home  in  ^Vethersfield.  He  entered  the  serv- 
ice as  cori)oral,  and  was  ser\ing"  as  com- 
missary sergeant  when  mustered  out.  He 
was  never  seriously  wounded,  but  at  Bakers 
Creek  a  ball  passed  through  his  clothing 
and  cut  his  shoulder,  and  at  Vicksburg  an- 
other ball  i)ierced  his  clothing  and  grazed 


332 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  flesli,  finally  lodging  in  his  cartridge 
belt.  He  kept  the  latter  ball  for  several 
)^ears  as  a  sort  of  memento  of  his  army 
life. 

For  two  years  after  the  war  Mr. 
Llathews  worked  at  his  trade  in  Kewanee, 
and  then  followed  farming  in  Kewanee, 
Burns  and  Wethersfield  townships  for  sev- 
eral years.  Subsequently  he  worked  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  and  at  various  occupa- 
tions in  the  village  of  Wethersfield,  but  for 
some  years  has  lived  a  retired  life,  enjoy- 
ing a  well  earned  rest. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1852,  in  Henry 
county,  Mr.  Mathews  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Maria  Cline,  who  was  born  in 
Dutchess  county,  New  York,  but  came  here 
in  1845  during  her  girlhood  with  her 
brother.  Her  father,  Abraham  Cline,  had 
died  in  the  Empire  state.  ]\Irs.  Mathews 
passed  away  August  4,  1S90,  and  was  laid 
to  rest  in  the  \\'ethersfield  cemetery.  By 
that  union  were  born  five  children  who  are 
still  living,  namely :  Cordelia,  wife  of 
James  Wiley,  of  Wethersfield,  by  whom  she 
has  four  children,  May,  Lillian,  Laura  and 
Frank  G. ;  Edward,  a  mechanical  engineer 
in  the  tube  works  at  Kewanee;  Rosa,  wife  of 
George  E.  Dustin,  of  Wethersfield,  by  whom 
she  has  four  children,  Emory,  Clara,  George 
and  Blanche;  ^lelva,  who  is  now  her  fa- 
ther's housekeeper;  and  John  L.,  who  is 
married  and  works  in  the  shops  of  Kewanee. 
Jane  Ann,  the  oldest  of  the  famil}-,  died  in 
early  childhood. 

Politically  j\Ir.  Mathews  is  a  stalwart 
Republican,  and  has  supported  every  presi- 
dential candidate  of  that  party  since  casting 
his  first  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856. 
He  has  been  honored  with  several  local  of- 
fices; was  elected  constable  and  township 
collector  on  the  organization  of  Wethersfield 


township,  and  served  in  that  capacity  three 
years ;  has  also  filled  the  office  of  road  com- 
missioner; was  assessor  of  Wethersfield 
township  for  the  long  period  of  twenty 
years;  and  has  frequently  served  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  county  conventions  of  his  party. 
He  and  his  daughter  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  he  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  Grand  Army  post,  of  Ke- 
wanee, in  which  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs 
and  is  now  past  commander.  He  has  al- 
ways been  found  true  to  every  trust  reposed 
ir.  him,  whether  public  or  private,  and  has 
been  found  a  loyal  and  patriotic  citizen  in 
days  of  peace  as  well  as  in  time  of  war. 


X.  C.  GILBERT. 

N.  C.  Gilbert  is  one  of  Geneseo's  highly 
respected  citizens,  whose  useful  and  well- 
spent  life  has  not  only  gained  for  him  the 
confidence  of  his  fellow  men,  but  has  also 
secured  for  him  a  comfortable  competence 
which  enables  him  to  lay  aside  all  business 
cares  and  spend  his  declining  days  in  ease 
and  retirement.  He  was  born  in  Ontario 
county.  New  York,  February  10,  1834,  and 
is  a  son  of  Horace  and  Ann  E.  (Carpenter) 
Gilbert,  the  former  a  native  of  Connecticut,, 
the  latter  of  Herkimer  county,  New  York. 
His  maternal  grandparents  were  Nathaniel 
and  Betsey  (Green)  Carpenter.  Through- 
out his  active  business  life  the  father  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  farming  in  Ontario 
county,  New  York,  where  he  owned  about 
three  hundred  acres  of  land.  For  man} 
years  he  served  as  deacon  in  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  to  which  he  belonged,  while 
his  wife  was  a  devout  and  active  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church.     He  died  in  1862,. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


33J 


at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  Slie  long  sur- 
vived him,  dying  in  1897,  when  within  seven 
days  of  the  eiglity-seventh  anniversary  of 
her  hirth.  Their  children  were  as  follows : 
?\Iary,  deceased  wife  of  J.  R.  Hopkins;  N. 
C,  the  subject  of  this  review;  E.  Curtis,  a 
farmer  of  this  county,  who  was  born  in 
1S36  and  died  in  1889;  H.  C,  formerly  a 
farmer  and  nmv  a  hanker  of  Lima.  New 
York;  Elon  II.,  who  dicil  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years;  and  Elizabeth  G.,  wife  of  Gil- 
bert \\".  Peck,  of  Canandaigua,  Xew  York. 

N.  C.  Gilbert  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  neighborhood.  When  his  school  days 
were  over  he  took  up  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing, which  he  has  made  his  life  work.  Com- 
ing to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  in  1856,  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  Geneseo  township  w  here 
he  resided  four  years  and  then  removed  to 
Munson  township,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  to  which  he  has  added 
and  now  owns  four  hundred  acres  in  that 
township,  and  successfully  operated  it  until 
1893,  since  which  time  he  has  rented  his 
land  and  lived  a  retired  life.  His  farm  has 
been  occupied  by  his  son,  H.  Mark,  or  his 
son-in-law,  D.  S.  Brown,  since  1893.  He 
was  a  charter  member  of  both  the  Farmers 
National  Bank  and  the  First  National  Bank, 
of  Geneseo,  and  was  a  stockholder  and  di- 
rector of  the  former  up  to  January  i,  1901. 
He  is  also  a  charter  member  and  president 
of  the  Geneseo,  Edford  &  Munson  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  and  has  ever  been 
identified  with  those  enterprises  calculated 
to  advance  the  interests  of  his  town  and 
county. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  i860,  ]\Ir.  Gilbert 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Francelia 
Amsden,  a  native  of  Rochester,  Vermont, 
and    a    daughter  of  R.  P.  and  Lora  Ann 


(Buck)  Amsden,  who  were  also  born  in  the 
Green  Mountain  state.  The  father  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  but  the  mother 
is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  In 
religious  belief  they  were  Baptists.  They 
came  west  in  1854,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Geneseo  township,  this  county,  where  they 
reared  their  family  of  children,  namely : 
Lucien  C,  now  a  farmer  of  Missouri;  Fran- 
celia, wife  of  our  subject;  \'iola,  wife  of 
Aaron  Wilson,  of  Menlo.  Iowa;  Darwin  R.. 
a  farmer  of  Scranton,  Iowa;  John  L.,  also 
a  resident  of  that  state;  Lorenzo  S.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Los  Angeles,  California;  Myra.  w1k> 
married  W.  E.  Tipton,  and  died  at  the  age 
of  thirty- four  years;  and  Minnie,  wife  of 
J.  A.  Phillips,  an  attorney  of  Dunlap,  Iowa. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife:  }ilay,  at  home:  H.  Alark, 
a  farmer  of  North  Yakima,  Washington, 
who  is  married  and  has  four  children, 
Curtiss,  Lois,  Elon  and  Margaret:  and  Lora, 
v.ife  of  D.  S.  Brown,  a  farmer  of  Munsun 
township,  this  county,  by  whom  she  has  one 
child,  Ethel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
years. 

In  early  life  INlr.  Gilbert  was  a  stanch. 
Republican,  but  since  189 J  has  been  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Populist  party.  While  living 
on  his  farm  he  served  as  treasurer  of  Mun- 
son  township  for  thirteen  years,  resigning 
that  position  on  his  removal  to  Geneseo  in. 
1893.  He  was  also  supervisor  of  the  town- 
ship for  over  ten  consecutive  years,  and  has- 
always  taken  an  active  and  commendable 
interest  in  public  affairs,  doing  all  in  his 
power  to  advance  the  general  welfare.  He 
was  president  of  the  Henry  County  Fair  As- 
sociation for  nine  consecutive  years.  He 
possesses  great  energy,  good  judgment  and 
indefatigable  industry  and  these  elements 
have  brought  to  him  a  well-deserved  pros- 


334 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


perity,  which  now  enables  him  to  put  aside 
active  labor  and  enjoy  tlie  competence  which 
former  toil  grained  for  him. 


WILLIAM  R.  GOODRICH. 

No  state  in  the  Union  can  boast  of  a 
more  heroic  band  of  pioneers  than  Illinois. 
Their  privations,  hardships  and  earnest  la- 
bors have  resulted  in  establishing  one  of 
the  foremost  commonwealths  of  America, 
and  its  wonderful  advancement  has  been 
largely  secured  through  the  sturdy  and  in- 
telligent manhood  of  descendants  of  Puri- 
tans with  their  moral,  intellectual  and  phj-s- 
ical  stamina;  but  their  work  is  nearly  com- 
plete, and  all  too  soon  the  last  of  those  sturdy 
pioneers  will  have  passed  away;  but  their 
memory  will  ever  remain  green  among  those 
who  loved  them  and  appreciated  their  ef- 
forts. 

The  oldest  settler  of  Henry  county  now 
residing  within  its  limits  is  William  R. 
Goodrich,  of  Kewanee,  who  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Hilo,  on  the  island  of  Hawaii. 
Februarj'  20,  1832.  His  parents,  Joseph 
and  ilartha  (Barnes)  Goodrich,  were  both 
natives  of  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  and 
of  English  descent.  The  father  was  reared 
in  the  Congregational  faith  and  educated 
at  Yale  L^niversity.  After  his  gradua- 
tion he  learned  the  trade  of  ship  car- 
penter, which  he  followed  for  a  time,  and 
then  studied  for  the  ministry.  After  being 
ordained  he  was  sent  as  a  missionary  to 
Hawaii  in  1822,  being  the  second  to  locate 
there,  and  the  first  sent  there  by  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  He  did  an  excellent  work- 
in  preaching  to  the  natives  all  over  the  isl- 
and and  made  many  converts,  his  church 


afterward  becoming  the  largest  in  the 
world,  with  a  membership  of  five  thousand. 
After  spending  fourteen  years  there,  he  re- 
turned to  America  in  the  spring  of  1836, 
and  joined  his  family  in  Wethersfield,  Con- 
necticut, where  he  had  left  them.  In  the  fall 
of  that  year,  in  company  with  Xorman  But- 
ler and  John  F.  Willard,  he  came  to  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  by  wagon,  and  settled  in 
what  is  now  Kewanee  township,  where  he 
took  up  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
prairie  land  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  timber  land,  purchasing  the  same 
when  it  came  into  market.  He  erected  a  log 
cabin,  twenty-two  by  thirty  feet,  upon  his 
place,  but  it  was  only  partially  roofed  that 
winter,  though  it  was  the  home  of  the  three 
men  until  spring.  They  endured  many  hard- 
ships, and  their  food  consisted  of  only  a  quar- 
ter of  a  beef,  two  pounds  of  butter  and  some 
cracked  corn.  In  the  spring  of  1837  Mr. 
Goodrich  returned  to  Connecticut  for  his 
family,  and  by  way  of  the  Erie  canal  and 
Great  Lakes,  proceeded  at  once  to  Chicago, 
which  was  then  a  small  village,  one  of  its 
principal  features  being  the  block  house. 
There  he  purchased  a  team  of  Indian  ponies 
and  drove  across  the  country  to  Henry  coun- 
ty. Immediately  after  his  arrival  he  com- 
menced to  improve  and  cultivate  his  land, 
making  it  his  home  throughout  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.  He  died  in  1832,  in  his  fifty- 
eighth  year,  and  his  first  wife  died  in  1840.  at 
the  age  of  fortv  years,  being  the  first  person 
interred  in  the  burying  ground  at  Wethers- 
field. For  his  second  wife  he  married  Rachel 
Curtis.  His  children  were  all  by  the  first 
union  and  were  as  follows :  Lelah,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  six  months:  Xancy,  wife  of 
Dr.  William  H.  Day.  of  Kewanee;  Jane  L.. 
widow  of  E.  E.  Slocum  and  a  resident  of 
Lodi,   Illinois:  Joseph,  a  retired  citizen  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


335 


Ravenswood.  Illinois;  William  R.,  our  sub- 
ject; Charles  B.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  for- 
ty-six years;  and  Martha,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  forty. 

William  R.  Goodrich  began  his  educa- 
tion in  Wethersfield,  in  a  log  building  which 
was  used  as  a  school  house  and  church,  and 
the  knowledge  he  acquired  in  the  school  room 
has  been  greatly  supplemented  by  reading 
and  observation  in  subsequent  years.  As 
soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  be  of  any  as- 
sistance he  commenced  aiding  in  the  work 
of  the  farm  and  give  his  father  the  benefit 
of  his  labors  until  twenty-two  years  of  age. 
when  he  began  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade. 
^vhich  he  had  learned  with  his  father.  In 
1855,  he  built  for  H.  G.  Little  and  Nelson 
Lay  the  first  school  house  erected  in  Ke- 
Avanee,  it  being  a  one-story  structure,  four- 
teen by  twenty-four  feet,  and  considered 
very  fine  at  that  time.  He  followed  that 
trade  for  four  years,  and  in  1857,  erected  a 
building  and  started  the  first  bakery  in  Ke- 
wanee.  After  conducting  it  as  such  for  three 
3-ears,  he  turned  it  into  an  eating  house, 
which  he  carried  on  in  connection  with  work 
at  the  gunsmith's  trade.  In  1886  he  sold  out 
and  has  since  lived  retired. 

On  the  22d  of  November,  1857,  Mr. 
Goodrich  married  Miss  Harriet  M.  Slocum, 
a  native  of  New  York  and  a  daugliter  of  L. 
O.  Slocum,  who  was  also  born  in  that  state, 
and  removed  to  Kewanee  in  1856,  making 
liis  home  here  until  1880,  when  he  went  to 
Adair  county,  Iowa.  By  trade  he  was  a 
shoemaker.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Goodrich  are  the 
parents  of  five  children :  William  B.,  a  paint- 
er, of  Chicago,  who  married  Ella  Rinebeck, 
and  has  one  child,  Lena  May;  Roland  S..  a 
resident  of  southern  Oregon,  who  marrierl 
Ideila  Berry;  Frederick  G.,  a  foundryman,  of 
RfU'k  Island,  who  married  Jennie  llenrv.  and 


has  three  daughters,  Hattie.  Minnie  and 
Grace;  Charles  E.,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  who 
is  now  working  in  the  rolling  mills  of  Ke- 
wanee; and  L.  J.,  who  married  Xellie  Will- 
iams and  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  oste- 
opathy at  Flint,  Michigan. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Repul)lican 
party,  Mr.  Goodrich  has  been  one  of  its 
stanch  supporters.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Mutual  .Vid.  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the 
Z^Iethodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he 
was  trustee  for  six  years.  In  1893  they  went 
to  Oregon  and  spent  seventeen  months  on  the 
Pacific  coast  for  the  benefit  of  his  health. 
^Ir.  Goodrich  can  relate  many  interesting 
incidents  of  pioneer  life,  when  this  country 
was  all  wild  and  unimproved.  On  one  occa- 
sion he  was  within  ten  rods  of  a  herd  of  deer 
that  must  have  numbered  at  least  six  hun- 
dred. 


GEORGE  T.  FREES. 

This  well-known  and  prominent  citizen  of 
Ed  ford  township,  who  owns  and  operates  a 
good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  on 
sections  21  and  16,  was  born  in  the  neighbor- 
ing county  of  Rock  Island  on  the  22d  of 
]ilarch,  1859,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Catherine  (Mantler)  Frels.  The  father  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  and  was  nineteen  years 
of  age  when  he  came  to  the  United  States. 
For  five  years  he  followed  the  life  of  a  sailor 
on  the  ocean,  and  the  same  length  of  time 
was  spent  on  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri 
rivers.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Rock 
Island  county,  where  he  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  government  land  at 
llic  regular  i)rice  of  one  dollar  and  a  (|unrter 


336 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


per  acre.  He  also  became  owner  of  two  Inm- 
clred  acres  of  land  in  Edford  townsliip,  Hen- 
r}-  county,  but  continued  to  make  his  In  >me  in 
the  former  county  throughout  life,  dying 
there  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years. 
His  wife  passed  away  in  1861.  Of  the  eight 
children  born  to  them,  two  died  in  infancy, 
the  others  being  Margaret,  wife  of  Mark 
Hauberg,  a  farmer  of  Rock  Island  county; 
j\Iary,  deceased  wife  of  Adam  Garnent.  a 
farmer  of  Henry  county ;  Henry  and  \\'ill- 
iam,  both  farmers  of  Rock  Island  county: 
George  T.,  our  subject;  and  Henrietta,  wife 
of  Fred  Schmoll,  a  farmer  of  Osco  township, 
Henr}-  county. 

During  his  minorit\\  George  T.  Frels 
remained  at  home  and  gave  his  father  the 
benefit  of  his  labors.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  and  completed  his  education  at 
the  business  college  of  Clinton,  Iowa.  On 
leaving  home  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  set- 
tled on  his  present  farm  in  Edford  township, 
and  to  its  cultivation  and  improvement  has 
since  devoted  his  energies.  As  a  general 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  he  has  met  with  good 
success,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  well-to-do 
citizens  of  his  communit}'. 

At  Barstow,  Rock  Island  county,  Air. 
Frels  was  married  Xo\-emher  16,  1882,  to 
jMiss  Xettie  Golden,  who  was  horn  June  29, 
1865.  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Addie 
(Franklin)  Golden,  agriculturists  of  that 
county.  The  father  was  horn  in  Peekskill, 
Westchester  county,  Xew  York,  !ilarch  26, 
i8.|4,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1853.  He  was 
four  years  in  the  Union  army  during  the 
Civil  war,  enlisting  first  in  May,  1861,  in  the 
Nineteenth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
in  December,  1861,  in  the  Fifty-first  Illinois 
"\"olunteer  Infantry,  in  which  regiment  he 
served  until  October,  1865,  when  he  was  flis- 
charged.     His  regiment  formed  part  of  the 


Fourth  Corps,  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  He 
was  wounded  on  the  27th  of  June,  1864,  at 
the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  in  Georgia. 
He  was  married  September  14,  1864,  to  Miss 
Addie  Franklin.  He  now  resides  in  Mc- 
Cune,  Crawford  county.  Kansas,  engaged 
in  fanning.  His  wife  was  born  in  Hampton 
township,  Rock  Island  county.  Illinois. 
March  3.  1843.  her  parents  beng  Joel  Grout 
and  Betsy  F.  (Edwards)  Franklin.  Her 
mother  died  about  ten  years  ago  at  the  age 
of  sevent3-six  years,  and  her  father  contin- 
ued to  reside  on  the  farm  in  Hampton  town- 
ship, Rock  Island  county,  where  he  located 
on  coming  west  in  pioneer  days,  until  his 
death,  December  io,i900,at  the  age  of  ninety 
years.  He  was  a  native  of  \'ermont,  and  was 
ninet}-  years  of  age  on  the  24th  of  October. 
1900.  ]\Irs.  Frels  is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of 
seven  children,  the  others  being  May,  de- 
ceased wife  of  ^\'arren  Sykes,  a  farmer  of 
Hampton  township.  Rock  Island  county; 
Luther,  a  farmer  of  Kansas:  .Vrthur:  Flora, 
wife  of  Sherman  Scott,  a  farmer  of  Mc- 
Cune,  Kansas;  Xellie,  wife  of  Claude  Willis, 
a  barber,  of  AlcCune ;  and  Frederick,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  one  year. 

To  Air.  and  Mrs.  Frejs  were  born  the 
following  named  children:  Genevra  Pearl, 
born  in  Rock  Island  county,  September  19, 
1883,  and  Addie  Alay,  lx)rn  in  Edford  town- 
ship, Henry  county,  Alay  12,  1885,  are  both 
at  home;  George  Royal,  born  December  21, 
1886,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years  and  five 
days;  Rilla  Blanche,  born  June  10,  1892,  died 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  months;  Benjamin  Ar- 
thur, born  October  2,  1895,  Goldie  Irene, 
born  August  13,  1897,  and  Mildred,  born 
April  16,  1899,  complete  the  family. 

Mr.  Frels  is  one  of  the  leading  and  influ- 
ential men  of  his  community  and  has  held 
public    office    almost    continuously    during 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


337 


liis  residence  in  this  county,  at  present  serv- 
ing as  commissioner  and  scliool  director.  At 
different  times  he  has  filled  the  position  of 
assessor,  collector  and  road  commissioner, 
discharging  his  duties  in  a  commendable  and 
satisfactory  manner.  He  attends  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church,  and  is  highly  es- 
teemed bv  all  who  know  him. 


DAXIEL  McC.\RTHV. 

Daniel  McCarthy,  deceased,  was  for  for- 
ty-five }-ears  one  of  the  trusted  and  faithful 
emjiloyes  of  the  Rock  Island  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century 
V.  as  an  honored  resident  of  Geneseo,  Illinois. 
He  was  born  in  1835,  in  county  Kerry.  Ire- 
land, where  his  parents,  Timothy  and  Mary 
(OBrien)  McCarthy,  spent  their  entire  lives. 
The  other  members  of  the  family  were  Mary, 
who  wedded  ^\'illiam  O'Xeal.  and  lived  for  a 
time  in  Bureau  and  Rock  Island  counties, Illi- 
nois, and  died  in  Rock  Island  January 
31,  1900;  Xora,  who  married  Edward  Swee- 
ney, and  both  died  in  Montreal,  Canada ;  Jo- 
hannah,  who  married  a  Mr.  Hogan,  and  died 
in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  in  February,  1898. 
Her  husband  died  in  Boston,  also.  Cather- 
ine, who  died  in  Ireland  unmarried,  and 
^lichael,  who  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
and  has  not  been  heard  of  in  thirty  years. 

On  his  emigration  to  America,  in  1846, 
Daniel  McCarthy  located  at  Ottawa,  Illinois, 
and  soon  afterward  entered  the  service  of  the 
Rock  Island  Railroad  Company.  On  the 
18th  of  November,  1855,  he  led  to  the  mar- 
riage altar  Miss  Mary  Maher,  who  was  also 
Lorn  in  county  Kerry,  Ireland,  .\ugust  15, 
1 83 1,  and  is  a  daughter  ot  Jeremiah  and 
Catherine  (Ford)  Maher,  life-long  residents 


of  that  country.  Mrs.  McCarthy  is  the  fourth 
in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  five  children, 
the  others  being  Patrick,  who  married  yiar- 
garet  Errit,  and  lived  in  Ottawa,  Illinois,  but 
after  her  death  and  his  second  marriage,  he 
removed  to  Tiskilwa,  Bureau  county,  this 
state;  Daniel  H.,  who  died  in  Texas:  Bar- 
tlioloniew,  who  married  Margaret  Wolf,  and 
resides  in  LaSalle  county,  Illinois,  and  John. 
who  wedded  Mary  Bartell,  and  died  in  Min- 
nesota, in  June,  1897. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Airs.  McCarthy  were  born 
seven  children,  namely :  Mary,  now  the  wife 
of  Edward  Shields. of  Hanct)ck  county, Iowa; 
Catherine,  wife  of  John  O'Brien,  a  grocer  of 
Geneseo,  by  whom  she  has  two  children,  Ger- 
trude and  Florence;  Daniel,  who  died  in  in- 
fanc}- ;  Xannie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een years;  Xellie.  who  married  John  Carney, 
of  Rock  Island,  and  died  March  13,  1897, 
leaving  two  children,  Mary,  who  now  lives 
with  Mrs.  [McCarthy,  and  Maud,  who  lives 
with  her  aunt,  Mrs.  Shields;  Lizzie,  wife  of 
James  Kidne\',  sui)erintendent  of  the  water 
works  of  the  R(->ck  Island  railroad  at  Daven- 
port, by  whom  she  had  four  children,  Ed- 
ward, deceased,  Mary,  Daniel  and  Catherine; 
and  Agnes,  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Henry  county. 

From  Ottawa  Mr.  McCarthy  removed 
to  Bureau  county,  and  in  1867  came  to  Gen- 
eseo, where  he  continued  to  make  his  home 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  August  27. 
1894.  As  previously  stated,  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  Rock  Island  Railroad  Com- 
pany for  forty-five  years,  and  had  the  entire 
confidence  of  ihe  railroad  officials,  as  well 
as  the  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  read 
a  great  deal  and  was  well  i)Osted  on  the  af- 
fairs of  the  country.  By  his  ballot  he  sup- 
ported the  men  and  measures  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.     He  was  a  devout  member  of 


338 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Catholic  Church,  to  whicli  his  wife  mid 
family  also  I>eloiig,  and  ftn-  nine  }eai"s  during- 
his  residence  in  Tiskihva,  Bureau  county,  the 
priest  made  his  home  with  him.  He  contrih- 
uted  most  liberally  to  the  support  of  his 
church  and  gave  generously  to  all  charities. 
As  a  man  he  was  public  spirited  and  progres- 
sive and  his  word  was  considered  as  good  as 
his  bond. 


^^•ILLIA:M  a.  xe\'ille. 

This  well-known  real-estate  dealer,  con- 
tractor and  builder  of  Kewanee.  with  office 
over  the  First  National  Bank,  is  a  true  type 
of  western  progress  and  enterprise,  and  the 
city  owes  not  a  little  of  its  property  to  his  en- 
ergetic eftorts.  His  diligence,  prudent  bus- 
iness methods  and  reliable  sagacity  have  all 
combined  to  make  him  one  of  the  ablest  busi- 
ness men  of  the  community,  and  he  has 
achieved  an  enviable  success. 

A  native  of  Henry  county.  3ilr.  Xe\ille 
was  born  February  3,  1855.  and  is  a  son  of 
Patrick  Xe\ille,  who  was  liorn  in  Ireland, 
and  died  in  early  life.  The  father  came  ti.i 
America  when  (juite  young,  and  belie\-ing 
this  county  to  be  a  desirable  locality,  he  en- 
tered a  tract  of  government  land,  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  24,  Burns  townshii), 
which  is  still  in  possession  of  the  family. 
His  house,  built  of  lumber  hauled  from  Chi- 
cago with  ox  teams,  is  still  standing,  and 
was  occupied  until  1883.  At  the  time  of  its 
erection,  it  was  surrounded  by  saplings  which 
have  grown  into  large  and  beautiful  trees. 
Thoughout  life  the  father  followed  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  was  married  in  Henry 
county,  about  1840,  to  Miss  Jane  Pounds, 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  IMarch  12, 
1812,  and  later  lived  in  Canton,  Stark  coun- 


ty, Ohio,  and  being  left  an  orphan  at  an  early 
age  \vas  bound  out  according  to  the  custom 
of  that  time.  She  long  survived  her  husband, 
dying  on  the  14th  of  February,  1896,  when 
nearly  eighty-four  years  of  age.  During  her 
girlhood  in  Ohio  she  united  with  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  of  which  she  was  a  devout  and 
active  member  throughout  life.  Her  chil- 
dren, were  Thomas  P.,  now  a  resident  of  Stu- 
art, Iowa;  Mary  A.,  who  died  in  infancy; 
James  L.,  a  resident  of  Belleville,  Kansas, 
who  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war  and  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Harper's  Ferry,  enduring 
all  the  hardships  of  southern  prison  life; 
P.  H.,  who  lives  on  a  farm  adjoining  the  old 
homestead;  and  ^^'illiam  A.,  our  subject. 
Mrs.  Neville  came  to  Illinios  in  1840,  first 
stopping  in  Fulton,  but  soon  after  coming  to 
Henry  county,  and  at  the  time  of  her  death 
she  was  one  of  the- earliest  pioneers  left. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  William  A. 
Neville  were  passed  in  much  the  usual  man- 
ner of  farmer  boys  of  his  day,  attending  the 
district  schools,  wdiere  he  conned  his  lessons 
on  slab  seats.  Having  become  thoroughly 
familiar  with  agricultural  pursuits  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  several  years  in  Iowa 
after  his  school  days  were  over,  and  then 
turned  his  attention  to  the  carpenter's  trade. 
He  has  since  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building.  It  has  been  his  plan  to>  erect 
houses,  wliich  he  would  then  sell,  thus  deal- 
ing extensively  in  real  estate,  as  he  has  built 
hundreds  of  houses  in  Kewanee.  In  this 
way  he  has  done  much  to  impove  the  city. 
Indeed,  few  persons  have  done  more  to  ad- 
vance its  interests  than  'Mr.  Neville.  He  has 
also  erected  several  large  brick  buildings, 
his  first  being  Hotel  Main.  In  design  and 
structure  his  own  residence  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  in  the  city.  In  1895  he  laid 
out  a  tract  of  six  acres,  known  as  Neville's 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


339 


addition  to  the  city  of  Kewanee,  on  wliicli 
lie  has  built  and  sold  many  houses.  He  has 
jjaid  out  large  sums  for  help  in  his  work. 
On  the  14th  of  February,  1878,  Mr. 
Neville  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Cynthia  \\'est,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  in 
1863,  when  a  child  of  six  years  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  her  parents,  Michael  and  Pliebe 
(Mettler)  West,  also  natives  of  the  Buck- 
eye state.  By  this  union  have  been  born  four 
children,  namely:  Russell  T.,  who  is  now  a 
traveling  salesman  for  a  firm  engaged  in 
photographic  work;  Frank  R.,  Ralph  L.  and 
Edna  H.,  all  at  home.  Mrs.  Neville  is  a 
member  of  the  IMethodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  socially  she  and  her  husband  are  \ery 
popular  with  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. In  politics  he  is  a  Prohi- 
bitionist. 


GEORGE  R.  \\\  ARNOLD. 

George  Richard  W.  .Arnold,  a  member  of 
the  well-known  firm  of  Arnold  &  Goembel, 
dealers  in  grain  and  coal,  is  one  of  the  im- 
portant factors  in  the  business  circles  of 
Geneseo.  He  was  born  on  the  21st  of  May, 
1857,  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son 
of  J.  George  and  Salome  (Windling)  Ar- 
nold, both  natives  of  Alsace,  now  a  province 
of  Germany.  In  early  life  the  mother  came 
to  America  with  her  parents,  Philip  and 
Mary  Windling,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
years  the  father  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  com- 
pany with  his  mother  and  five  children,  his 
father  having  died  in  Germany  at  the  age 
of  thirty-five  years.  It  was  in  1844  that  the 
Arnold  family  reached,  this  country  and  took 
up  their  residence  in  Cook  county,  Illinois. 
They  improved  a  farm  in  Northfield  town- 
ship, where  the  grandmother  of  our  subject 


spent  her  remaining  da3's,  dying  there  at  the 
age  of  fifty-five  years.  She  was  an  earnest 
member  of  the  Evangelical  .Association,  and 
her  husband  held  membership  in  the  Luther- 
an Church  in  Germany. 

Our  subject  is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of 
five  children,  the  others  being  Lavina  Sarah, 
vvife  of  Samuel  Rapp,  a  farmer  of  White- 
side county,  Illinois ;  Ashton  and  Henrietta, 
who  both  died  in  infancy;  and  Flora,  at  home 
with  her  mother,  who  is  an  honored  resident 
of  Geneseo,  and  is  now  in  her  seventieth  year. 
It  was  in  1883  that  the  family  came  to  Henry 
county,  and  took  up  their  residence  on  a 
farm  on  section  17,  Geneseo  township,  just 
outside  the  corporate  limits  of  the  city  of 
that  name. 

During  his  boyhood  George  R.  W.  Ar- 
nold acquired  a  good  practical  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  county, 
and  also  gained  an  excellent  knowledge  of 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  came  with  the 
family  to  this  county  in  1883,  and  success- 
fully operated  the  home  farm  in  Geneseo 
township,  which  consists  of  ninety-five  acres 
of  very  valuable  and  well  improved  land. 
He  continued  his  farming  operations  until 
1895,  when  he  embarked  in  his  present 
business  at  Geneseo,  as  a  partner  of  Aaron 
Rapp,  under  the  firm  name  of  Rapp  &  Ar- 
nold. That  connection  continued  two  years, 
and  he  has  since  engaged  in  business  with 
Samuel  Goembel  under  the  style  of  .Vrnold 
&  Goembel.  There  are  only  two  elevators 
in  Geneseo,  and  this  firm  receives  a  liberal 
share  of  the  patronage. 

Mr.  Arnold  was  married,  April  29,  1897, 
to  Miss  Lorena  I-.  Offerle,  and  to  them  has 
been  born  a  daughter,  Onida  Lois,  the  joy 
and  pride  of  the  home.  She  was  named 
after  the  ship  "Onida,"  in  which  Mr.  Ar- 
nold's father  came  to  America.    Mrs.  Arnold 


340 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Catherine  Offerle.  the  former 
a  native  of  Alsace,  Germany,  the  latter  of 
the  Keystone  state.  They  are  still  living  at 
the  ages  of  seventj'-one  and  sixty-five  years, 
respectively,  and  are  highly  respected  citizens 
of  Geneseo.  Religiously  they  are  members 
of  the  Evangelical  Association.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Josie,  wife  of  John  Minch,  of  Hoop- 
pole;  Henry,  who  married  McKinley 

and  follows  farming  in  Kansas;  Anna,  wife 
of  Philip  Somers,  a  farmer  of  Hooppole; 
Cora,  deceased;  Lorena  L.,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject; Alfred,  who  married  Lou  W'ildermuth 
and  is  a  farmer  of  this  county;  and  Aaron, 
a  resident  of  Enid,  Oklahoma. 

Politically  ^Ir.  Arnold  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  socially  affiliates 
■with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
the  Knights  of  the  Globe.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation, and  he  has  served  as  steward  of  the 
church  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  for  several  years.  By  untiring  in- 
dustry and  sound  business  judgment  he  has 
v.on  merited  success  in  all  his  undertakings, 
and  is  in  all  respects  worthy  the  high  regard 
in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  men. 


XELS  M.  ROXSTRUM. 

.  For  a  quarter  of  a  century  tliis  gentleman 
has  been  identified  with  the  business  interests 
oi  Kewanee  as  a  painter  and  contractor,  and 
having  become  one  of  its  leading  citizens  he 
is  now  serving  as  alderman  of  the  fifth  ward. 
He  comes  from  across  the  sea.  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  April  14.  1851,  in  the  southern 
part  of  Sweden,  where  his  parents,  Muns 
and  Hannah  (Paulson)  Gunnason,  spent 
their  entire  lives.  His  father,  who  was  a 
manufacturer  of  ale,  died  at  the  age  of  sev- 


enty-three years,  but  the  mother  is  still  living 
and  is  about  eighty  years  of  age.  Thej, 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom 
one  daughter  died  in  infancy,  the  others 
being  Johanna,  now  a  widow  and  a  resident 
of  Sweden;  Nels  M.,  our  subject;  Mary, 
Augusta  and  Annie,  also  residents  of  Swe- 
den; Elsie,  wife  of  Joseph  Schronover,  of 
Kewanee;  and  Xellie,  wife  of  Xels  Ander- 
son of  the  same  city. 

On  completing  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Sweden  Mr.  Ronstrum  en- 
gaged in  clerking  in  a  general  store  there 
for  three  years.  In  1869,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enteen years,  he  decided  to  try  his  fortune 
in  America,  where  he  believed  better  oppor- 
tunities were  afforded  ambitious  young  men 
than  in  the  countries  of  the  old  world.  He 
sailed  from  Guttenberg  to  Hull,  England, 
and  at  Glasgow,  Scotland,  took  passage  on  a 
vessel  bound  for  Xew  York.  On  arriving 
in  that  city  he  proceeded  at  once  to  Knox- 
ville,  Knox  count)',  Illinois,  where  he  had 
relatives  living.  For  about  six  months  he 
clerked  in  a  dry-goods  store  at  that  place, 
and  then  spent  two  years  in  Iowa  and  X'e- 
braska,  following  painting  and  railroading 
most  of  the  time. 

On  his  return  to  Illinois  Mr.  Ronstrum 
spent  a  short  time  in  Galesburg,  and  then 
came  to  Kewanee,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  After  working  on  a  farm  for  a 
few  months  he  obtained  a  situation  in  the 
grocery  store  of  L.  W.  Lewis,  with  whom 
he  remained  about  a  )'ear,  and  for  the  same 
length  of  time  was  in  the  employ  of  C.  A. 
Shulton,  a  dry-goods  merchant  of  Kewanee. 
Since  his  marriage,  in  1876,  he  has  engaged 
in  the  painting  business,  and  as  a  contractor 
receives  a  liberal  patronage. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  1876,  Mr. 
Ronstrum  married  Miss  Julia  Kleiner,  who 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


341 


was  born  in  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  but 
was  only  two  years  old  wben  brought  to 
tliis  county  by  her  i)arents,  George  and 
Monroe  Kleiner,  the  family  locating  in  Ker 
wanee  when  it  was  a  small  village.  Through- 
out life  her  father  followed  the  mason's 
trade.  Mrs.  Ronstrum  is  the  oldest  of  his 
children,  the  others  being  Clara,  now  the 
widow  of  M.  L.  Frank  and  a  resident  of 
Chicago;  Ella,  wife  of  Dr.  S.  J.  Sharp,  of 
Kewanee;  and  Johanna,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years.  Unto  our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  also  been  born  four  children, 
namely :  Carrie,  now  the  wife  of  G.  W.  I'age. 
of  Kewanee ;  George,  who  is  with  his  father 
in  the  painting  business  and  resides  at  home : 
Mayme,  who  is  also  at  home  and  a  com- 
positor in  the  office  of  the  Star-Courier;  and 
Emmet,  attending  the  Kewanee  schools. 

Formerly  Mr.  Ronstrum  was  an  Odd 
Fellow,  but  at  present  is  not  connected  with 
that  order.  He  is,  however,  a  member  of 
the  Royal  Circle  and  Cyprus  Camp,  Xo.  84. 
M.  W.  .\.  Since  casting  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  James  A.  Garfield,  he  has  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1900  was  the  first  Republican  alderman 
ever  elected  in  the  fifth  ward,  receiving  a 
majority  of  thirty-six.  This  fact  plainly 
indicates  his  personal  popularity  and  the  con- 
fidence and  trust  reposed  in  him  by  his  fel- 
low citizens.  He  is  now  serving  as  chair- 
man of  the  park  an(l  cemetery  committees, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  committees  on 
finance  and  streets. 


ROBERT  F.  STEELE. 

Robert  F.  Steele,  deceased,  was  for  tliirty 
years  identified  with  the  business  and  po- 
litical affairs  of  Geneseo,  and  during  all  that 


time  enjoyeil  the  respect  of  his  fellow  towns- 
men by  reason  of  his  strict  integrity  and 
true  manliness.  His  devotion  to  the  city's 
welfare  made  him  a  valued  factor  in  public 
life,  and  in  his  death  (ieneseo  was  deprived 
of  one  of  her  best  citizens. 

Mr.  Steele  was  born  in  Xew  Hampshire, 
January  10,  1831,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry, 
his  parents  being  Robert  and  Betsey  Steele, 
also  natives  of  the  old  Granite  state,  where 
the  father  followed  farming  for  many  years. 
He  came  west  in  1856  and  spent  his  last 
days  in  Geneseo,  Illinois,  where.his  death  oc- 
curred in  1887.  In  New  Hampshire  he  had 
served  as  deacon  in  the  Presbyterian  Church 
for  many  years,  and  during  his  residence 
here  held  the  same  office  in  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  His  wife,  who  was  also  an 
active  member  of  the  same  church,  died  in 
1876,  at  the  age  of  eighty- four  years.  In 
their  family  were  four  children :  Robert  F., 
of  this  review ;  Mary,  who  wedded  Elihu 
Bryant,  and  both  are  now  deceased ;  Eliza- 
beth, a  resident  of  Arizona,  who  lirst  mar- 
ried John  Milton  Taylor,  and  after  his  death 
John  Van  Suyl;  and  Samuel,  who  died  in 
Geneseo  many  years  ago. 

Amid  New  England  scenes  Robert  F- 
Steele  grew  to  manhood,  and  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Methuen,  Massachusetts,  April  21, 
1857,  to  Miss  Anna  E.  Hardy,  who  was 
born  in  Antrim,  New  Hampshire,  of  which 
town  her  husband  was  also  a  native.  Her 
parents  were  Silas  and  .\bigail  (_ Farley) 
Hardy,  both  of  English  extraction,  and  the 
former  a  son  of  Sarah  Spofford,  who  be- 
longed to  a  very  noted  family  in  American 
history  and  a  relative  oi  Si)offord,  the 
librarian  at  Washington,  D.  C.  His  father, 
David  Hardy,  fought  for  American  inde- 
pendence, and  thus  Mrs.  Steele  is  a  daugh- 
ter  of   the   Revolution.      Her    father,    who 


342 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  by  occupation  a  farmer,  died  in 
Antrim,  New  Hampshire,  in  1855.  Her 
mother,  ]^Irs.  Abigail  Hardy,  was  born 
Jmie  I,  1800,  and  died  in  February,  18S7. 
Mrs.  Steele  is  the  younger  in  a  family  of 
two  children.  Her  sister,  Sarah  Abigail, 
is  the  wife  of  Dr.  A.  J.  French,  of  Lawrence, 
Massachusetts.  They  have  no  children  liv- 
ing. To  our  subject  and  his  wife  was  born 
a  daughter,  Abbie,  now  the  wife  of  Colonel 
H.  V.  Fisher,  who  is  represented  on  anotiier 
page  of  this  volume. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  in  1857,  Mr. 
Steele  came  to  Geneseo,  Illinois,  and  em- 
barked in  the  shoe  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Bryant  &  Steele,  which  connection 
was  continued  until  i860,  when  he  sold  cut. 
In  August,  1862,  he  entered  the  L'nii)n  army 
as  a  private  of  Company  I,  One  Hundred 
and  Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  but 
was  later  made  commissary  sergeant.  He 
went  with  his  regiment  to  Kentucky  and  re- 
mained in  the  service  until  hostilities  ceased. 
The  exposure  of  his  army  life  brought  on 
disease,  the  effects  of  which  probably  caused 
his  early  death.  After  his  return  home  he 
was  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Hosford  &  Steele  until 
about  two  years  prior  to  his  death,  when  he 
commenced  handling  real  estate. 

Mr.  Steele  died  September  6,  1887,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-six  years,  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church  and 
was  serving  as  deacon  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  His  political  support  was  given  first  to 
the  Whig  and  later  the  Republican  parties, 
and  in  his  social  relations  was  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  was 
quite  prominent  and  influential  in  public 
affairs,  serving  as  chairman  of  the  board  of 


supervisors  for  some  years,  and  also  effi- 
ciently filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
for  many  years.  In  1867  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  Geneseo,  and  while  filling  that 
office  he  also  served  as  city  clerk.  He  was 
mayor  three  terms,  and  such  was  his  popu- 
larity as  chief  executive  that  he  might  have 
held  the  office  indefinitely  had  he  not  re- 
fused to  accept  the  honor  longer.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  board  of  education 
several  terms,  and  director  in  the  Farmers 
Xational  Bank,  and  his  various  official  duties 
were  discharged  with  promptness  and  fidelity 
worthy  of  the  highest  commendation.  No 
man  in  the  community  stood  higher  socially 
and  those  who  knew  him  best  speak  in  un- 
qualified terms  of  his  sterling  integrity,  his 
lionor  in  business,  and  his  fidelity  to  all  the 
duties  of  public  and  private  life.  At  his 
death  of  Mayor  J.  H.  Mitchell,  of  Geneseo, 
issued  the  following  ordinance :  "As  an  e\i- 
dence  of  our  esteem  for  ^Ir.  Steele  and  our 
deep  regret  at  his  weath,  and  as  a  mark  of 
respect,  I  hereby  request  merchants,  bankers 
and  other  places  of  business  to  close  from 
ten  o'clock  a.  m.  until  noon  on  Thursday, 
September  8,  1887." 


JOHN  P.  BRADY. 

Among  the  prominent  young  business 
men  of  Kewanee  is  John  P.  Brady,  a  whole- 
sale and  retail  liquor  dealer,  who  was  born 
in  that  cit}'  on  the  27th  of  February,  1868. 
and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Rosanna 
(Trainer)  Brady,  who  are  represented  on 
another  page  of  this  volume.  For  many 
years  the  father  carried  on  the  business  now 
conducted  by  his  son,  and  was  also  inter- 
ested in  the  ice  business. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


343 


John  P.  Brady  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Kewanee  and  since  attaining  to  man's 
estate  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
its  business  interests.  His  place  is  one  of  the 
finest  of  the  kind  in  the  city,  everything  about 
it  being  first-class,  while  the  goods  handled 
are  the  best  that  money  can  buy.  He  makes 
a  specialty  of  fine  bottled  goods  and  high 
grade  cigars,  in  which  department  he  has 
the  largest  and  finest  line  in  Kewanee.  A 
finely  equipped  billiard  hall  occupies  the 
second  floor  of  the  building,  where  all  lovers 
of  the  game  can  while  away  an  hour  in  a 
most  pleasant  manner.  Mr.  Brady  also  con- 
ducts a  regular  bottling  works,  manufactur- 
ing soda  water  and  all  kinds  of  soft  drinks, 
which  he  supplies  to  the  trade.  Buying  his 
goods  directly  from  the  manufacturers,  he 
receives  the  benefit  of  cash  discounts,  and 
is  thus  able  to  give  a  better  article  for  the 
same  amount  of  money  than  those  who  buy 
on  credit.  His  house  is  conducted  in  a  quiet 
and  orderly  manner,  and  as  a  consequence 
his  trade  is  both  large  and  far-reaching. 
Mr.  Brady  is  a  genial,  accommodating  gen- 
tleman, and  treats  his  patrons  in  a  manner 
which  makes  them  feel  like  calling  again. 
He  manages  his  business  ujwn  strictly  busi- 
ness principles  autl  has  scored  a  signal  suc- 
cess in  the  prosecution  of  the  same.  Mr. 
Brady  has  also  leased  what  is  known  as 
Crystal  Lake,  which  he  has  converted  into  an 
ideal  resort,  with  boating,  bathing  and 
shooting  the  chutes.  This  he  now  rents  for 
picnic  purposes.  There  is  also  a  base-ball 
ground  attached.  He  has  been  manager  of 
the  base-ball  team  of  Kewanee,  which  is  one 
of  the  best  amateur  organizations  of  the 
kind  in  the  state,  and  which  has  at  times  de- 
feated the  professionals. 

In  September,     1894,    ^Ir.   Brady    was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Marv  Martin, 


a  daughter  of  P.  K.  Martin,  who  was  born 
in  Ireland.  For  two  terms  Mr.  Brady  was 
secretary  of  the  township  Republican  central 
committee,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
campaign  of  1900  for  McKinley,  Roose- 
velt and  Yates.  He  is  well  liked  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  en- 
joys the  respect  of  tlie  entire  community. 


GEORGE  \^■.   ROWE. 

George  W.  Rowe,  of  Geneseo,  is  now  Ii\'- 
ing  a  retired  life  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  rest 
which  he  has  truly  earned  and  richly  de- 
serves by  reason  of  his  industrious  efiforts 
of  former  years.  Accomplishment  and  prog- 
ress ever  imply  labor,  energ}'  and  diligence, 
and  it  was  those  qualities  that  enabled  our 
subject  to  rise  from  the  ranks  of  the  many 
and  stand  among  the  successful  few. 

A  native  of  New  York,  Mr.  Rowe  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Bath,  Steuben  county. 
May  20,  1825,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Smith 
and  Rachel  (Sherrer)  Rowe,  who  were  also 
born  in  the  Empire  state,  and  made  their 
home  there  until  their  removal  to  Illinois 
in  1835,  when  they  took  up  their  residence 
in  \\'hiteside  comity.  The  father  secured  a 
tract  of  government  land  and  built  a  log 
house,  into  which  the  family  moved  the  next 
fall.  There  he  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising  until  his  death  when  fifty- 
two  years  of  age.  In  political  sentiment  he 
was  a  Republican.  His  wife  died  a  few 
years  after  locating  in  Whiteside  county. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
namely :  Delanson,  who  was  killed  in  a  tor- 
nado at  the  home  place  in  Whiteside  county 
when  twenty-one  years  of  age;  George  W., 
our  subject;  Lovina,  widow  of  La  Fayette 


344 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


Crandall,  of  Erie  township,  Whiteside 
county;  Elvira,  who  married  Jackson  War- 
ner and  died  at  the  age  of  forty  years;  Eliza 
Ann,  deceased  wife  of  Henry  Kempster.  a 
farmer  of  Portland,  \\'hiteside  county; 
INIary  Jane,  wife  of  James  Calkens,  a  farmer 
of  Hillsdale,  Rock  Island  count)';  William, 
who  was  killed  at  the  same  time  as  his 
brother  Delanson,  when  about  twelve  years 
old ;  and  Robert  E.,  who  entered  the  Civil 
war  as  a  member  of  Company  K,  One  Hvui- 
dred  and  Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga  at  the  age  of  nineteen. 

George  W.  Rowe  attended  school  at  the 
place  of  his  birth  and  also  in  Whiteside 
county,  Illinois,  and  supplemented  the 
knowledge  there  acquired  by  home  study. 
He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  he 
married  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  to 
Miss  Julianna  Kempster,  of  Portland, 
Whiteside  county,  and  then  mo\ed  to  a  farm 
on  section  i8,  Phenix  township,  Henry 
county,  where  he  had  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land.  He  soon 
placed  the  farm  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation, and  erected  thereon  a  good  set  of 
buildings.  There  his  wife  died  in  August, 
1889,  and  her  remains  were  interred  in  the 
Sharon  churchyard  of  Portland  township, 
Whiteside  county.  There  were  four  chil- 
dren by  this  union,  all  born  in  Henry  county 
with  exception  of  Ann  Eliza,  the  eldest,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  three  years  and  nine 
months.  (2)  Viola  M.  married  John  J. 
Guild,  a  farmer  of  Portland  township, 
Whiteside  county,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
forty  years,  leaving  three  sons,  Edward, 
Frank  and  Elias.  (3^  Edith  is  the  wife  of 
J.  B.  Walker,  a  farmer  of  the  same  town- 
ship, and  they  have  two  cliildren,  Edna  and 


Charles.     (4)   Arthur  H.  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years  and  nine  months. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife.  Mr.  Rowe 
rented  his  farm  and  lived  with  his  children 
for  a  time.  Later  he  married  Mrs.  Lucy 
Urick,  of  Portland.  Whiteside  county,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Susanna  (Henney) 
Hines.  The  father  was  born  in  Germany, 
but  was  only  six  months  old  when  brought 
to  this  country  by  his  parents.  His  mother 
died  shortly  after  landing  in  America.  The 
family  located  on  a  farm  in  \\'ayne  county, 
Ohio,  where  Mr.  Hines  grew  to  manhood. 
On  coming  west  he  took  up  his  residence  at 
Pink  Prairie,  Phenix  township,  Henry 
county,  where  he  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  called  to  his  final  rest  in  1869,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-three  years.  His  widow  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years, 
and  now  makes  her  home  in  Geneseo.  In 
their  family  were  eight  children,  as  follows : 
( I )  John,  a  farmer  of  Brown  county,  Kan- 
sas, married  Amanda  Hershman  and  has 
four  children;  (2)  Luc)',  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject, is  next  in  order  of  birth.  (3)  Chris- 
tina is  the  wife  of  Aaron  Rapp,  a  prosper- 
ous citizen  and  retired  farmer  of  Geneseo, 
and  they  have  five  children:  Alice,  wife  ot 
John  Bollen,  of  Geneseo;  Flora  and  Cora, 
twins;  Emma;  Roy,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years;  and  Stella.  {4)  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  Abner  Oflferle,  a  farmer  of  Of- 
ferle,  Kansas,  which  place  was  named  in 
honor  of  his  father,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren. (5)  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Leonard 
Seiben,  whose  sketch  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  volume.  (6)  Hattie  is  the  wife 
of  John  Goembel,  a  retired  farmer  of  Gen- 
eseo. (7)  Peter,  pastor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  of  Kearnej',  Nebraska.  (8) 
Adam,  a  farmer  of  Phenix  township,  this 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


345 


■county,  married  Sadie  Bollen,  daughter  of 
John  Bollen,  of  Geneseo,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Floyd  and  Gertrude.  JNIrs.  Rowe 
was  born  in  Wayne  county.  Ohio,  and  first 
married  Andrew  Urick,  a  life-long  residen; 
of  Whiteside  county,  Illinois,  and  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  He  became  quite  well-to-do 
and  died  April  4,  1895,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
one  years.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served 
nine  months  in  Compan)'  G,  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-six  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Urick  were  born  six  chil- 
dren: (i  )ilary  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Smith,  oi  Searstown,  Rock  Island  county, 
who  is  employed  in  the  plow  factory  at  that 
])]ace,  and  they  have  three  children.  Effie. 
Lester  and  Haruld.  (  j)  Henry,  a  farmer  of 
Portland  township,  Whiteside  count}',  mar- 
ried Myrtle  Kempster  and  they  have  one 
child,  Jessie.  (3)  Albert  resides  on  the  home 
farm  in  Portland  township,  Whiteside 
county.  (4)  Julia  and  (5)  Earl  live  with 
their  nuither  in  Geneseo.  (6)  Frank  died  in 
infancy. 

In  his  farming  operations  Mr.  Rowe  met 
with  most  excellent  success  and  acquired 
over  seven  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land 
in  Phenix  township,  this  county,  most  of 
which  he  has  divided  among  his  children, 
though  he  still  retains  the  homestead  farm. 
He  always  devoted  considerable  attention  to 
the  raising  of  stock,  and  found  that  branch 
of  his  business  quite  profitable.  He  is  now 
living  retired  at  a  pleasant  home  on  North 
Aldrich  street,  Geneseo.  In  his  political 
affiliations  he  is  a  Republican.  He  has 
seen  almost  the  entire  development  of  this 
section  of  the  state,  having  located  in  W'hite- 
i  side  county  when  the  timber  was  inhabited 
"by  Indians,  while  wolves,  deer  and  wild  game 
was  plentiful.  When  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Henry  county  most  of  the  land  was 


wild  and  unimpro\ed,  and  he  built  the  first 
house  on  what  is  called  the  Rock  river  bot- 
tom in  Phenix  township.  In  the  Avork  of 
advancement  and  progress  he  has  ever  born 
his  part.  He  is  now  one  of  the  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  Geneseo,  and  his  long 
residence  in  this  section  of  the  state  and  the 
active  part  he  has  taken  in  its  development 
well  entitle  him  to  representation  in  the 
liistory  of  his  adopted  county. 


CARL  KIRCHNER. 

Carl  Kirchner,  a  well-known  retired  far- 
mer of  Geneseo,  is  a  man  whose  successful 
struggle  with  adverse  circurpstances  shows 
what  can  be  accomplished  by  industry  and 
economy,  especially  if  a  sensible  wife  sec- 
onds his  efforts  to  secure  a  home  and  com- 
petence. Coming  to  the  new  world  empty- 
handed  they  were  obliged  to  make  their  way 
without  any  of  the  aids  which  are  usually 
considered  essential  to  success. 

Mr.  Kirchner  was  born  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, January  28,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Foughrodt)  Kirchner, 
also  natives  of  that  country.  At  the  death 
of  his  parents  he  was  the  only  representa- 
tive of  the  family  living.  He  was  reared 
and  educated  in  the  land  of  his  birth,  and 
there  he  was  married,  January  14,  1852,  to 
Miss  Margaret  Moak,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, December  31,  1831.  In  1855  they 
bade  good-bye  to  the  fatherland  and  came 
to  America  as  passengers  on  the  "Bremen," 
which  sailed  from  Bremen,  Germany,  and 
at  length  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of 
New  Orleans.  From  the  Crescent  City  they 
came  up  the  Mississippi  river  to  Davenport, 
Iowa,  where  Mr.  Kirchner  had  an  uncle 
living. 


346 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The  young  couple  both  found  work  on 
the  bluff  near  Rock  Island,  he  receiving 
eight  dollars  per  month  and  board  for  his 
services.  ]\Irs.  Kirchner  often  did  a  man'a 
work  in  the  fields,  stacking  hay,  planting 
corn  or  hauling  grain.  In  this  way  she 
earned  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents  per  day. 
Her  uncle  paid  two  hundred  dollars  for  ten 
acres  of  land,  which  he  gave  the  young 
couple,  and  by  their  combined  efforts  they 
were  able  to  add  to  it  from  time  to  time 
until  they  now  own  three  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  well  improved  and  valuable 
land  in  Hanna  township,  this  county.  They 
continued  to  reside  upon  the  farm  until 
1896,  when  they  removed  to  Geneseo,  where 
they  bought  a  lot  and  built  a  large  and 
handsome  home.  Here  they  are  now  living 
retired  from  active  labor  and  are  enjoying 
a  well-earned  rest. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirchner  are  the  parents 
of  five  children,  namely :  ( i )  Lizzie  is  now 
the  wife  of  William  Oberly,  of  Hooppole, 
this  county,  and  they  have  nine  children, 
Francis,  Charles,  Henry,  Lawrence,  Anna, 
William,  May,  Clarence  and  Josie.  (2) 
Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Rink,  who  is 
engaged  in  farming  near  Geneseo,  and  they 
have  four  childen,  Ida,  Lawrence,  Henrietta 
and  Clayton.  (3)  Henry,  residing  at  Scran- 
ton,  near  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  married  Edith 
Russar  and  they  have  one  child,  Flossie.  (4) 
George,  a  farmer  living  near  Geneseo,  Illi- 
nois, wedded  ]\Iary  Steiger,  and  they  have 
one  child.  Hazel.  5)  Lena  is  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Friend,  of  Davenport,  Iowa. 

Religiously  Mr.  Kirchner  and  his  family 
hold  membership  in  the  Catholic  Church, 
and  politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party.  For  the  success  they  have 
achieved  in  life  he  and  his  wife  deserve 
great  credit,  it  being  due  entirely  to  their 


untiring  industry,  good  management  and 
indomitable  perseverance.  They  are  widely 
and  favorably  known  and  have  many  friend* 
throughout  the  county. 


CHARLES  A.  KELLOGG. 

Among  the  thrifty  and  well-to-do  agri- 
culturists of  Henry  county  is  Charles  A. 
Kellogg,  who  owns  and  operates  a  good 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 9,  W'ethersfield  township,  two  miles 
south  of  Kewanee.  A  native  of  Michigan, 
he  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  county,  April  14, 
1848,  and  is  a  son  of  A.  B.  Kellogg  and 
grandson  of  Hosmer  Kellogg.  The  birth 
of  the  father  occurred  October  22,  1799,  in 
Massachusetts,  where  he  grew  to  manhood 
and  married.  His  first  wife  died  in  that 
state  in  1843.  The  following  year  he  re- 
nioved  to  \Miite  Pigeon,  St.  Joseph  county, 
^Michigan,  where  he  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising with  his  brothers  for  several  years. 
During  his  residence  there  he  wedded  Mrs. 
Harriet  Stanley,  iicc  Loomis,  a  native  of 
Connecticut.  In  1850  they  came  to  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  and  took  up  their  residence 
in  Wethersfield,  where  Mr.  Kellogg  worked 
at  the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade,  and  also 
conducted  a  cooper  shop  and  dealt  in  agri- 
cultural implements.  During  the  last  feu- 
years  of  his  life  he  lived  with  our  subject 
upon  the  farm,  where  he  died  July  23,  1887, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  His  sec- 
ond, wife  survived  him,  and  passed  away 
March  5,  1891,  the  remains  of  both  being- 
interred  in  Wethersfield  cemetery.  By  their 
union  were  born  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, namely :  Henry  L.,  who  died  in  March, 
1894;  Charles  A.,  of  this  review;  George 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


347 


C,  a  business  man  of  Tiskilwa,  Bureau 
county,  Illinois;  and  Cynthia  IM.,  wife  of 
E.  J.  Ray,  a  farmer  of  Wethersfield  town- 
ship. 

Being  only  two  years  old  when  brought 
by  his  parents  to  this  county,  his  boyhood 
and  youth  were  passed  in  \\'ethersfield,  and 
he  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  place 
and  Kewanee.  On  starting  out  in  life  for 
himself  he  worked  by  the  month  as  a  farm 
hand,  and  then  engaged  in  farming  upon 
rented  land.  In  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  he 
was  married  February  20,  1868,  to  Miss 
Kate  S.  Weeks,  who  was  born  on  the  Hud- 
son river,  near  Newburg,  Orange  county, 
Xew  York,  of  which  county  her  parents, 
George  C.  and  Susan  A.  (Brewster)  Weeks, 
were  also  natives.  In  the  spring  of  1856  her 
lather  brought  the  family  to  Illinois,  and 
after  spending  four  years  in'  Galesburg, 
took  up  his  residence  upon  a  farm  in  Bureau 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  for  some  years.  His  last  days, 
however,  were  spent  in  retirement  from  ac- 
tive labor  in  Tiskilwa,  where  he  departed 
this  life  in  the  spring  of  1874.  Since  his 
death  jMrs.  Weeks  has  resided  with  her  chil- 
dren, and  now  makes  her  home  with  our 
subject  and  his  wife.  Mrs.  Kellogg  was 
reared  in  Galesburg  and  Bureau  county,  and 
by  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother  of 
ten  children :  George  A.,  who  is  married 
and  holds  a  responsible  business  position  in 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  and  he  has  three  children, 
Albert  Frederick,  Florence  C,  and  George 
A. ;  Frederick  B. ;  Susan  E.,  wife  of  J.  G. 
Hoffman,  a  merchant  of  Kewanee,  by  whom 
she  has  one  son,  J.  Brewster;  Edwin  L., 
v\-ho  holds  a  responsible  position  in  the  Ke- 
wanee bank;  and  Harry  C,  Ellen  K.,  Charles 
F.,  Matilda  W.  and  C.  Herbert,  all  at  home. 
Matilda  is  now  attendins:  the  hi^h  school  of 


Kewanee,  and  Herbert  is  pursuing  his 
studies   in   the  AVethersfield   school. 

Mr.  and  I\Irs.  Kellogg  began  their  do- 
mestic life  on  a  farm  in  Bureau  county, 
where  they  made  their  home  for  a  few 
years,  and  in  addition  to  his  farming  opera- 
tions he  was  engaged  in  business  there  for 
two  or  three  years,  and  als<:>  operated  a  corn 
sheller  for  some  time.  In  January,  1875,  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  on  section  9,  Wethersfield  township, 
Henry  county,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  He  has  made  many  permanent  im- 
provements upon  the  place,  and  has  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising,  his  specialty  being  short  horn 
cattle. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Kel- 
logg has  always  affiliated  with  the  Republi- 
can party  and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  General  U.  S.  Grant,  in  1872.  He  has 
been  a  delegate  to  a  number  of  county  con- 
ventions of  his  party,  and  has  taken  quite  an 
active  part  in  pubhc  affairs,  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  some  years;  as 
assessor  about  eight  years;  and  justice  of  the 
peace  of  Wethersfield  for  four  years.  In 
whatever  position  he  has  been  called  upon 
to  fill  he  has  proved  a  faithful  and  efficient 
officer.  He  and  his  family  attend  the  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Kewanee,  and  are 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  them. 


THOMAS  BRADY. 

Thomas  Brady,  deceased,  was  for  many 
years  a  well-known  business  man  of  Ke- 
wanee as  a  wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in 
liquor  and  cigars.  He  was  born  in  county 
Cavan,  Ireland,  May    3,    1845.  and    was  a 


348 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


son  of  Patrick  and  Catherine  Brady,  who 
spent  their  entire  lives  in  that  country.  In 
their  family  were  eight  children  but  Patrick 
is  now  the  only  survivor. 

It  was  in  1862  that  our  subject  emigrated 
to  America  and  took  up' his  residence  in  Chi- 
cago, where  he  commenced  work  for  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Ouincy  Railroad 
Compan}'.  In  their  employ  he  came  to  Ke- 
wanee,  and  remained  with  them  for  seven 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  the  shops 
were  removed  to  Mendota.  He  then  em- 
barked in  the  saloon  business  and  later  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  all  sorts  of 
carbonated  beverages  and  soft  drinks,  and 
conducted  one  of  the  most  popular  saloons 
of  the  city.  He  has  paid  as  high  as  thirteen 
hundred  dollars  for  freight  at  one  time  on 
a  shipment  of  ice  and  he  did  a  very  large 
and  profitable  business  for  some  years. 

Mr.  Brad}'^  was  married  in  Kewanee, 
February  3,  1866,  to  Miss  Rosanna  Trainer, 
a  native  of  county  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Hilary  Trainer.  The 
father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
was  born  in  the  same  county,  October  18, 
1818,  and  died  in  that  country  in  1866, 
while  the  mother  was  born  in  1819,  and 
died  in  1870.  They  were  married  in  1840 
and  w^ere  the  parents  of  nine  children : 
Owen,  John,  Kate,  Mary,  James,  Mar}-, 
Patrick,  Katie  and  Rosanna.  Mrs.  Brady 
is  the  youngest  and  only  one  of  the  family 
now-  living.  She  was  eighteen  3-ears  of  age 
when  in  1866  she  and  her  sister,  Mary,  came 
to  America,  landing  in  Xew  York.  They 
came  direct  to  Kewanee,  where  their  brother 
John  was  living,  and  where  Mrs.  Brady  has 
since  made  her  home. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  ^vere  born 
eleven  children  as  follows:  Katie  A.,  a  noted 
singer  and  a  graduate  of  the  Chicago  Cen- 


tral ^lusical  College,  is  now  the  wife  of 
Oliver  P.  Hamilton,  of  Nashville,  North 
Carolina,  and  they  have  one  child,  ilary: 
John  P.,  a  prominent  business  man  of  Ke- 
wanee, is  represented  on  another  page  ot 
this  volume;  Thomas  is  a  resident  of  Butte, 
^Montana;  James  died  at  the  age  of  twenty 
m.onths;  Frank  married  Bertha  Connell  and 
resides  in  Kewanee ;  ^lamie,  living  at  home, 
is  also  an  excellent  singer  and  a  pupil  of  her 
older  sister;  Rosa  died  at  the  age  of  eleven 
months;  Martha  is  now  in  Asheville,  North 
Carolina;  Willie  plays  on  the  piccolo,  flute 
and  piano,  and  is  now-  pursuing  his  musical 
studies  at  St.  Bede  College,  Peru,  Illinois; 
Joe  is  atending  school  in  Kankakee,  Illinois ; 
and  Alorris  is  a  student  in  the  Kewanee 
schools.  The  family  are  all  communicants 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  ^Irs.  Brady  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society. 

^Ir.  Brady  died  May  13,  1895.  He  was 
a  man  of  affairs  and  was  represented  in  all 
enterprises  which  he  believed  would  prove 
of  benefit  to  the  city  and  community  in 
which  he  lived.  He  was  a  stockholder  in 
the  Henr}'  Count}-  Fair  Association,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  progressive  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  this  section  of  the  city. 
In  his  death  the  community  therefore  lost  a 
most  useful  and  valued  member  of  societv. 


THOMAS  TAYLOR. 

Among  the  bra\e  men  who  went  to  the 
defense  of  their  country  during  the  dark 
days  of  the  Rebellion  was  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  now'  re- 
siding on  \\'est  ^lain  street,  Geneseo,  Illi- 
nois. He  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York, 
ilay  18,  1846,  and  from  that  city  came  to 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


349 


Illinois  at  the  age  of  eight  years  with  hif» 
parents,  Thomas  and  Jane  (Westbury)  Tay- 
lor, locating  in  Chicago.  The  father  was  a 
native  of  Bainbryshire  England,  and  was 
twenty  years  of  age  on  his  emigration  to  the 
United  States.  For  some  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  business  as  a  carriage  manufac- 
turer at  Albany,  and  in  1853  moved  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  followed  the  same  occupa- 
tion for  about  five  years.  In  1858  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  overseer  and  master 
mechanic  of  the  convict  prison  in  Little 
Rock,  Arkansas,  where  he  died  of  yellow 
fever  the  following  year,  leaving  a  widow 
and  five  children.  Two  children  died  pre- 
vious to  his  death.  The  mother  long  sur- 
viveil  her  husband,  dying  at  her  home  in 
Chicago,  April  2,  1894,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
nine  years.  She  was  born  in  Greenbush, 
New  York,  of  English  parentage. 

Thomas  Taylor,  our  subject,  is  the 
oldest  of  the  family  of  seven  children,  the 
others  being:  Sarah,  born  in  Albany,  is  the 
wife  of  Albert  Pfangle,  of  Aurora,  Illinois; 
Elisha,  born  in  Albany,  is  engaged  in  the 
tinsmith  business  in  Geneseo,  Illinois;  Har- 
riet died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years;  George, 
born  in  Chicago,  is  a  carpenter  and  con- 
tractor of  that  city;  Mary  J.,  born  in 
Aurora,  died  in  infancy;  and  Mrs.  Harriet 
Smith,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years, 
leaving  one  child,  Xellie.  now  deceased. 

Our  subject  was  principally  educated 
at  Aurora,  Illinois,  where  he  attended  Clark 
Seminary,  and  after  the  Civil  war  he  w  as 
also  a  student  at  the  Soldiers'  State  College, 
in  Fulton,  Illinois.  On  the  ist  of  January, 
1863,  he  enlisted  at  Aurora,  in  Company  B, 
Fifty-eighth  Illinois  N'olunteer  Infantry  for 
three  years  nr  during  the  war.  and  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at 
Springtield,    lUintiis,    as    a  private,    under 


command  of  Captain  David  J.  Lynch  and 
Coloaiel  William  F.  Lynch.  The  regiment 
was  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade,  Third 
Division,  Sixteenth  Corps,  Army  of  the 
Tennessee,  and  was  in  the  folowing  engage- 
ments :  Nashville,  Pleasant  Hill,  Fort  De 
Russey,  Meridian,  luka,  Jackson,  Canton 
and  Yellow  Bayou.  .\t  luka  'My.  Taylor 
was  wounded  by  a  niinie  ball  splitting  his 
chin;  at  Mayfield,  Kentucky,  he  was  also 
slightly  wounded  in  the  right  foot;  while  at 
Yellow  Bayou  he  was  verv  seriously  wound- 
ed, May  18,  i8()4,  Iiy  the  explosion  of  a 
shell,  breaking  his  collar  bone  and  fractur- 
ing his  shoulder  blade.  This  necessitated 
the  amputation  of  his  left  arm  at  the 
shoulder.  For  eight  months  Air.  Taylor 
was  confined  at  Jefferson  Barracks  hospital, 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  was  transferred  to  Keokuk,  Iowa, 
where  he  remained  until  August  25,  1864, 
when  he  was  hunorahly  discharged.  He 
was  in  the  ser\ice  one  \ear  before  his  en- 
listment, acting  indei)endently.  as  he  was 
under  age. 

After  his  dischar^'e  nuv  gallant  young 
soldier  returned  to  Aurora  for  a  short  time 
and  entered  the  Soldiers'  College  at  Fulton, 
where  he  pursued  a  four  3'ears'  course  and 
was  graduated.  For  the  following  five  years 
he  was  employed  as  clerk  for  the  Dirmiond 
Jo  Steamer  Company,  and  then  came  to 
Geneseo,  in  1874,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  He  attended  a  course  of  lectures 
at  the  Chicago  School  of  Psychology,  and 
was  graduated  at  that  institution  May  i, 
1900.  Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Unitarian  Church  of  Geneseo,  and  frater- 
nally is  connected  with  the  Modern  Wood- 
men Camp,  No.  40,  and  the  Home  Forum. 
As  one  of  the  honored  veterans  of  the  Civil 
war,  and  a  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Henry 


3SO 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


county,  he  is  certainly  deserving  of  promi- 
nent mention  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  married  in  Geneseo.  in 
1885,  to  Miss  Augusta  Priebe,  who  was  born 
in  Germany,  and  was  eight  years  old  when 
she  came  to  the  new  world  with  her  parents, 
^^"illiam  and  Rosine  (Welke)  Priebe,  locat- 
ing in  Geneseo.  Both  in  his  native  land  and 
for  some  years  after  coming  to  America,  ]Mr. 
Priebe  followed  the  carpenter's  trade,  but 
later  purchased  a  farm  in  Geneseo  township, 
this  county,  just  outside  the  corporation, 
and  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. There  he  and  his  wife  still  reside. 
The)'  are  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  of 
whom  the  following  are  still  living :  William 
F.,  born  in  Germany,  married  Matilda  Sim- 
ater,  and  resides  in  Minonk,  Woodford 
county,  Illinois.  He  is  extensively  engaged 
in  the  poultry  business,  having  alx)ut  two 
dozen  branch  houses  throughout  the  United 
States  and  also  an  ofifice  in  England,  to 
which  he  ships  large  guantities  of  poultry. 
]\Irs.  Taylor  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth 
in  this  family.  Herman  married  Lizzie 
W^arren  and  is  engaged  in  the  poultry  busi- 
ness in  Bradford,  Stark  county,  Illinois. 
Pauline,  born  in  Germany,  is  the  wife  of 
Frederick  Glawe,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
same  business  in  Guthrie  Center,  Iowa.  ^lin- 
nie,  born  in  Geneseo,  is  now  teaching  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  place.  Louis  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  the  home  place  in 
Geneseo  township.  ^latilda  is  also  at  home. 
Henry  has  charge  of  his  brother's  branch 
house  at  Peoria,  Illinois.  Those  of  the  chil- 
dren now  deceased  are  Emil,  who  died  in 
Chicago  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years; 
Hannah,  who  died  in  Geneseo,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-nine;  and  Otilla,  who  died  in  Ger- 
many, in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor 
have  two  children :     May,  born  in  Geneseo, 


May  21,  1886,  and  Thomas,  Jr.,  born  in  the 
same  place  August  5,  1889.  Both  are  now 
attending  the  local  schools.  !Mrs.  Taylor  is 
also  a  Unitarian  in  religious  belief  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Eastern  Star  Chapter  of  the 
^Masonic  fraternity  and  the  ^^'oman's  Re- 
lief Corps  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public. The  family  is  one  of  prominence 
in  Geneseo. 


HARRY  A.  REHERD. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  one  of  the 
younger  members  of  the  Henry  county  bar, 
but  his  prominence  is  by  no  means  measured 
by  his  years;  on  the  contrary  he  has  already 
won  a  reputation  which  many  an  older 
practitioner  might  well  envy.  One  must 
work  to  attain  greatness  in  any  walk  of  life, 
but  in  this  profession,  probably  more  than  in 
any  other,  success  depends  upon  individual 
efforts. 

Mr.  Reherd  is  a  native  of  Henry  county, 
born  on  his  father's  farm  southeast  of  Gene- 
seo, July  18,  1 87 1,  his  parents  being  Jacob 
Keller  Reherd  and  Lucy  Louise  (Ware) 
Reherd,  who  are  presented  on  another  page 
uf  this  volume.  The  boyhood  of  our  subject 
was  passed  amid  rural  scenes.  He  received 
his  earh-  education  in  the  country  schools 
where  he  was  given  the  credit  of  being  a 
diligent  and  faithful  student.  Later  he  at- 
tended the  Geneseo  Collegiate  Institute, 
graduating  therefrom  in  the  year  of  1890, 
being  president  of  his  class.  He  has  twice 
held  the  position  of  president  of  the  Alumni 
Association  of  that  institution  and  was  one 
of  the  speakers  at  the  corner-stone-laying 
at  Atkinson  hall,  one  of  its  school  buildings. 

He  was  for  several  years  an  efficient  and 
popular  teacher  in  the  public  schools  in  the 


11.  A     KKHEKl). 


I  !R1?ARY 

UNIVFRSi.i  UF  ILLINOIS 
llRBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


333 


county,  reading  law  during  vacation,  in  the 
office  of  Judge  George  E.  Waite,  of 
Geneseo. 

In  September,  1895,  he  became  a  student 
in  the  law  department  of  the  State  Univer- 
sity of  Iowa,  at  Iowa  City,  where,  during 
his  year's  work,  he  was  recognized  as  an 
able  student  and  forcible  debater.  A  year 
later  he  entered  the  office  of  the  prominent 
law  firm  of  Benjamin  &  jNIorrissey,  of 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  attended  the  ses- 
sions of  the  Bloomington  Law  School.  On 
February  24,  1897,  he  was  admitted,  with 
high  honors,  to  practice  law  by  the  supreme 
court  of  Illinois,  and  soon  after  entered 
the  law  office  in  Geneseo,  of  Judge  George 
E.  Waite,  master  in  chancery  of  Henry 
county,  where  he  practiced  for  nearly  two 
years,  when  he  opened  an  office  for  himself 
in  Geneseo. 

Personally  Mr.  Reherd  is  a  very  pleasant 
man  to  meet  and  impresses  those  who  come 
in  contact  with  him  with  his  energy  and 
sincerity. 

iVlways  diligent  and  painstaking  in  his 
legal  work,  he  has  built  up  a  strong  law 
practice  which  is  rapidly  increasing.  He  is 
possessed  of  a  strong  personality,  and  ease 
of  manner,  a  good  personal  appearance,  and 
splendid  self  control — qualities  so  desirable 
in  a  successful  trial  lawyer. 

Air.  Reherd  has  taken  a  somewhat  ac- 
tive part  in  campaign  work,  and  has  more 
than  a  local  reputation  as  a  public  speaker. 
In  the  fall  of  1900  he  was  the  Democratic 
nominee  for  state's  attorney  for  Henry 
county.  During  the  campaign  he  proved 
himself  to  be  the  possessor  of  a  ix»werful, 
well-modulated  voice,  a  good  command  of 
language,  and  to  have  the  ability  and  energy 
to  deliver  an  eloquent,  argumentative 
speech.     Although  he  failed  of  election,  yet 


his  campaign  was  a  remarkable  one.  His 
\ote  was  the  largest  ever  received  by  a  Dem- 
ocrat for  that  county  office.  The  majority 
of  the  opposition,  was  reduced  liy  o\er  a 
thousand  votes. 

Mr.  Reherd  is  especially  interested  in  the 
educational  affairs  of  the  county.  He  is  a 
man  of  even  temperament  and  intensity  of 
purpose  and  has  been  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Geneseo  since  November,  1889.  He  has 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  public 
afifairs  and  supports  all  enterprises  which  he 
believes  will  prove  of  public  benefit.  He  is 
one  of  the  energetic  capable  young  men  of 
the  county  who  lives  not  for  himself  alone 
l)ut  to  also  use  his  ability  and  his  inlUience 
for  the  benefit  of  the  community  in  which 
he  resides,  and  the  county  and  state  of  which 
he  is  a  citizen. 


JACOB  KELLER  REHERD. 

Among  the  practical,  progressive  and 
highly  esteemed  farmers  of  Geneseo  town- 
ship, Ilenry  county,  is  numbered  Jacob 
Keller  Reherd,  who  was  born  in  Harrison- 
burg, Rockingham  county,  Virginia.  Sei>- 
tember  9,  1834,  and  is  of  the  good  old 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock. 

His  father,  William  Reherd.  was  born  in 
York  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1792.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  energy,  industry  and 
thrift  and  highly  esteemed  by  those  who  best 
knew  him.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
ninety-two  years  okl.  William  Reherd  in 
l-.is  young  manhood  went  to  Harrisonburg, 
Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  and  en- 
gaged in  business  and  in  farming.  He  mar- 
ried Anna  Keller,  who  was  born  in  Harri- 
sonburg in  1802  and  died  in   1867.     Hers 


354 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  a  life  of  great  usefulness  and  unselfish 
devotion  to  their  large  family  of  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  still  living,  one  having 
died  in  infancy  and  one  at  middle  age. 

The  boyhood  of  Jacob  Keller  Reherd 
■was  spent  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  in  \'ir- 
ginia,  he  receiving  his  education  in  the  pub- 
he  and  private  schools  of  Harrisonburg. 
In  1856  he  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
locating  on  the  farm  on  sections  26  and  27, 
Geneseo  township,  where  he  now  resides. 
At  that  time  the  land  was  all  wild  and  un- 
improved, but  he  soon  broke  the  land, 
fenced  it,  and  erected  good  and  substantial 
buildings  thereon,  making  a  pleasant  home 
for  himself  and  familj'. 

On  January  10,  1S65,  at  Geneseo,  ilr. 
Reherd  married  L.i\cy  Louise  \\'are,  one  of 
the  four  children  of  Joel  and  Lucy  (Cros- 
sett)  Ware. 

Joel  \\'are  was  born  in  Swanzey,  Che- 
shire county,  Xew  Hampshire,  June  23, 
1809,  of  Scotch  ancestry,  being  a  direct  de- 
scendant of  Robert  Bruce,  of  Scotland.  In 
i860,  he  came  to  Illinois  where  he  taught  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  county  for  many 
years,  also  engaging  in  farming.  He  died 
at  Geneseo  in  April,  1897,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-eight  years.  Up  to  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  very  active  both  in  body  and 
mind  and  was  a  constant  student  of  public 
events,  being  for  his  age  an  exceptional 
man  in  this  respect. 

Lucy  (Crossett).  Ware  was  born  at 
Prescott,  ^Massachusetts,  December  16, 
181 3,  and  is  still  living  in  Geneseo,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven,  while  her  mother  li\ed 
at  Amherst,  Massachusetts,  to  the  ripe  old 
age  of  one  hundred  and  two  years.  On  her 
centennial  birthday  her  photograph  was 
taken,  showing  her  to  be  well  preserved  and 
her  hair  to  be  still  black  as  a  raven's  wing. 


Lucy  Louise  (Ware)  Reherd  was  boni 
at  Wellsville,  Allegany  county,  Xew  York, 
}ilarch  2,  1844.  She  is  a  woman  of  in- 
telligence and  education;  the  possessor  of 
quiet,  friendly,  helpful  ways;  a  woman 
whose  "children  rise  up  and  call  her 
blessed." 

Both  ilr.  and  Mrs.  Reherd  are  members 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Gene- 
seo, and  were  among  the  ones  who  founded 
the  church  in  1868.  They  are  the  parents  of 
five  children,  all  grown  to  manhood  and 
womanhood  :  ^^'illiam  Robert,  who  was,  un- 
til recently,  connected  with  the  Geneseo 
Arena  as  editor;  Herbert  Ware,  who  mar- 
ried Louise  il.  ilcClure,  of  Mediapolis. 
Iowa.  He  was  pastor  at  ililan,  Illinois,  for 
four  years,  and  is  now  pastor  of  Bethany 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Detroit,  Michigan; 
Harry  Arthur,  a  prominent  attorne}"  of 
Geneseo,  who  is  represented  on  another 
page  of  this  volume;  ;Mar\-  Louise,  a  student 
at  the  State  University  of  Iowa ;  and  Fanny 
Fern,  a  student  of  music  at  Rock  Island, 
Illinois;  all  of  whom  are  capable,  indus- 
trious young  people. 

Mr.  Reherd  is  a  conservative  man  of 
good  judgment  and  of  broad  intelligence. 
A-  man  unselfishlj^  devoted  to  his  family  and 
who  has  ever  taken  an  active  interest  in 
public  affairs,  especially  educational  and 
political.  Since  attaining  his  majority  he 
has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Democ- 
rac)"  and  is  one  of  the  most  influential  rep- 
resentatives of  the  party  in  his  community. 
For  eight  years  he  represented  his  town- 
ship, which  is  strongly  Republican,  as  as- 
sistant supervisor,  being  for  that  length  of 
time  an  invincible  opponent  to  the  Republi- 
can nominees  for  that  office. 

;Mr.  Reherd  represented  his  school  dis- 
trict as  director  for  eighteen  years,  was  a. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


355- 


member  of  the  Geneseo  to\vnshi|)  library 
board  for  several  terms,  was  one  of  the  pro- 
moters of  the  Geneseo  Collegiate  Institute, 
and  a  member  of  the  board  'of  directors  of 
that  institution  for  over  ten  years.  He  is 
one  of  the  men  who  has  helped  to  make  the 
county  what  it  is  to-day.  one  of  the  richest 
agricultural  districts  in  the  state,  and  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  all  that  tends  to 
its  improvement  and  the  advancement  of  its 
people. 


JEFFERSON  W.  TAYLOR. 

This  well-known  retired  agriculturist  c^f 
Geneseo,  is  an  honored  representative  of  one 
of  the  earhest  families  of  this  state,  and  is 
a  true  type  of  the  energetic,  hardy  men  who 
have  actively  assisted  in  developing  and  im- 
proving this  beautiful  and  fertile  agricul- 
tural country.  In  fact  Mr.  Taylor  is  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois,  his  birth  occurring  near 
New  Haven,  \\'hite  county,  on  the  22nd  of 
February,  1818,  before  the  state  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  L'nion.  His  parents  were  Eph- 
raim  Merritt  and  Ebbie  (Hayes)  Taylor. 
The  father  was  born  on  the  Roanoke  river  in 
Rollin  county,  Virginia,  and  when  about 
sixteen  years  of  age  moved  with  his  parents 
to  North  Carolina,  and  later  to  the  Blue 
Ridge  mountains  in  Tennessee,  where  our 
subject's  grandfather,  Richard  Taylor,  died. 
The  father,  Ephraim  Taylor,  then  took  care 
'>f  his  mother,  and  together  they  came  to 
Illinois  in  1812,  locating  in  White  county, 
where  he  died  in  1845,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seven  years.  He  followed  the  accupation 
of  farming  throughout  life,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  were  earnest  and  consistent 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  She  also 
died  in  \\'hite  countv  about  a  vear  before  his 


death  occurred.  Their  family  numbered 
seven  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
eldest.  (2)  Ihulson  R.,  a  retired  farmer 
and  carpenter,  of  Geneseo,  wedded  Mary  .\. 
Porter,  and  has  six  children,  William  H., 
George  H.,  Frederick  L.,  I\Iary  Ida,  John  J., 
and  Daniel  A.  (3)  Sarah  is  the  widow  of 
Rodney  Linnell,  a  farmer,  anel  resides  in 
Geneseo  with  her  daughter.  Mrs.  Cann.  She 
has  two  children:  Lucy,  wife  of  Thomas 
Cann,  a  meat  merchant  of  Geneseo;  and 
Mary,  wife  of  James  Searls,  a  farmer  of 
Hanna  township,  this  cnunty.  (4)  Alsadie 
married  Irson  Olinger  and  both  are  now 
deceased;  (5)  Eliza  married  Ephraim  JNIer- 
ritt  Stokes  and  they  are  also  deceased.  (6) 
Bradley  H.  died  at  the  age  of  forty  years. 
(7)  William  died  in  childhood. 

Being  the  oldest  son,  Jefferson  W.  Tay- 
lor was  obliged  to  work  on  the  farm  during 
1-iis  boyhood  and  vouth.  and  was  unable  to  at- 
tend school  until  twenty-two  years  of  age. 
He  remained  with  his  parents  in  White 
county  until  twenty-five,  when  he  and  his 
cousin  came  up  the  ^lississippi  river  on  a 
steamboat  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  after 
passing  the  winter  with  his  cousin  at  that 
place,  he  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
and  bought  a  farm  in  what  is  now  Hanna 
township.  He  also  purchased  the  ferry, 
which  crossed  the  ri\er  at  Cleveland,  known 
as  the  Cleveland  ferr\-,  which  he  operated 
about  seven  years.  He  then  sold  the  ferry 
and  gave  his  entire  attention  to  farming  for 
a  time,  but  later  embarked  in  the  dry  goods 
business  at  Colona  Station,  where  he  built 
a  store  and  dwelling  house.  Not  meeting 
with  success  in  that  enterprise,  he  soon  re- 
turned to  farming  in  Hanna  towns!iip. 
where  he  had  previously  purchased  five  hun- 
dred acres  of  wild  land,  though  he  after- 
ward sold  two  hundred  acres  of  that  amount. 


;56 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


After  operating:  his  farm  for  alx)ut  eleven 
years  he  sold  the  place,  taking  a  note  and 
mortgage  on  a  firm  in  Whiteside  county. 
After  living  upon  the  latter  place  for  five 
or  six  years,  he  disposed  of  it  and  came 
to  Geneseo,  where  he  has  since  led  a  retired 
life,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  He  has  a 
comfortable  home  on  South  State  street. 
v>hich  is  the  abode  of  hospitality  and  good 
cheer. 

In  1845  ^^r.  Taylor  married  Miss  Alfred 
Linnell,  a  daughter  of  Rufus  and  Lucy 
(^lelvin)  Linnell.  Her  father  was  born  on 
an  island  between  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  known  as  Linnell's  Island,  which 
was  settled  bv  his  father,  a  native  of  France. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  were  born  six 
children,  as  follows:  (i)  Ephriam  Mer- 
ritt,  named  for  his  grandfather,  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance  business  at  Chariton, 
Lucas  county,  Iowa.  He  was  in  the  regidar 
army  for  five  years,  taking  part  in  Indian 
warfare,  and  lost  his  health  in  the  service. 
For  his  second  wife  he  married  Eva  Lewis, 
of  Wayne  county,  Iowa,  and  they  have 
seven  children,  Jeflferson  W.,  Florence.  Jen- 
nie. Elmer,  Maude,  Lewis  and  Blaine.  (2) 
Mary  married  first  Elijah  Gove,  a  farmer, 
and  carpenter  of  Hanna  township,  by  whom 
she  had  two  children,  Clinton  D.  and  one 
who  died  in  infancy;  and  for  her  second 
husband  she  married  \\"ilbur  Hobson,  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Lucas  county,  Iowa, 
by  whom  she  had  one  child.  Ernest.  ( 3 ) 
George  ^^'.,  station  agent  on  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Ouincy  railroad  at  Burling- 
ton, Iowa,  wedded  ^lary  Deem  and  had  two 
sons,  Frank  and  Edwin.  (4)  Rilla  is  the 
wife  of  George  Bills,  a  farmer  of  Edford 
township,  this  county,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Archer  and  Roy.  (5)  Lisse  is  the 
^vife  of  George  Detrick.  a  laundrvman  of 


Dixon,    Lee    county,    Illinois.       (6)     The 
youngest  died  in  infancy  unnamed. 

Mr.  Taylor  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  ^^'illianl  Henrj-  Harrison,  in  1840, 
and  continued  a  supporter  of  the  ^^  hig  party 
until  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  when  joined  its  ranks  and  has  con- 
tinued to  fight  under  its  banner.  He  has 
held  several  township  offices  of  honor  and 
trust,  and  has  always  faithfully  performed 
any  duty  devolving  upon  him  whether  pub- 
lic or  private.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  in 
early  life  was  connected  with  the  Methodist 
Church,  but  is  now  a  Presbyterian.  During 
the  long  years  of  his  residence  in  Henry 
coiuity,  Mr.  Taylor  has  become  widely 
known,  and  his  many  excellent  traits  of 
character  have  gained  for  him  the  high  re- 
gard of  many  friends. 


HORACE  J.  COMBS. 

Horace  J.  Combs,  an  active  and  enter- 
prising farmer  whose  farm  of  ninety-five 
acres  is  pleasantly  located  on  section  10, 
Wethersfield  township,  within  two  miles  of 
Kewanee,  was  born  in  Marshall  county,  Illi- 
nois, November  29,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of 
Warner  Combs,  who  was  born  in  \\"est  \'ir- 
ginia,  in  January,  1825.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  Jacob  Combs,  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  \\'est  \'irginia,  and  later 
became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Wjandot 
county,  Ohio.  There  the  father  grew  to 
manhood  and  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
^^'ood,  a  native  of  \\'yandot  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  Francis  Wood,  also  one  of  its 
pioneer  settlers.  In  1852,  Warner  Combs 
came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Marshall 
countv,  where    he  transformed    a  tract  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


357 


wild  land  into  a  good  farm.  His  last  days 
were  spent  in  retirement  from  active  labor 
at  Sparland.  where  he  died  in  1896.  His 
first  wife,  who  was  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, passed  away  in  1870,  and  he  was  again 
married. 

By  the  first  union  there  were  five  ciiil- 
dren,  namely:  Sarepta,  who  is  now  her 
brother's  housekeeper;  Horace  J.,  of  this 
review;  Mrs.  Emma  Duncan,  a  widow,  who 
also  resides  with  her  brother;  Electa,  wife 
of  George  Joseph,  of  Peoria;  and  Sherman 
who  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  school 
for  five  years,  and  is  now  with  his  brother 
on  the  farm.  By  his  second  marriage  the 
father  had  two  children :  Harry,  a  resident 
of  Kewanee,  and  \'iola,  wile  of  James  Stin- 
son,  of  Hamlin,  Indiana. 

On  the  old  homestead  in  Marshall 
county  Horace  J.  Combs  passed  the  days  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  early  became 
familiar  with  all  the  duties  which  fall  to  the 
lot  of  the  agriculturalist.  On  leaving  the 
parental  roof  he  engaged  in  farming  upon 
rented  land  in  that  county  for  four  years, 
and  then  purchased  a  farm  there,  consist- 
ing of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which 
he  cultivated  for  several  years.  Selling  that 
place  in  1892  he  purchased  his  present  farm 
on  section  10,  Wethersfield  township,  Henry 
county,  upon  which  he  located  the  following 
year  and  which  he  has  since  successfully 
operated.  He  has  remodeled  the  buildings 
and  made  other  improvements  upon  tiie 
place.  In  connection  with  his  general  farm 
ing  he  carries  on  stock  raising,  and  in  that 
branch  of  his  business  he  has  also  prospered. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Combs  is  inde- 
pendent and  supports  the  men  whom  he  be- 
lieves best  qualified  for  office  regardless  of 
party  lines.  He  has  never  aspired  to  office 
but  takes  a  deep  and  commendable  interest 


in  public  affairs.  He  and  his  sister  Serepta 
hold  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Kewanee,  while  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  are  either  Baptists  or 
Presbyterians  in  religious  belief.  Miss 
Combs  is  an  active  church  worker  and  is 
now  president  of  the  Home  Missionary  So- 
ciety  of  Kewanee.  The  family  is  one  of 
prominence  in  the  community  where  they  re- 
side and  its  members  are  held  in  high  regard 
by  all  who  know  them. 


JOHN  WENKE. 

Among  the  old  and  honored  residents  of 
Geneseo  is  John  \\'enke,  who  was  for  many 
years  actively  engaged  in  farming,  but  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  in  Geneseo.  A  na- 
tive of  Germany,  he  was  born  in  Oldenburg 
on  the  14th  of  December,  1S20,  and  is  a  son 
of  Frederick  and  Anna  (Myer)  Wenke, 
who  passed  their  entire  lives  in  that  coun- 
try. There  our  subject  grew  to  manhood, 
and  was  married  in  Germany  March  19, 
1852,  to  Miss  Helena  Oltmanns,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Anna  (^Koelke)  Oltmanns, 
who  also  made  their  home  in  Cierniany 
throughout  life. 

In  1850  Mr.  W'enke  crossed  the  briny 
deep,  and  on  landing  in  New  Orleans  pro- 
ceeded up  the  Mississippi  river  to  St.  Louis, 
whence  he  came  to  Hampton,  Illinois.  The 
folowing  year  he  returned  to  his  native  land 
and  was  married  and  in  April,  1852,  came 
back  to  America  with  his  wife.  When  he 
returned  to  Ham.pton  he  purchased  a  farm 
and  for  thirty-nine  years  he  was  success- 
fully engaged  in  farming  in  Rock  Island 
county.  He  purchased  two  hundred  acres 
of  unbroken   prairie   and   timber   land,    for 


358 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


which  he  paid  seven  dollars  per  acre,  and 
.after  clearing  the  same  he  placed  it  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  converting  the 
wild  tract  into  a  most  desirable  farm.  This 
place  he  sold  in  1890  for  fifty-six  dollars 
per  acre,  and  then  removed  to  Geneseo, 
where  he  has  since  lived  a  retired  life,  enjoy- 
ing the  fruits  of  former  toil. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wenke  have  a  family  of 
five  children  living,  namely:  Johannah,  wife 
of  Rev.  C.  Seuel,  living  near  IMilwaukee, 
\\'isconsin;  Eliza,  wife  of  Frederick  Ras- 
tede,  a  merchant  of  Geneseo;  John,  who 
married  Lena  Oltmanns  and  lives  on  a  farm 
near  Geneseo;  Fred,  who  married  Tillie 
Herges,  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Hampton,  Illinois;  and  Henry,  a  merchant, 
who  married  Emma  Salto  and  makes  his 
home  in  Geneseo.  Two  children  died  in  in- 
fancy; Helen  and  one  unnamed. 

Mr.  Wenke  and  his  family  hold  mem 
bership  in  the  German  Lutheran  Church, 
and  in  politics  he  is  identified  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party.  Wherever  known  he  is  held 
in  high  regard,  and  well  merits  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  which  he  receives,  for  his 
life  has  been  an  upright,  honorable  and  use- 
ful one. 


^\  ILLIAM  D.  HOHMAXX,  AI.  D. 

Dr.  Hohmann  is  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  medicine  and  surgery  in  Kewanee,  Illi- 
nois, and  has  that  love  for  and  devotion  to 
his  profession  which  has  brought  to  him 
success  and  won  him  a  place  among  the 
ablest  representatives  of  the  medical  frater- 
nity in  Henry  county.  He  was  bom  in  Cas- 
sel,  Germany,  September  18,  1867,  a  son  of 
William  M.  and  Sophia  (Volkmar)  Hoh- 
mann, who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  that 


country.  They  were  representatives  of  very 
old  and  highly  respected  families,  the  Doc- 
tor's maternal  ancestors  being  manufac- 
turing and  mercantile  people.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  John  Hohmann,  served  in  the 
German  army  during  the  Napoleonic  wars, 
and  during  the  latter  part  of  his  military 
career  was  superintendent  of  the  military 
prison  at  Cassel,  Germany.  He  died  in  that 
country  in  1868.  William  M.  Hohmann, 
the  doctor's  father,  was  a  machinist  by 
trade,  and  followed  that  vocation  through- 
out life,  mostly  in  the  employ  of  the  govern- 
ment. During  the  Franco-Prussian  war  he 
had  charge  of  the  round  house  of  the  gov- 
ernment at  Fulda,  Germany,  where  he  died 
in  1872,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years. 
His  wife  long  survived  him,  dying  at  Cas- 
sel, August  9,  1894.  They  were  parents  of 
six  children,  four  of  whom  are  still  living, 
namely:  J.  H.,  a  traveling  man  living  in 
New  York  city;  Louis,  who  is  connected 
with  the  \\'hitlock  Printing  Press  Alanu- 
facturing  Company,  with  headquarters  at 
Derby,  Connecticut;  William  D.,  our  sub- 
ject; and  ]\Iarie,  a  resident  of  Kansas  City. 
Dr.  Hohmann  received  a  good  education 
at  Hersfeld,  Germany,  and  had  an  excel- 
lent knowledge  of  the  English  language 
prior  to  his  emigration  to  .Vmerica  which 
materially  assisted  him  in  making  his  way 
rapidly  in  his  adopted  home.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  alone  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, where  he  secured  a  jjosition  in  a  drug 
store,  working  there  uninterruptedly  from 
1883  until  1887.  In  September,  1885,  he 
entered  the  Maryland  College  of  Pharmacy, 
at  the  same  time  continuing  his  connection 
with  the  drug  store.  After  graduating 
from  that  institution  in  1887  he  matricu- 
lated at  the  Baltimore  Medical  College  in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


359 


the  fall  of  tliat  year,  and  recci\e(l  the  de- 
gree of  M.  D.  on  the  15th  of  April.  1890, 
having  spent  tlie  last  eight  months  in  the 
jMaryland  (ieneral  Hospital  as  resident 
student.  He  then  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  medicine  in  Baltimore  until  the  fall  of 
1 89 1,  when  he  came  to  Kewanee  and  opened 
an  ofifice.  As  a  general  practitioner  he  has 
secured  a  liberal  patronage,  but  he  also 
makes  a  specialty  of  skin  diseases,  in  which 
he  took  a  post  graduate  course  in  Berlin  at- 
tending the  clinics  of  the  Imperial  Charities 
and  other  noted  hospitals,  his  time  mostly 
being  spent  in  hard  work.  He  is  a  member 
of  Kewanee"s  Physician's  Club,  of  which  he 
has  held  office  of  secretary. 

On  tile  "th  of  June,  1899.  Dr.  Hohmann 
was  united  in  marriage  with  ]\liss  Anna 
Frederickson,  of  Kewanee.  In  his  social 
relations  the  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  blue 
lodge,  chapter  and  comniantlery  nf  the  Ma 
sonic  fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
the  Modern  \\'oodmen  of  .America.  In  1895 
he  returned  to  his  native  land,  and  spent  five 
months  delightfully  in  visiting  Germany, 
France  and  many  places  of  nute  in  Europe. 
He  possesses  the  broad  culture  which  only 
travel  can  bring,  and  is  one  of  the  most  pop- 
ular and  prominent  citizens  of  Kewanee. 


ISAAC  M.  FLEET. 

As  an  agriculturist  this  gentleman  was 
for  many  years  actively  identified  with  the 
development  and  improvement  of  Henry 
county,  and  now  after  a  useful  and  well- 
spent  life  is  living  retired  in  Geneseo.  .\ 
native  of  New  York,  he  was  born  in  Suffolk 
county  on  the  28tli  of  Oct.  ibcr.  1815.  and 
is  a  son  of  Gilbert  and  Keziah  (Jarvis) 
Fleet.  The  father  was  born  in  Huntington, 
Long  Island,   and   engaged    in    farming  at 


his  birthplace  throughout  his  active  busi- 
ness life,  dying  there  at  the  age  of  fifty-si.K 
years.  His  widow  long  survived  him  and 
lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five  years. 
In  their  family  were  four  children,  all  born 
on  Long  Island,  our  subject  being  the  oldest 
<.>i  the  number  and  now  the  only  survivoi. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  passed  under  the  parental  roof,  and 
he  engaged  in  farming  uix)n  the  old  home- 
stead for  some  years.  At  the  age  of  about 
twenty-eight  he  became  interested  in  the 
coasting  trade  from  New  York  harbor,  and 
followed  that  business  for  seven  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  tune  he  sold  liis  vessel 
and  resumed  farming  upon  the  home  place, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  for  several 
years. 

In  1843  ^^r.  Fleet  was  married  at  Hunt- 
ington, Long  Island,  to  Mrs.  Susan  Stratton, 
widow  of  Ustick  V.  Stratton  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Eliphalet  and  Phoebe  (Ketchem)  Oak- 
ley. Her  father,  who  was  a  soldier  of  the 
war  of  181 2,  spent  his  entire  life  in  Suffolk 
county,  Long  Island,  New  York.  For  a 
few  years  he  followed  farming,  then  operat- 
ed both  a  flouring  and  woolen  mill  on  Long 
Island,  and  for  a  great  many  years  led  the 
life  of  a  sailor,  running  a  coasting  vessel 
from  New  York  harbor.  He  finally  built 
another  flouring  mill  at  Islip,  Long  Island, 
which  he  operated  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Babylon, 
about  1867,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1858,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-seven.  Of  their  seven  chil- 
dren Mrs.  Fleet  is  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth 
and  the  only  one  now  living. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fleet,  but  Isaac  M.  and  one  unnamed 
died  in  infancy.  The  following  still  sur- 
\!\e :   Gilbert,   traveling  salesman    for    the 


36o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Wilson  Buggy  Company  of  Moline.  Illinois, 
and  a  resident  of  that  place,  married  Eliza 
Barton  and  has  one  son,  Fred  E.  Eliphalei 
C,  superintendent  of  a  fruit  farm  in  Ari- 
zona, married  Ada  Sneider,  and  has  four 
children,  James  S.,  Ray  B.,  Helen  Josephine 
and  Lawrence.  Frances  Elizabeth  and  Clara 
Augusta  are  both  at  home  with  their  par- 
ents. Mortimer,  superintendent  of  the  farm 
at  the  state  insane  asylum  at  Hampton,  Rock 
Island  county,  Illinois,  married  !Miss  Helen 
Richmond.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fleet  were  all  born  in  Xew  York  state  ex- 
cept Mortimer,  the  3'oungest,  who  was  born 
in  Henry  county,  Illinois. 

Selling  his  interests  in  the  east  in  1857, 
Mr.  Fleet  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
and  purchased  a  quarter-section  of  wild 
land  in  Munson  township,  which  he  at  once 
began  to  improve.  He  erected  thereon  a 
large  and  substantial  farm  house,  barns  and 
other  buildings,  and  placed  the  entire  farm 
imder  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  con- 
tinued to  operate  his  land  until  1897,  when 
he  removed  to  the  city  of  Geneseo  and  pur- 
chased his  present  comfortable  home  on 
West  IMain  street,  where  he  is  now  living 
a  retired  life,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  early 
industry  and  surrounded  by  the  comforts 
which  he  has  so  truly  earned  and  richly  de- 
serves. The  Republican  party  finds  in  him 
a  stanch  supporter  of  its  principles,  and  al- 
though he  has  never  sought  or  held  office, 
he  is  public  spirited  and  an  advocate  of  all 
measures  that  tend  to  improve  or  benefit  the 
community  in  which  he  resides. 


JOHN  H.  RULE. 

Numbered  among  the  well-to-do  farm- 
ers and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Weth- 
ersfield    township    is    John  H.   Rule,   who 


owns  and  operates  a  well-improved  and 
\aluable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  six- 
ty acres  on  sectinn  jt,.  A  native  of  Illi- 
nois, he  was  born  in  Elmira  township. 
Stark  count}'.  June  4.  1856.  and  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Jone  (Hume)  Rule,  who 
were  born,  reared  and  married  in  Scot 
land  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1852. 
They  sailed  from  Liverpool,  England,  and 
landed  in  New  York.  After  spending  about 
six  months  in  the  Empire  state  they  came 
to  Illinois,  and  took  up  their  residence  in 
Stark  county,  where  at  first  the  father  op- 
erated a  rented  farm.  Subsequently  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  Bureau  county,  which  he  broke  and  placed 
under  cultivation,  and  later  added  to  it  an 
adjoining  tract  of  eighty  acres.  About  1879 
he  bought  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Wethersfield  township,  Henry  coun- 
ty, where  our  subject  now  resides,  it  being 
all  under  cultivation  at  that  time.  There  he 
continued  to  successfully  engage  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  throughout  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party  and  its  prin- 
ciples, and  was  highly  respected  and  es 
teemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  died  in 
1890,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  and 
his  wife  passed  away  in  1892,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two,  the  remains  of  both  being  in- 
terred at  Almira,  Illinois.  The}-  were  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  namely :  Alex- 
ander, Jane,  Mary,  Charlotte,  James.  WilN 
iam,  Robert,  John,  Catherine.  Walter  and 
Thomas. 

John  H.  Rule  was  reared  upon  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  which  he  aided  in  operating 
as  soon  as  old  enough  to  be  of  any  assistance, 
and  thus  acquired  a  good  practical  knowl- 
edge of  agricultural  pursuits.  His  literary 
education  was  obtained  in  the  country  schools 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


361 


of  the  neiglib(M"lioo(l.  Fchruarv  6.  1871).  lie 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna 
Longmate.  a  tlaughter  nt  Tnnnard  and 
Susan  (Brown)  Longniate.  By  this  union 
lie  has  liad  five  children,  namely:  lilsie  J., 
Bertha  L.,  Robert  V..  hilin  1"..  and  Frank 
A.,  all  living.  Mrs.  Rule  died  March  ,^0. 
1890.  and  for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Rule 
married  Emma  Richardson,  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Mary  (  Xatress  )  Richardson,  and 
to  them  has  been  born  one  child,  Mary  E. 
Lillian,  whose  birth  occurred  January  30, 
1896. 

Mr.  Rule  owned  and  operated  the  old 
homestead  imtil  a  short  time  ago,  which 
is  a  well  impro\-ed  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  si.xty  acres  on  section  2^.  Wethersfiekl 
township,  and  in  connection  with  its  culti-. 
ration  he  successfully  engaged  in  stock- 
raising.  For  eighteen  years  he  owned  and 
operated  a  steam  thresher,  doing  a  profitable 
business  with  it.  He  had  on  his  farm  a  new 
and  handsome  residence,  liuilt  in  modern 
style  of  architecture,  and  supi)lied  with  all 
the  conveniences  and  accessories  of  a  city 
home.  He  owns  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  in  South  Dakota.  In  his  political 
affiliations  Mr.  Rule  is  a  Republican,  and 
he  takes  a  deep  and  commendable  interest 
in  all  enterprises  which  he  believes  will  prove 
of  public  benefit. 


b'.RKK   b.RlCKSOX. 

This  well-known  expressnian  of  Ke- 
wanee.  Illinois,  was  lx)rn  on  the  ^8tli  of  Sep- 
tember. 1845.  in  Bolnas,  Sweden,  of  which 
])lace  his  parents,  Erick  and  Betsy  (Johnson) 
Erickson,  were  also  natives.  There  the  fa- 
ther followed  farming  througimut  his  acti\e 

17 


business  life,  dying  there  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-eight \-ears.  His  wife  also  died  in 
IJolnas  at  the  age  of  seventy-four.  Their 
children  were  h'rick.  of  this  review  :  Jonas, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-fi\e  years; 
Olaf,  who  is  engaged  in  the  shoe  business 
in  Sw  eden ;  Betsy,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years:  ami  Peter,  who  died  in  Kewanee 
at  the  age  of  thirty-two. 

Mr.  lu"ickson  is  indebted  to  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  land  for  his  educa- 
tional privileges.  He  assisted  his  father  in 
the  operation  of  the  home  farm  until  four- 
teen years  of  age  and  then  worked  as  a 
farm  hand  in  Sweden  until  his  emigration 
to  this  country  in  1868.  He  sailed  from 
Guttenberg,  and  after  fourteen  dass  spent 
upon  the  water  landed  in  Xcw  'S'ork  City, 
whence  he  proceeded  at  once  to  Altdniia, 
Knox  county,  Illinois.  After  four  days 
spent  at  that  place  he  went  to  Peoria,  and 
was  engaged  in  railroad  work  between  that 
city  and  Bushnell  for  about  a  month.  Fie 
then  returned  to  .Mtoona.  where  he  was 
emiiloyed  as  a  farm  hand  for  f(.)ur  months, 
and  at  the  end  nf  that  time  came  to  Ke- 
wanee. Mere  he  fmind  employment  in  the 
coal  mine  of  (i.  L.  Piatt,  about  a  mile  east 
of  tiiwn.  where  he  remained  tw^o  years,  and 
then  worked  on  the  farm  oi  C.  C.  Blisli,  in 
W'ethersfield  townsliip,for  the  same  length  of 
time.  ])uring  the  following  year  and  a  half 
lie  was  with  Crawford  &  Gerhart,  of  Kewa- 
nee, and  remained  with  his  successor,  .\.  F. 
Bigelow,  for  twenty-three  years.  Mr.  lu-ick- 
son  was  with  Ma_\-bew  Brothers  a  year  and  a 
half,  and  in  1900  bought  the  exi)ress  line 
of  J.  R.  Keggl\.  which  he  is  now  carrying 
on  with  good  success,  doing  a  general  ex- 
jiress  business. 

On  the  _'5th  of  October.  187^),  Mr. 
Erickton  married  .Miss  Carrie  Johnson,  who 


362 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  also  born  in  Bolnas,  Sweden,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Engburg  (Peterson)  John- 
son, natives  of  the  same  place.  The  mother 
died  in  Sweden  at  the  age  of  thirt3'-nine 
years,  but  the  father  is  still  living  in  that 
country  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  By  oc- 
cupation he  is  a  laborer.  The  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erickson  are  Adolphie.  who 
lives  at  home  and  is  engaged  in  the  millin- 
ery business;  Ernest,  who  is  assisting  his  fa- 
ther in  business ;  and  Morris,  who  is  attend- 
ing school.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  and  are  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
them.  In  politics  Mr.  Erickson  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  faithfully  served  his  fellow  citi- 
zens as  tax  collector  in  1900. 


JAMES  WARREX 

James  Warren,  deceased,  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  citizens  ot 
Geneseo,  Illinois.  His  early  home  was  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  for  he  was 
born  in  county  Clare,  Ireland,  in  1814,  and 
was  one  of  a  family  of  thirteen  children, 
v.hose  parents  never  left  the  Emerald  Isle 
and  have  long  since  been  dead.  His  brother, 
Andrew,  came  to  America  and  settled  in 
Lima,  Ohio. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  thirfeen  years 
fo  his  life  in  his  native  land,  and  then  re- 
solved to  try  his  fortune  in  America.  After 
his  emigration  to  the  new  world  he  lived 
for  seven  years  in  the  east,  and  then  came 
to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  locating  here  long 
before  the  Rock  Island  railroad  was  built. 
His  was  the'  first  house  built  in  Geneseo, 
and  he  witnessed  almost  the  entire  develop- 
ment of  this  region,  in  the  work  of  which  he 
bore  an  important  part.     In  early  manhood 


he  engaged  in  farming,  but  spent  the  last 
forty  j-ears  of  his  life  in  Geneseo. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  1887.  Mr.  War- 
ren was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Bridget  Murray,  also  a  native  of  county 
Clare.  Ireland,  and  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Mary  (Sullivan)  Murray,  who  were 
lifelong  residents  of  that  country.  The 
mother  died  on  Christmas  day,  1898,  but 
the  father  is  still  living.  Their  children  were 
Kate,  a  resident  of  Ireland;  Bridget,  widow 
of  our  subject;  Maggie,  who  is  employed 
at  the  Geneseo  House  in  Geneseo,  Illinois; 
Anna,  wife  of  Burford  Howell,  a  barber  of 
Geneseo;  and  two  daughters,  now  deceased. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  \\'arren  had  two  children, 
namely:  James,  who  was  born  September  3, 
1887,  and  is  now  living  with  his  mother 
while  attending  school  in  Geneseo ;  and 
Mary,  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  religious  belief  ^Ir.  Warren  was  a 
Catholic,  and  in  politics  was  a  Democrat. 
He  died  March  17,  1899,  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  As  one  of 
the  pioneer  and  representative  citizens  of 
Geneseo,  he  is  certainly  deserving  of  prom- 
inent mention  in  this  volume. 


DAVID  L.   PURVIAXCE. 

This  well-known  and  highly  respected 
citizen  of  Geneseo,  was  born  near  Paris, 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  on  the  4th  of  October, 
1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Levi  and  Sophia 
(Woods)  Purviance.  His  paternal  grandfa- 
ther was  David  Purviance,  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  Christian  Church  in  Kentucky, 
being  engaged  in  preaching  in  that  state  and 
Ohio  for  many  years.  His  death  occurred 
in  Ohio.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Tennes- 
see and  was  a  voung  man  when  he  moved  to 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


363 


the  Buckeye  state.  He,  too,  became  a  niiiii,ster 
•of  the  Christian  Church,  and  followed  that 
sacred  calling  in  Ohio  for  almost  half  a 
century.  In  1856  he  came  to  Henry  county, 
Illinois,  and  for  a  time  engaged  in  farming 
in  Osco  township,  t)ut  returned  to  Ohio, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
His  wife  passed  away  in  the  same  state. 
They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  youngest  and  only 
survivor;  one  died  in  infancy;  Andrew  made 
his  home  in  Henry  county  for  fifteen  years, 
but  spent  his  last  days  in  Nebraska;  Mary 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years;  Sophia 
•died  at  the  age  of  six. 

David  L.  Purviance  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Ohio,  and  after  reach-- 
ing  man"s  estate  he  was  engaged  in  general 
merchandising  at  Xew  Paris  for  some  years. 
Subsequently  he  was  engaged  in  the  dry- 
goods  business  with  his  brother  Andrew  at 
Indianapolis,  Indiana,  for  a  short  time,  and 
then  returned  to  Ohio.  Disposing  of  his 
interests  there  the  same  3'ear,  he  came  to 
Illinois,  in  1855,  ^"^  located  near  what  is 
now  Morristown,  Osco  township,  Henry 
•county,  where  he  followed  farming  for  about 
seven  years.  He  was  next  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  at  Morristown  and  in  the 
fall  of  1871  removed  to  Osco,  where  he  also 
conducted  a  grocery  store,  and  served  as 
postmaster  of  the  village  for  eighteen  years 
under  the  administrations  of  Presidents 
■Grant,  Hayes,  Garfield  and  Arthur.  Closing 
out  his  store  in  1890,  he  came  to  Geneseo, 
where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  He  has  not 
engaged  in  any  active  business  for  himself, 
and  is  at  present  employed  in  the  wall  pa- 
per store  of  Mr.  Johnson  on  South  Main 
street. 

On  the  2nd  of  June,  1853,  Mr.  Pur\i- 
ance  married  ^liss  Hainiah   M.   ^lurton,  a 


daughter  of  Thomas  and  Eleanor  (Schenck) 
Morton,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  Mrs.  Pur- 
viance died  November  2,  1875.  leaving  nine 
children,  namely:  Charles  \V.,  a  merchant 
of  Wyoming,  Illinois;  Thomas  L.,  who  is 
employed  in  the  freight  office  of  the  Monon 
railroad  at  Chicago;  Frank  M.,  general 
agent  for  the  American  Stock  Food  Com- 
pany at  Jacksonville,  Illinois;  Annie  M., 
wife  of  Albert  Ankney,  of  Peoria;  William 
G.,  station  agent  at  Abingdon,  Illinois; 
Xellie  E.,  wife  of  Henry  Bestor,  a  farmer 
of  Osco  township,  this  county;  Kate,  wife 
of  D.  O.  Hinman,  a  farmer  of  Osco  town- 
ship; Walter,  an  employe  of  Swift  &  Com- 
pany, packers,  of  Chicago;  and  Hannah  L., 
a  resident  of  Geneseo.  Those  of  the  family 
now  deceased  were  Ella  J.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  months;  George  J.,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  two  months;  and  Winfield  S., 
v.ho  died  at  the  age  of  one  year.  ]Mr.  Pur- 
viance was  again  married,  July  31,  1890, 
his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Harriet 
Edwards,  widow  of  Herbert  R.  Edwards, 
whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page  of 
this  volume  together  with  a  more  extended 
mention  of  herself  and  family,  yh.  and 
Mrs.  Purviance  have  a  pleasant  home  on 
South  Oakwood  a\enue,  Geneseo,  where 
they  are  surrounded  in-  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances,  who  esteem  tliem 
highly  for  their  sterling  worth.  During  his 
residence  in  Osco  township  Mr.  Purviance 
v,as  a  member  and  constant  attendant  of  the 
Christian  Church. 


JAMES  C.WAXAGH. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  the  owner 
of  a  well-imi)roved  and  highly-cultivated 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  pleas- 


364 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


antly  located  on  section  23.  W'ethersfield 
township,  within  six  miles  of  Kewanee.  He 
^vas  born  on  an  adjoining  place,  August  3>, 
1844,  and  throughout  life  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  interests  of  this  county,  and 
has  done  mucli  to  ad\-ance  its  welfare,  es- 
pecially along  agricultural  lines. 

Patrick  Cavanagh,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  county  West  Meath, 
Ireland,  where  he  was  reared  upon  a  farm, 
and  when  a  young  man  came  to  the  United 
States,  locating  first  in  Xew  York,  where 
he  learned  the  stone  mason's  trade,  which 
he  followed  for  some  years.  There  he  mar- 
ried Bridget  Hunt,  also  of  Irish  birth,  and  in 
1840  they  came  to  Illinois.  After  spending 
two  years  at  Almira,  Stark  county,  they 
removed  to  Henry  county,  Mr.  Cavanagh 
having  previously  purchased  a  small  tract 
of  land  in  Wethersfield  township.  It  was 
a  piece  of  unbroken  prairie,  on  which  he 
erected  a  log  cabin,  in  which  the  family  lived 
for  a  few  years  while  he  fenced  the  land  and 
placed  it  under  cultivation.  He  added  to 
his  original  purchase  until  he  had  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  the  home  place, 
and  also  owned  property  elsewhere,  becom- 
ing one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  his 
communit}-.  Here  he  died  August  2"].  1884, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  August  17,  1886, 
both  being  laid  to  rest  in  St.  Marx's  cem- 
etery on  the  Cavanagh  farm.  They  were 
the  parents  of  six  children,  two  sons  and 
four  daughters,  all  of  whom  reached  years 
of  maturity. 

On  the  home  farm  James  Cavanagh 
grew  to  manhood,  and  was  educated  in  the 
Saxon  school.  On  the  20th  of  February, 
1872,  he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  ^liss 
Bridget  Joyce,  who  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Kewanee,  of  which  place  her  father, 
^Matthew  Joyce,  was  an  early  settler.     For 


two  years  after  his  marriage  he  lived  upon 
a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  and  then  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides. 
He  has  erected  thereon  a  commodious  and 
pleasant  residence,  good  barns  and  other 
outbuildings,  and  now  has  one  of  the  most 
desirable  farms  of  its  size  in  the  community. 
As  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  he  has  gained 
a  well-merited  success,  and  is  to-day  one 
of  the  well-to-do  citizens  of  W'ethersfield 
township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cavanagh  are  the  parents 
of  five  children,  namely :  John  P.  and  AlJjert 
M.,  both  of  whom  now  hold  business  posi- 
tions in  Kewanee,  although  the  latter  was 
formerly  a  school  teacher:  and  James  M., 
Leroy  D.  and  Lottie  Ann.  all  at  home.  The 
family  are  communicants  of  the  Catholic 
Church  of  Kewanee.  and  are  people  of  the 
highest  respectability.  In  early  life  Mr. 
Cavanagh  supix)rted  the  Democratic  party, 
but  is  now  a  Republican  in  politics,  but 
at  local  elections  votes  for  man  and  not  for 
party.  He  is  public  spirited  and  progressive 
and  gives  his  aid  to  all  enterprises  for  the 
public  good. 


\villia:\i  OURS. 

-Among  the  honored  residents  and  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  W'ethersfield  township 
none  are  more  deserving  of  mention  in  this 
volume  than  William  Ours,  who  has  been 
successfully  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising  on  section  29  for  manv  years.  He 
was  born  near  Clarksburg,  \'irginia,  on  the 
26th  of  April,  1822,  and  is  one  of  a  family 
of  three  children,  whose  parents  were  Jacob 
and  Xancy  (Kushlipp)  Ours. 

Our  subject  remained  in  his  native  state 
until  he  attained  his  majority  and  then  re- 
moved to  Indiana,  where  he  spent  the  fol- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


365 


.  Inwing  eighteen  years.  Tlierejie  was  united 
in  marriage  December  j.  1^49.  with  Miss 
Eliza  (.icHulale.  horn  Oct.iher  15,  iSjf),  a 
ilaugiiter  uf  J<icl  D.  and  i'diza  Cioinhdc.  Uy 
this  unidU  were  horn  six  children,  namely: 
Emma:  William,  who  married  Tillie  Berge; 
Samantha,  wife  of  John  Lindstrom;  Charles, 
who  niarrieil  Iila  Metier:  I-diza,  wife  of 
Dudley  Craig:  and  Mary,  wife  of  Frederick 
I'a-walk. 

On  lca\  ing  Indiana  -Mr.  Ours  came  to 
1  lcnr\-  Count \',  Illinois,  and  after  renting  a 
farm  in  W'etherstield  township  for  one  year 
he  purchased  one  hundred  ami  sixty  aci'cs 
Of  partiall_\'  hroken  laud  on  section  29,  the 
same  township,  which  he  lias  since  placed  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  improved 
with  good  buildings.  In  connection  with  his 
farming  operations  he  is  engaged  in  stock 
raising,  making  a  specialty  of  sheep  ami 
hogs.  Although  he  is  now  nearly  eight)' 
\e;irs  of  age  he  is  still  remarkably  acti\e  and 
iii.iius  his  meul;d  faculties  unimpaired.  He 
'  i^t  his  tirst  ])resi(lential  vote  for  (ieuera! 
Ilai'risou.  a  Whig  camlid;ite.  an<l  is  now  a 
■-t.inch  supporter  of  the  Uepiiblican  party  and 
ii^  principles.  llis  ha^  been  an  upright, 
honorable  and  useful  life,  and  he  lias  gained 
the  confidence  and  high  regarti  of  those  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact  either  in 
business  or  social  circles. 


JOIIX   CROX.VU. 

For  manv  years  this  gentleman  has  been 
acti\el_\'  itlentirted  with  the  business  and  ag- 
ricultural interests  of  llem-y  county,  but 
is  now  li\'ing  a  retired  life  in  Kewauee,  hav 
ing  acquired  a  comfortable  competence, 
v.hicli  enables  him  to  la\'  aside  all  business 


cares.  His  early  home  was  on  the  other 
side  of  the  .\tlautic,  for  he  was  l)orn  in 
Hessen.  Germany,  February  4,  iS_^o.  and  is 
a  son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (  Tripp  )Cronau, 
lifelong  residents  of  that  country,  where  the 
father  followed  farming  as  a  means  of  live- 
lihood. He  died  at  the  age  of  forty-eight 
years,  and  his  wife  i)assed  away  at  the  age 
of  forty- four.  In  their  family  were  five 
children,  namely :  John,  still  a  resident  of 
(lermany  :  John,  our  subject  ( there  being  tw^o 
bv  the  name  of  Jobu  )  :  Henry  and  l-'liza- 
betli.  who  both  died  in  Ciermany  :  ;uid  .\uuie. 
who  continues  to  make  her  home  there. 

Our  subject  receixed  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  town  and  in 
carlv  life  he  learned  die  shoemaker's  trade, 
which  he  continued  to  follow  until  coming 
to  this  coimtry  in  1S54.  He  sailed  from 
Bremen  and  landed  in  .\'ew  York  after  a 
good  voyage  of  si.x  weeks,  during  which 
time  he  was  never  seasick  and  thoroughly  en- 
joved  the  trip.  For  about  four  mouths  ha 
worked  at  his  trade  for  a  Mr.  Coleman  in 
Xew  York  City,  and  then  proceeded  to  Chi- 
cago, which  at  that  time  was  quite  small. 
He  remained  there  for  eight  months  and  then 
came  to  Kewanee,  arriving  tliere  on  the  tirst 
of  May,  1855,  just  one  year  after  lauding 
on  the  shores  of  this  country.  After  wdrk- 
ir.g  for  Enoch  Mathews  for  a  time,  he  start- 
ed a  shoe  shop  of  his  own.  which  he  car- 
ried on  successfully  until  iS'').^  giving  em- 
ployment to  sex'cral  men.  He  then  turned 
his  attention  to  agricultural  inirsuits.  having 
purchased  sixty  acres  of  wild  prairie  land 
ill  Kewanee  township,  which  he  placed  un- 
der cultivation,  and  to  which  he  added  until 
he  had  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres.  In 
i88<S  he  returned  to  Kewanee  and  has  since 
lived  a  retired  life,  though  he  still  owns 
eighty    acres,    including   his   lirst   purchase. 


366 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


He  was  engaged  in  general  farming,  and  met 
with  well-deserved  success  in  his  labors. 

September  29,  1857,  Air.  Cronau  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Wagner,  also  a  native  of  Hessen.  Ger- 
many. Her  father,  John  \\'agner,  came  to 
this  country  in  1869,  and  made  his  home 
in  Sheffield,  Illinois,  until  his  death.  Four 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cronau, 
namely:  Henry,  a  teamster  of  Kewanee, 
who  married  Minnie  Minks  and  has  five 
children :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Robert  Pyle,  of 
Kewanee  township,  by  whom  she  has  six 
children ;  Caroline,  wife  of  Henry  Minks, 
of  Kewanee,  by  whom  she  has  two  children, 
Bert  and  Harry;  and  Emma,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Minks,  of  Kewanee,  by  whom  she  has 
three  children.  Mrs.  Cronau  died  January 
25,  1888,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Ger- 
man church  cemetery  in  Kewanee  township. 
Our  subject  now  makes  his  home  with  his 
daughter  Caroline.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church,  and  is  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  having 
voted  for  all  its  presidential  candidates  since 
Fremont.  He  has  served  as  school  director 
six  years,  and  has  also  filled  the  office  of  road 
commissioner  in  a  most  creditable  and  satis- 
factory manner. 


JOHN  H.  FULPER. 

Among  the  representative  farmers  of 
Wethersfield  townsliip  is  John  H.  Fulper, 
residing  on  section  25.  He  was  born  in 
Hunterdon  county,  New  Jersey,  January  9, 
1848,  and  on  the  paternal  side  is  of  Ger- 
man descent,  his  ancestors  being  numbered 
among  the  early  Quakers  who  settled  in 
Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather,  John  Ful- 
per, was  a  native  of  that  state,  and  his  fa- 


ther, Charles  T.  Fulper,  was  born  there  in 
1820,  and  when  a  young  man  went  to  NeAV 
Jersey,  locating  in  Hunterdon  county,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  wheelwright. 
There  he  married  Aliss  Sarah  Hoppock,  a 
native  of  Xew  Jersey,  and  a  daughter  of 
John  Hoppock,  who  owned  and  operated  the 
old  Hoppock  homestead  in  Hunterdon  coun- 
ty. The  great-grandfather  was  John  Hop- 
pock. who  came  from  Germany  before  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  had  one  son,  Peter, 
in  that  war,  ^vho  was  wounded  in  the  hand. 
The  great-grandfather  was  a  large  land 
owner  in  New  Jersey.  In  1851  Mr.  Fulper 
and  his  father-in-law  came  to  Illinois  and 
took  up  their  residence  in  Henry  county. 
The  same  fall  the  latter  purchased  a  large 
amount  of  land  in  \\'ethersfield  township, 
and  at  length  became  owner  of  thirteen  hun- 
dren  acres  all  in  one  body,  around  which  he 
built  a  fence.  He  broke  and  improved  thid 
place.  Charles  T.  Fulper  also  purchased  a 
tract  of  land,  which  he  improved,  and  latei' 
bought  more  land,  making  a  good  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  There  he  died 
in  1884.  His  widow  still  survives  him,  a 
liale  and  hearty  old  lady  of  seventy-three 
years,  and  makes  her  home  with  a  daughter. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  twa 
sons  and  seven  daughters.  The  brother  of 
our  subject  is  W.  T.  S.  Fulper,  of  Evanston, 
Illinois. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  John  H. 
Fulper  assisted  his  father  in  the  operation  of 
the  home  farm,  where  he  remained  until 
grown,  and  then  commenced  farming  for 
himself  upon  rented  land.  While  thus  em- 
ployed he  saved  nine  hinidred  dollars  and 
invested  his  capital  in  forty  acres  of  land 
on  which  he  now  resides.  Subsequently  he 
added  to  it  an  adjoining  fortj^-acre  tract; 
making  a  good   farm  of  eighty   acres,   on 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


367 


wiiicli  he  has  built  a  neat  and  substantial 
residence  and  good  barns  and  outlniiklings, 
surrounding  these  with  fruit  and  shade  trees, 
which  add  much  to  the  beauty  of  the  place. 
Jn  Wetherstield  township,  February  J4, 
1 878,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Fulpcr  anti  Miss  Minta  Claybaugh.  Her 
father,  X.  H.  Claybaugh.  was  born  in  Ohio, 
Decemlier  3.  1822.  and  in  1830  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  his  father.  Nicholas  Claybaugh, 
who  was  a  native  either  of  Pennsylvania 
or  Ohio,  and  a  son  of  Frederick  Claybaugh, 
who  was  born  in  the  former  state  in  1763. 
The  Claybaugh  family  is  of  German  extrac- 
tion and  Mrs.  Fulper's  ancestors  were  among 
the  first  settlers  of  Pennsylvania.  On  com- 
ing to  this  state  the  family  located  in  Schuy- 
ler county,  where  they  improved  a  farm. 
There  X.  H.  Claybaugh  grew  to  manhood 
and  married  Rhotla  Marr,  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee, and  a  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Marr, 
who  was  born  in  South  Carolina.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Rev.  J.  B.  Marr  came  to  this  state  in  pion 
neer  days  and  was  one  of  the  first  school 
teachers  of  Schuyler  county,  where  he  also 
engaged  in  farming.  About  1873  Mrs. 
Fulper's  father  removed  to  Wethersfield 
township,  Henry  county,  but  spent  his  last 
years  with  his  son,  C.  B.  Claybaugh,  in  Stark 
county,  where  his  death  occurred.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife  are 
Mabel.  Lena,  \'irgil,  Edna,  Dean  and  John 
IL,  Jr.  They  also  have  an  adopted  son, 
Cliarlcs  l-'ulper,  whom  they  took  when  a 
small  child,  and  who  has  been  reared  and 
educated  by  them.  He  is  now  working  at 
his  trade  as  an  interior  decorator  and  paper 
hanger. 

Originally  Mr.  Fulper  was  a  Rei)ul)li- 
can  in  politics  and  cast  his  first  presitlential 
vote  for  General  U.  S.  Grant  in  1872.     He 


continued  to  support  that  party  until  after 
the  election  of  James  A.  Garfield,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  identified  with  the  Prohi- 
bitionists, being  a  strong  temperance  man. 
He  served  three  years  as  road  commissioner, 
hut  has  never  cared  for  political  honors. 
He  is  one  of  the  official  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Saxon,  with 
which  his  wife  is  also  connected,  and  she  has 
served  as  organist  for  over  twelve  years. 
They  take  an  active  part  in  all  church  work 
and  their  lives  have  ever  been  in  harmony 
with  their  professions. 


PETER  HYER. 

Among  the  prominent  foreign-b<  irn  citi- 
zens who  have  aided  so  materially  in  the  de- 
\elopment  and  upbuilding  of  Henry  county 
is  Peter  Hyer,  a  well-known  farmer  and 
stock  raiser  residing  on  section  24.  Weth- 
ersfield township.  A  native  of  Sweden,  he 
was  born  in  Skone.  on  the  27th  of  April, 
1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Pers  and  Bengta 
(Trulson)  Hyer,  who  spent  their  entire  lives 
in  that  country.  In  their  family  were  four 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  all 
of  whom  are  still  living,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  son. 

\\'ith  the  hope  of  bettering  his  financial 
condition  in  the  new  world,  ^Ir.  Hyer  sailed 
from  Guttenberg,  in  April,  1886,  on  the 
steamer  Victoria  of  the  Allen  line,  and,  the 
weather  being  pleasant  and  favorable  for 
such  a  voyage,  he  landed  in  Quebec,  Canada, 
fifteen  days  later.  He  came  immediately  to 
the  United  States,  and  a  week  after  reach- 
ing America  he  arrived  in  Galesburg,  Illi- 
nois. He  si)ent  about  two  years  at  work- 
in  various  parts  of  this  section  of  the  state, 
and  then  located  in  Kewanee,  where  for  a 


368 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


time  he  worked  at  the  painters  trade,  wliicli 
lie  liad  learned  in  Sweden.  ,  Suhsec|uently 
he  engaged  in  farming  upon  rented  land  for 
about  live  years,  and  then  bought  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  improved  land,  to  which  he 
added  in  i88g  a  tract  of  seventy  acres,  mak- 
ing a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy 
acres,  which  he  has  since  successfully  op- 
erated. About  eight  years  ago  he  erected 
a  good  residence,  and  has  also  built  good 
barns,  while  everything  about  the  place  be- 
tokens the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner. 
In  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his  land 
he  is  extensively  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising,  his  specialties  being  Durham 
cattle.  Shrojjshire  sheep  and  Xorman  horses. 
and  to  this  branch  of  his  business  he  givef. 
considerable   attention. 

On  the  24th  of  October.  1877,  Mr.  Hyer 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  J- 
Rule,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Beatrice 
(Oliver)  Rule,  both  natives  of  Scotland  and 
earl}-  settlers  of  Wethersfield  township,  this 
county,  where  they  located  in  1848.  The 
mi_)ther  crossed  the  Atlantic  from  Green- 
nock  to  Illinois  in  about  three  months,  while 
the  father  sailed  from  Liverpool  to  Boston. 
On  reaching  Henry  countv,  Illinois,  he  took 
up  a  government  claim  in  Wethersfield  town- 
ship, which  he  improved  and  placed  under 
cultivation.  His  first  house  was  12x14 
feet.  Ill  later  vears  a  more  commodious 
and  substantial  residence  was  erected,  but 
it  was  subsequently  destroxed  b\'  fire.  Mr. 
Rule  was  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  and 
one  of  the  most  highly  respected  citizens  of 
his  community.  He  died  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-nine years,  his  wife  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty, and  both  were  laid  to  rest  at  Elniira, 
Illinois.  They  were  faithful  members  of  the 
L'liited  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  politics 
Mr.   Rule  was  a  Republican. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hyer  have  a  family  of  five 
children,  whose  names  and  dates  of  birth 
are  as  folloSvs :  Anna  Beatrice,  August  3. 
1878:  George  Alexander,  February  28. 
t88o:  Xellie  Jean.  April  10.  1883;  John 
Walter.  June  26,  1886:  and  Robert  Leslie. 
December  7,  1891.  The  parents  are  both 
earnest  and  consistent  members  of  the 
L'nited  Presbyterian  Church,  and  enjoy  the 
good  will  and  confidence  of  the  entire  com- 
munity in  which  they  live.  By  his  ballot 
Mr.  Hyer  supports  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Republican  party.  He  owes  his  pres- 
ent prosperity  to  hard  labor  and  close  at- 
tention to  business.  In  1882  he  made  a  visit 
to  his  i>arents  in  Sweden,  crossing  the  ocean 
on  the  steamer  Algeria,  in  November.  After 
three  delightful  months  spent  in  his  native 
land,  he  took  passage  on  the  steamer  Bothnia 
for  the  return  voyage.  On  the  Xorth  Sea  the 
\essel  encountered  one  of  the  worst  storms 
known  for  years,  and  it  retjuired  six  days' 
to  cross  that  body  of  water,  which  is  usually 
accomplished  in  twenty-four  hours,  from 
Copenhagen  to  Hull. 


OTIS  W.  HOIT. 

The  subject  of  this  rex'icw.  who  now 
owns  and  occupies  a  valuable  farm  of  four 
I'.undred  acres  on  section  24.  Edfonl  town- 
ship, has  throughout  life  been  actively  iden- 
tified with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Hen- 
1"}'  county,  and  is  a  worthy  representative 
of  one  of  its  oldest  and  most  highly  respect- 
ed families.  On  the  paternal  side  his  great- 
grandfather, John  Hoit,  was  a  Revolution- 
ary soldier,  ami  just  after  his  return  from 
the  war  moved  from  his  early  home  in  Hop- 
kinton  to  Canaan,  that  state. 

Levi   \\'.   Hoit,   the   father  of  our  sub- 


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OTIS  W.   HOIT. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


371 


ject,  was  1)orn  in  Canaan,  Xoveniher  15, 
1827,  a  son  of  Bartlett  and  Prudence  (Wil- 
son) Hoit.  Bartlett  Hoit  was  a  native  of 
the  same  place  and  tliere  spent  the  greater 
part  of  liis  life.  In  1854  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  located  i>n  the  farm  in  lulford 
tcwnsiiip,  Henry  cnunty.  whore  1  nn-  suhject 
now  resides,  inakin,^'  it  his  hdUic  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Xcxemhcr  3,  !8()4. 
In  his  family  were  imly  two  children  and 
one  died  in  infanc}'. 

Reared  in  his  native  state,  l,evi  W. 
Hoit  was  educated  at  Canaan  and  Meritlen, 
New  Hampshire,  taking  an  academic  course, 
and  with  liis  father  he  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's and  millwright's  trades.  .\l  the  age  (if 
twenty-one  he  went  to  Louisiana  with  his 
father,  working  there  fur  two  ur  three 
years,  lie  came  to  this  county  with  his 
parents  in  1854,  and  assisted  ir,  hreaking 
and  improxing  the  hume  farm,  consisting 
of  twci  hundred  ;uul  forty  acres,  on  which 
not  a  furrow  had  been  tiuMied  or  an  im- 
pro\cment  made  when  the  family  located 
therenn.  Throughout  life  he  successfull}' 
followed  general  farming  and  stock  raising, 
and  converted  his  place  into  one  of  the  most 
liighly  ciUtivated  tracts  and  desirable  farm.-, 
in  the  coimty.  Jn  1881  he  remo\ed  to 
Geneseo  and  purchased  a  city  home  on  the 
corner  of  West  Main  anil  lienrv  streets, 
but  continueil  to  look  after  his  farming  anil 
stock  raising  interests.  For  some  years  he 
was  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  that  city.  He  was  killed  in  a  cyclone  on 
the  1st  of  May,  1892,  while  returning  home 
from  the  bank.  Mr.  Hoit  was  an  exceeding- 
ly active  man,  was  pre-eminently  public- 
spirited  and  progressi\e,  and  took  a  deep 
interest  in  all  that  tended  to  the  develop- 
ment and  improvement  of  tlie  conniiunity 
in   which    he   lived.      In    his   political    \icws 


he  was  a  Republican,  and  for  many  years 
served  as  supervisor  n\  lulford  townshi]), 
besides  filling  sexeral  minor  offices.  In 
early  life  he  was  a  Bajnist,  bin  later  attend- 
ed the  Congregational  Church,  and  gave 
liberally  to  all  denominations.  He  was  a 
man  of  sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity, 
and  wherever  known  was  held  in  high  re- 
gard. On  the  J2Ui\  of  May.  185(1.  at  (ien- 
eseo.  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  1'".  Im-cucIi.  a  native  of  Coventry, 
Connecticut,  and  a  daughter  of  Oliver  B. 
and  Jane  K.  (  h'rench  )  h^rench.  I  ler  father 
was  also  born  in  that  state,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  until  i84('),  when 
he  removed  to  Branch  county.  Michigan, 
and  was  engaged  in  farming  there  uiUil  com- 
ing to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  in  1853.  For 
some  years  he  followed  the  same  occupa- 
tion in  Geneseo  township,  but  was  living 
a  retired  life  in  the  city  of  Geneseo  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  October 
_'5,  1890,  when  he  was  about  seventy-nine 
\ears  of  age.  His  wife  had  passed  away 
January  18,  1879,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three. 
Of  their  four  children  two  died  in  infancy, 
the  others  being  Mrs.  iloit  and  l^lla  J.,  wife 
of  Allen  B.  Cady,  of  (ieneseo. 

Otis  W.  Hoit,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  is  the  only  child  of  Levi  W. 
and  Sarah  \'..  {  ImcucIi  )  Hoit.  lie  was  born 
on  the  home  farm  in  Ivlfonl  tow  nshii).  May 
J4,  1857,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Geneseo  and  the  State  I'niversi- 
ty  at  Champaign,  where  he  pursueil  the 
agricultural  course  and  was  graduateil  in 
1879.  Returning  to  his  home  he  has  since 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising,  making  a  specialty  of  polled 
.\ngus  cattle — a  Ijreed  from  southern  Scot- 
land. 

At  Champaign,   Mr.   Hoit  was  married, 


372 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  1879,  to  !Miss  [Maggie  E.  Stewart,  a 
daughter  of  John  P.  Stewart,  a  retired  far- 
mer of  Champaign  county.  The  only  child 
born  of  this  union  died  in  infancj-  unnamed, 
and  Mrs.  Hoit  departed  this  life  May  19, 
1885,  being  laid  to  rest  in  Oakwood  cem- 
etery, Geneseo.  Our  subject  was  again 
married,  in  Edford  township,  October  11, 
1888,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Henrietta  P.  ^l.  Schroeder,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  \\ilhelmina  (^W'eigandJ  Schroe- 
der. For  many  years  her  father  has  been 
one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  Edford 
township.  ;Mr.  and  [Mrs.  Hoit  ha\e  one 
child,  Maurice  E.,  born  June  2;^,  1893. 

Religiously  [Mr.  Hoit  is  a  Congregation- 
alist,  and  i)olitically  is  an  ardent  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  held  a 
nimiber  of  minor  offices  in  his  township, 
and  for  the  past  seven  years  has  ser\-ed  as 
supervisor,  with  credit  to  himself  and  to 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 
He  takes  an  active  interest  in  promoting  the 
welfare  of  his  county,  aiding  all  enterprises 
tending  to  benefit  the  public,  and  enjoys  in 
a  high  degree  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
his  fellow  men. 


PATRICK  O'DAY. 

Among  the  old  and  honored  residents  of 
Geneseo  we  take  pleasure  in  mentioning  the 
name  of  Patrick  ODay,  who  was  for  many 
years  prominently  identified  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  this  locality,  but  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life.  He  was  born  eight  miles 
from  the  city  of  Limerick,  county  Clare, 
Ireland,  and  is  a  son  of  Patrick  and  Biddie 
(O'Connor)  ODay,  who  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  that  countrv.      He    had    six    half 


brothers  and  sisters,  John,  Donald,  Thomas, 
Bridget,  Catherine  and  Xora,  all  of  whon> 
came  to  America  and  died  in  this  country. 

During  his  boyhood  and  j'outh  our  sub- 
ject had  no  educational  advantages,  but  he 
has  always  made  the  best  use  of  his  oppor- 
tunities and  is  a  well  informed  man.  At 
the  age  of  twentj-three  he  crossed  the  At- 
lantic on  a  sailing  vessel  named  the 
"Breeze,"  which  dropped  anchor  in  the  har- 
bor of  Quebec,  Canada,  after  seven  weeks 
and  three  days  upon  the  water.  He  spent 
two  days  in  Montreal  and  then  went  tcr 
Waterloo,  where  he  worked  on  the  farm  ot 
a  Mr.  Foster  until  fall  when  he  returned  to 
[Montreal.  By  boat  he  proceeded  to  St. 
John's,  and  then  went  to  \'ermont,  and  on 
to  Boston,  where  he  met  [Michael  Crosby, 
who  had  driven  into  the  city  with  a  load  of 
wood.  He  returned  home  with  him  and 
worked  on  his  farm  for  a  time.  The  fol- 
lowing spring  he  returned  to  his  native  land 
with  a  man  taking  a  load  of  horses  to  Eng- 
land, and  remained  in  Ireland  four  years. 

At  the  end  of  that  time  [Mr.  O'Day 
again  came  to  the  new  world,  bringing  with 
him  his  brother,  Donald  O'Day.  On  land- 
ing in  Xew  York  they  proceeded  at  once  tc 
Fetlock  Falls,  and  from  there  went  to 
Goshen,  Connecticut,  where  both  found  em- 
plo}'ment  at  farm  labor.  Our  subject's 
duties  were  principally  in  connection  with 
the  manufacture  of  cheese.  About  1855  he 
came  to  Henry  count)',  Illinois,  and  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  from  John  [Mc- 
Coy, for  which  he  paid  one  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  upon  which  he  lived  for  fifteen 
years.  On  disposing  of  this  farm  he  bought 
seventeen  acres  of  land  now  within  the 
city  limits  of  Geneseo,  and  there  he  has  since 
made  his  home. 

Being  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  keen 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


37J 


discernment  and  g-ood  Inisiness  al)ility.  Mr. 
O'Dav  made  considerable  money  during  the 
Civil  war  by  taking  advantage  of  the  rise 
in  prices.  He  bought  three  thousand  bushels 
of  corn  for  six  cents  per  bushel,  and  after- 
ward sold  it  for  one  dollar  and  ten  cent.s 
per  bushel,  investing  the  proceeds  in  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  near  Cam- 
bridge. Half  of  this  he  subsequently  sold 
at  a  great  profit.  He  put  up  two  large  ricks 
of  hay  when  it  was  practically  worth  noth- 
ing, and  before  the  close  of  the  war  he 
shipped  the  same  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  re- 
ceived fifty-five  dollars  per  ton.  He  also 
got  a  good  price  for  his  straw,  fifty  dollars 
per  ton.  Hogs  were  then  worth  twelve  dol- . 
lars  per  hundred,  live  weight,  and  he  dis- 
iwsed  of  a  herd  of  one  hundred  and  fifty, 
for  which  he  received  twenty-six  hundred 
dollars,  selling  the  same  to  two  men  from 
Chicago,  who  were  packing  pork  to  ship  to 
the  West  Indies. 

Mr.  O'Day  has  been  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  having  died,  he  married,  in 
February,  1871,  Miss  Isabella  McXally,  who 
was  born  in  Port  Lanone,  county  Derry, 
Ireland,  a  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Isabella 
(^ Carney;  McXally,  the  former  a  native  of 
county  Antrim,  the  latter  of  county  London- 
derry. Of  their  eight  children  only  Mrs. 
O'Day  and  Catherine  came  to  the  United 
States,  the  latter  being  Mrs.  Peter  Heninan, 
of  Dwight,  Illinois.  The  others  died  in  Ire- 
land. 

The  Republican  party  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  O'Day  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  prin- 
ciples, and  he  cast  his  last  presidential  vote 
fur  \\'iniam  McKinley.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  devuut  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  are  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all  who  know  them.  Although 
nearly  ninety-five  years  of  age,  Mr.  O'Day 


still  possesses  an  excellent  memory  and  is 
able  to  sing  a  number  of  old  Irish  Ijallads 
with  a  voice  that  denotes  the  fact  that  in  his 
prime  he  must  have  been  a  splendid  singer. 
His  life  is  a  living  illustration  of  what  ability, 
energy  and  force  of  character  can  accom- 
plish, and  to  such  men  the  west  owes  its 
prosperity,  its  rapid  progress  and  its  ad- 
vancement. 


TOHX  REDUS. 


After  many  years  of  active  labor  as  an 
agriculturist  this  gentleman  is  now  living 
a  retired  hfe  in  Geneseo.  He  was  born  in 
Holstein,  Germany,  on  the  17th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1837,  and  was  seventeen  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States.  His 
parents,  John  and  Johanna  (Luren)  Redus, 
spent  their  entire  lives  in  Germany,  where 
the  father  followed  the  blacksmith's  trade, 
and  also  conducted  a  country  inn  near  Olden- 
burg. He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
vears,  having  survived  the  mother  of  our 
subject  some  years.  John  is  the  oldest  of 
their  three  children.  Henry  entered  the 
cavalry  service  of  his  native  land,  and  al- 
though he  took  part  in  no  war  he  died  while 
on  garrison  duty  in  the  city  of  Schleswig. 
when  about  twenty-three  years  of  age.  Eliza 
is  now  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  "Wolff  and  has 
charge  of  the  inn  which  her  father  con- 
ducted during  his  life  time.  She  was  Iwrn 
after  our  subject  came  to  the  United  States- 
and  he  has  never  seen  her. 

It  was  in  1854  that  Mr.  Redus  crossed 
the  ocean  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Dav- 
enport, Iowa,  where  he  worked  for  nearly 
a  year.  In  April,  1855,  he  came  to  Geneseo. 
Illinois,  and  was  employed  in  the  city  and 
surrounding    countrv    until    the    Civil    war 


374 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lnoke  out.  Feeling-  that  his  adopted  country 
needed  his  services  he  enHsted  in  Septem- 
lier.  1861.  for  tiiree  years,  or  during  the 
war.  as  a  member  of  Company  E.  Forty- 
third  Tlhnois  X'olunteer  Infantry.  He  par- 
ticipateel  in  tlie  Ixittles.of  Fort  Henry,  Fort 
Donelson.  Shiloh.  Corinth  and  \'icksburg, 
and  also  many  skirmislies.  He  was  dis- 
charged from  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  in 
tlie  city  of  Wasliington,  Septeml)er  23, 
18(14.  and  returned  to  his  liome  in  Geneseo. 
He  resided  there  until  the  spring  of  1867, 
when  he  rented  a  farm  and  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  its  operati<in.  Later  he  purchased 
land  on  section  2.  Munson  township,  and  t" 
tliis  eighty-acre  tract  he  subsequently  added 
until  he  now  has  a  fine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres,  a  part  of  which  is  on  section  3. 
He  continued  to  actively  engage  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  until  i8c;5,  when 
he  returned  to  Geneseo  and  has  since  lived 
a  retired  life  at  his  present  home  on  South 
State  street. 

On  the  jjnd  of  January.  1 8(^)8.  in  iMun- 
son  township.  Mr.  Redus  married  Miss 
INIaranda  C.  Goleanor.  a  native  of  Lebanon. 
Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  David  and  Jane 
(^ Smith)  Goleanor.  who  dietl  in  Boone  coun- 
tv.  that  state,  of  which  locality  the  father 
was  a  prominent  farmer.  Of  their  eight 
children  four  are  still  li\ing.  Sexen  chil- 
dren blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Redus,  all  born  in  ^lunsmi  township,  with 
the  exception  of  the  two  eldest,  whose  births 
occurred  in  Geneseo  township.  They  arci 
as  follows:  Hattie.  born  .\o\-ember  13. 
1868,  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Kla\-ohn.  who 
wons  and  operates  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Cornwall  township,  this 
*  county,  and  they  have  four  children,  Elmer, 
1  lenry,  Lewis  and  Re  Roy.  Annie  L.,  born 
January  19.  1870.  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Peter- 


son, a  farmer  living  on  section  36,  Geneseo 
township,  and  they  have  one  child,  Florence 
R.  ]\Ialvina  F..  born  October  11,  1871.  died 
in  Munson  township,  March  i.  1890.  Henry 
\\'..  born  April  28.  1873.  married  ^linnie 
Saupe  and  lives  on  the  home  farm  in  Mun- 
son township.  Ernest  D..  liorn  June  21, 
1875.  aids  in  the  work  of  the  farm  during 
the  summer  season,  and  lives  with  his  par- 
ents in  Geneseo  during  the  winter  months. 
Cora,  born  January  5,  1879.  died  January 
21,  1881.  Elva  L.,  born  August  24.  1883, 
is  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Redus  is  independent; 
and  has  ne\er  taken  a  \ery  active  part  in 
public  affairs,  although  he  served  as  school 
trustee  and  director  for  many  years.  He 
i.-  a  supporter  of  the  F'resbyterian  Church, 
of  which  his  wife  is  a  member,  and  he  holds 
membership  in  E.  V.  Jenkins  Post,  Xo.  452, 
G.  A.  R.  During  his  long  residence  in  this 
county  he  has  made  a  host  of  warm  friends, 
and  is  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all 
who  know  him. 


THOMAS   WALKER. 

Among  the  leading  farmers  and  highly 
respected  citizens  of  Kewanee  township  is 
Thomas  \\'alker.  whose  home  is  on  section 
TQ.  He  was  born  near  Hull.  Yorkshire. 
England,  on  the  loth  of  December.  1833, 
and  is  a  son  of  Harison  and  Sarah  (  Moore ) 
Walker,  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  that 
country,  the  father  being  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  was  born  July  23.  18 10. 
and  died  July  16,  1883.  while  his  wife  was 
born  May  8,  1808,  and  died  June  10,  1898. 
In  their  family  were  seven  children,  all  of 
whom  remained  in  England  with  exception 
of    our    subject.     Two  are    now    deceased 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


375 


John,  who  was  born  Xovember  ii.  1842, 
and  died  unmarried :  and  Edward,  wlio  was 
born  April  13.  1847,  ^nd  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years.  The  others  are  Frank,  who 
was  born  August  26.  1837,  and  is  unmar- 
ried ;  Phcebe.  who  was  born  Septeml^r  7, 
1840,  and  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Foster,  of 
Yorksliire.  England  ;  William,  wlio  was  born 
April  2,  1845,  a'lJ  's  married;  and  Harriet, 
who  was  born  June  26,  1835,  is  now  Mrs. 
Z^IcBride.  of  Hull,  England. 

Thomas  Walker  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  land,  but  had  no  educational  advan- 
tages. With  the  hope  of  bettering  his  con- 
dition in  the  new  world,  he  crossed  the  At- 
lantic, landing  in  Xew  York  on  the  iith 
of  January,  1854.  It  had  taken  him  seven 
years  to  save  enough  money  to  pay  his  pas- 
sage. When  he  set  foot  on  American  soil 
he  hail  but  two  dollars  in  his  pocket,  and  by 
tlie  next  morning  only  forty-seven  cents  re- 
mained. Realizing  the  need  of  finding  em- 
ployment immediately,  he  set  out  on  foot 
for  Xew  Jersey.  Meeting  an  old  farmer  on 
the  road,  he  told  him  his  circumstances,  and 
was  given  two  weeks  board  by  that  gentle- 
man, who  then  hired  him  for  ten  dollars 
per  month.  There  he  cradled  grain,  mowed 
grass  for  the  stock,  and  plowed  corn  with 
a  one-horse  shovel  plow.  After  eight  months 
devoted  to  such  labor  in  Xew  Jersey.  Mr. 
\\'alker  came  to  Kewanee,  Illinois,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1854.  at  which  time  the  village  con- 
tained only  two  general  stores,  the.se  being 
owned  by  the  firms  of  Morse  &  Willard 
and  Tenney  &  Brother.  Most  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  was  unbroken  i)rairie, 
and  the  Pratt  form  extended  to  the  site  of 
the  present  Congregational  church  of  Ke- 
wanee. As  there  was  no  warehouse  in  the 
place  the  grain  for  shipment  was  piled  along 
the  side  of  the  railroad  track.     Mr.  Walker 


at  once  became  identified  witii  the  agricul- 
tural interests  of  the  county,  and  in  a  few 
years  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 19,  Kewanee  township,  paying  for  the 
same  seventeen  hundred  dollars.  His  wife 
also  owned  eighty  acres,  making  a  good 
farm  of  one  iiundred  and  sixty  acres,  upon 
which  he  still  lives.  He  also  has  another 
farm  t)f  one  hundred  and  eighty-nine  acres, 
on  which  his  son  William  now  resides.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  stock  raising  and  feeds 
most  of  the  grain  raised  upon  his  place  to 
his  stock. 

January  20.  1856,  Mr.  Walker  was  mar- 
rieil  on  his  present  farm  to  Mrs.  Delia  .\. 
Folsom,  a  native  of  Xew  York,  who  came 
to  Henry  county  in  1840  with  her  parents, 
Samuel  and  Emma  Lester  Folsom.  She  was 
one  of  a  family  of  six  children,  of  whom  one 
died  in  infancy.  The  others,  Sylvester,  Syl- 
\  illian,  William.  Champley  and  Charles,  are 
al  now  deceased  except  Charles,  who  li\es 
in  Mineral.  Bureau  county.  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Walker,  who  was  an  earnest  and  consistent 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  died  at 
Kewanee,  on  the  31st  of  December.  1895. 
leaving  seven  children,  namely  :  (  i  )  Will- 
iam, born  Xovember  13,  1856,  a  farmer, 
living  si.x  miles  north  of  Kewanee.  married 
Alice  Bates  and  they  have  one  child.  Ray- 
mond. (2)  Henry,  born  October  24.  1858, 
an  engineer  of  Xew  Mexico,  married  Emma 
Hill,  and  they  had  two  children.  Carl,  de- 
ceased, and  Jessie.  (3)  Matilda,  born  Jan- 
uary 20,  1861.  is  the  wife  of  A.  P.  Engles. 
a  resident  of  Rock  Island,  who  is  a  fireman 
on  the  Rock  Island  railroad  running  from 
that  city  to  \'alley  Junction,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Mabel.  (4)  Sarah,  born  May 
18,  1863,  is  the  wife  of  John  Archer,  a 
farmer  of  Burns  township,  this  county,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Grace.      (5)    George. 


!76 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


born  December  15,  1865.  \vho  is  engaged 
in  the  transfer  business  in  Kewanee,  mar- 
ried Celia  Carrins,  and  the}'  have  two  chil- 
dren, Orville  and  Hazel.  (6)  Myrtie,  born 
January  5,  1868,  is  the  wife  of  William 
Leonard,  a  fireman  un  the  Rock  Island 
railroad  and  resident  of  Rock  Island ;  they 
have  one  child.  Paul.  (7)  Richard,  born 
October  15,  1870,  who  operates  the  home 
farm,  was  maried  in  Burns  township,  Jan- 
uary 18,  1894,  to  Lizzie  Carwin.  Air. 
\\'alker  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  is  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all  who  know  him.  Looking 
l.iackward  through  the  vista  of  the  past 
we  see  a  friendless  young  man  who  came 
tf>  the  new  world  in  search  of  home  and  for- 
tune, and  at  present  we  see  his  ambitious 
dreams  realized,  for  he  is  in  possession  of  a 
handsome  property.  For  the  success  that  he 
has  achieved  in  life  he  deserves  great  credit 
for  it  is  due  to  his  untiring  labors,  perse- 
A-erance  and  good  management. 


THOMAS  T.  HAXXOX. 

For  many  years  Thomas  T.  Hannon  was 
actively  identified  with  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  this  county,  and  having  acquired 
a  handsome  competence  he  is  now  able  to 
lay  aside  all  business  cares  and  spend  the 
sunset  of  his  life  in  ease  and  retirement  from 
active  labor  at  his  pleasant  home  in  Gene- 
seo.  Like  many  of  our  best  citizens,  he 
comes  from  across  tlie  sea,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  county  Kerry,  Ireland,  Decem- 
ber 24,  1823.  His  parents,  Thomas  and 
Hannah  (Ouilter)  Hannon,  were  also  na- 
tives of  the  Emerald  Isle.  In  the  famih- 
v.ere  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of 


whom  are  now  deceased  with  exception  of 
our  subject.  His  brothers  and  sisters  who 
came  to  America  were  Mathew,  who  mar- 
ried IMary  Callahan,  and  made  his  home  iia 
CJeneseo,  Illinois,  and  is  now  dead.  Han- 
nah, wife  of  Thomas  Callahan,  of  Terre 
IrTaute,  Indiana;  and  Catherine,  wife  of 
Timothy  Carroll,  of  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Hannon  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive land,  and  in  1850  came  to  the  United 
States  on  a  sailing  vessel,  which  was  five 
weeks  and  three  days  in  making  the  pas- 
sage from  Cork  to  New  York.  He  first 
located  at  Elizabethtown,  Xew  Jersey,  where 
he  worked  on  a  farm  for  four  weeks, 
and  then  went  to  Buffalo,  X'ew  York,  where 
he  remained  a  short  time  while  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  X'ew  York  &  Erie  Railroad 
Company.  In  the  fall  of  1850  he  went  to 
Strasburg,  Ohio,  near  Cleveland,  where  he 
worked  for  the  railroad  three  years,  and 
subsequently  made  his  home  at  Terre 
Haute,  Indiana,   for  four  years. 

Later  Mr.  Hannon  conducted  a  store  at 
St.  Marys,  Indiana,  and  while  there  he  was 
married,  July  2,  1853,  to  ]\Iiss  Hannah  Cro- 
nin,  also  a  native  of  county  Kerry,  Ireland, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  1850,  sailing 
from  Cork  and  landing  at  Boston.  Her 
father,  John  Cronin,  died  in  Ireland,  but  her 
mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Ella 
Scanlin,  came  to  America  and  settled  in  In- 
diana. She  was  accompanied  by  her  chil- 
dren, consisting  of  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased 
with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Hannon  and 
John,  who  married  }tlary  McCarthy  and 
lives   in    Indianapolis,    Indiana. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Han- 
non are  as  follows:  (i)  Thomas  F.,  born 
in  Lacon,  Illinois,  December  19,  1856,  mar- 
ried Anna  Collins  and  resides  in  Rock  Isl- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


377 


and.  They  liave  two  daugliters,  Regina  and 
Blanche.  (2)  Mar}^  born  in  Peru,  Illinois, 
September  26,  1858,  lives  with  her  ])arents. 
(3)  Ellen,  born  September  27,  i860,  is  the 
wife  of  John  Hughe.s,  of  North  English, 
■  Iowa.  (4)  Kate,  born  October  27,  1S62,  is 
the  wife  of  Robert  Summit,  of  Xorth  Eng- 
lish, Iowa,  and  they  have  fnur  children, 
Frank,  Cirace,  Thomas  and  .Mary.  (5) 
Mathew,  lx)rn  October  23.  1864,  married 
Catherine  Boyle  and  resides  on  a  farm  in 
Geneseo  township,  this  county.  They  have 
one  child,  Evaline.  (6)  Patrick,  horn  July 
16,  1870,  married  Anna  Weimer,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  the  same  tiuvnship. 
They  have  one  child,  Adley.  1  7)  William, 
born  .\pril  23,  1872,  married  Delia  Weimer 
and  is  a  resident  of  Geneseo.  They  ha\e 
one  child,  Raymond.  (8)  Lucy,  horn 
March  i,  1874,  is  the  wife  of  James  Law- 
ery,  a  farmer  of  Geneseo  township.  (9) 
Edward,  born  December  24,  1875,  married 
Susie  Oil  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Gen- 
eseo township. 

On  coming  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Hannon 
spent  two  years  in  Peru,  and  then  remo\ed 
to  Bureau  county,  where  he  was  engagetl  in 
the  grocery  business  for  a  time.  Having 
saved  some  money  he  purchased  forty  acres 
of  land  in  Geneseo  township,  Henry  county, 
to  which  he  subsequently  added  tracts  of  one 
hundred,  twenty  and  eighty  acres.  This 
was  either  raw  prairie  or  swamp  land  when 
it  came  into  his  possession,  antl  he  kept  a 
skiff,  in  which  he  rowed  over  parts  of  his 
farm  shooting  wild  ducks.  After  tiling  and 
draining  his  place,  he  put  it  under  excellent 
cultivation,  and  iiad  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved farms  in  the  locality.  He  continued 
to  actively  engage  in  farming  until  1896, 
when  he  sold  the  place  to  his  sons  and  re- 
moved to  Geneseo,  where  he  bought  a  lot 


and  built  a  good  residence.  Here  he  is  now 
enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  He  is  a  man 
of  affluence  and  has  provided  for  each  mem- 
ber of  his  family  in  a  substantial  manner. 

In  his  political  views  I\Ir.  Hannon  is  a 
stanch  Democrat,  but  has  cared  nothing 
for  public  office,  having  served  only  as 
school  director.  He  and  his  family  are  de- 
vout Catholics.  While  he  has  not  sought 
nor  desired  prominence  in  public  life,  he  is 
a  man  the  weight  of  whose  counsels  has  been 
felt  throughout  his  community,  and  he  is 
pre-eminently  public-spirited,  taking  an  ac- 
ti\c  interest  in  all  that  tends  toward  the  ad- 
vancement of  his  town  anil  county.  His 
faithful  labors  have  won  for  him  the  ease 
and  comfort  which  should  always  follow 
a  well-spent  and  useful  life.  He  is  e.xceed- 
ingly  generous  and  is  ever  ready  to  relieve 
the  poor  or  distressed. 


PHILIP  SIIAXER. 

The  subject  of  this  re\iew  is  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  honored  citizens  of  Henry 
county,  his  home  being  on  section  zj,  Weth- 
ersfield  township.  Years  of  quiet  useful-, 
ness  and  a  life  in  which  the  old  fashioned 
\-irtues  of  sobriety,  industry  and  integrity 
are  exemplified  have  a  simple  beauty  that 
no  words  can  portray.  Youth  has  its 
charms,  but  an  honorable  and  honored  old 
age,  t(j  which  the  lenghtening  years  luu-e 
added  dignity  and  sweetness,  has  a  brighter 
radiance,  as  if  some  ray  from  the  life  beyond 
already  rested  upon  it. 

Mr.  Shaner  was  born  in  L\-coming  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  -Vpril  14,  18 14,  and  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  Shaner,  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
when  a  young  man  of  nineteen  years  and 
settled   in   Pennsylvania,     where    he    spent 


378 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  remainder  nt  his  life.  He  was  married 
near  Philadelpliia.  and  reared  his  family 
upon  a  farm. 

On  leaving  the  old  homestead  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  vears.  Philip  Shaner  went  to 
Cattaraugus  county,  Xew  York,  where  he 
worked  upon  a  farm  for  a  few  years,  anil 
while  there  he  was  married  January  i8. 
1S35.  the  lad\'  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Me- 
Hnda  Jackson,  who  was  born  near  W'ilkea 
Barre,  Luzerne  county.  Pennsyhania.  Jan- 
uary 2.  1 81 8,  a  ilaughter  of  Cyrus  and 
Zeraviah  (Winters)  Jackson,  but  was  reared 
in  Cattaraugus  county,  Xew  York,  whither 
her  parents  removed  when  she  was  ([uite 
young. 

For  a  year  or  so  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Shaner  engaged  in  farming  upon  rented 
land  in  that  county,  and  in  1838  came  west  by 
team,  the  journey  occupying  about  a  month. 
He  located  in  what  is  now  Stark  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for 
about  eight  years,  and  in  1846  came  to  Henry 
county  and  purchased  eight)'  acres  of  land 
in  Wethersheld  township,  on  which  was 
erected  a  small  frame  house  and  stable.  To 
the  further  improvement  and  culti\ation  of 
his  place  he  at  once  turned  his  attention,  and 
in  his  pioneer  home  experienced  all  the 
hardships  and  privations  of  frontier  life. 
Prosperity  at  length  crowned  his  well-di- 
rected efTorts  and  he  added  to  his  original 
purchase  until  he  now  has  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  one  body.  He 
has  erected  thereon  two  sets  of  good  build- 
ings, has  planted  shade  and  fruit  trees,  and 
to-day  has  a  \ery  valuable  anil  wel-im- 
proved  farm.  In  his  labors  he  has  always 
been  aided  and  encouraged  by  his  estimable 
wife,  and  to  their  combined  efiforts  is  due  his 
success,  for  he  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self without  capital. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaner  have  lived  to- 
gether as  man  and  wife  for  the  long  period 
of  sixty-six  years,  being  the  oldest  married 
couple  in  the  county.  They  are  the  parents 
of  ten  children,  all  of  whom  reached  adult 
age.  namely  :  Mary  became  the  wife  of  .\lex- 
ander  Johnson  and  died,  leaving  five  chil- 
dren: Sarah  Jane  married  Draper  Hitch- 
cock and  died,  leaving  one  son :  John  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  in  Nebraska;  Charles  is  mar- 
ried and  carries  on  a  part  of  the  home  farm ; 
William  is  a  resident  of  Kewanee;  Eliza  is 
the  wife  of  John  Peterson,  of  W'ethersfield 
township;  Oliver  is  a  farmer  of  the  same 
township:  Washington  is  also  a  farmer  of 
this  county :  Electa  is  the  wife  of  George 
Paterson.  of  Wyoming.  Stark  county.  Illi- 
nois; and  Albert  is  a  farmer  of  Henry 
county. 

In  1840  Mr.  Shaner  voted  for  "Tippe- 
canoe and  Tyler,  too."  and  continued  to  sup- 
port the  W  big  party  until  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party,  when  he  joined  its 
ranks  and  has  since  been  an  earnest  advocate 
of  its  principles.  He  and  his  wife  are  con- 
sistent and  faithful  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  and  receive  and 
merit  the  liigh  regard  of  the  entire  comnui- 
nity  in  which  they  live.  Although  both  have 
passed  the  eightieth  milestone  on  life's  jour- 
ney, they  are  still  hale  and  hearty,  and  now 
in  the  evening  of  life  are  surrounded  l)y  a 
large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances 
who  have  for  them  unljounded  respect. 


ISAAC  THORP. 

The  well-known  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 7,  Kewanee  township.  Henry  county, 
Illinois,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  his  birth  having 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


379 


occurred  in  Belpre  townsliii),  W'asliingtou 
county,  February  i6,  183^.  His  father, 
Moses  Thorp,  was  born  in  Bedford,  i'enn- 
syivania,  in  181 7,  and  came  west  in  1848 
by  steamlioat  to  Peoria,  his  destination  being 
Burns,  IlHnois.  By  trade  he  was  a  cooper 
but  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  hfe  to 
fanning,  and  on  his  arrival  in  tiiis  county 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Burns  township.  Tlie 
country  at  that  time  was  nearly  all  wild 
prairie  and  wild  game  was  very  plentiful, 
prairie  chickens  even  roosting  upon  trees 
near  the  house.  They  endured  all  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  incident  to  pioneer  life, 
and  in  the  development  of  the  county  they 
bore  an  important  part.  The  father  died  in 
1880,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1870. 
She  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Clark, 
and  was  born  in  Ohio  in  181 5. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
eleven  children,  namely :  ( i )  Hannah,  now 
a  resident  of  Altoona,  Jllinuis,  has  been  three 
times  married,  her  first  husband  being  Elias 
Thrasker,  the  second  Thomas  Weeks  and 
the  third  a  Mr.  Foster.  Her  children  are 
Jane,  Mira,  Julia,  Emma,  Evelyn,  Ada, 
Rose  and  Elias.  (J)  Jonas,  deceased, 
served  through  the  Civil  war  as  a  member 
of  the  Si.xty-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan^ 
try.  He  married  first  Sarah  Wybrough,  by 
whom  she  had  three  children,  Emma,  Will- 
iam, and  Elsie,  and  for  his  second  wife  mar- 
ried Elliza  Mort,  now*  a  resident  of  Kewa- 
nee,  by  whom  she  had  the  following  chil- 
dren, John,  Edward,  Cora,  Sarah,  Ger- 
trude, Charles,  Lewis,  Maggie  and  Maud. 
(3)  Samuel,  who  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Sixty-fifth  Illinois  regiment,  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  Burns  township,  this  count)', 
married  Jane  Mooney,  and  has  one  child, 
Lillie.  (4)  Isaac,  our  subject,  is  next  in  or- 
der of  birth.     (5)  Sarah  Ann  is  the  widow 


of  Edwin  Vincent  and  resides  at  Stromburg, 
Nebraska,  with  her  family,  consisting  of  five 
children,  Albert,  John,  Frank.  Hetlie  and 
Lottie.  (6)  Tact  lb  a  re>i(lent  ni  llurns 
township,  this  county,  married  Sarah  Clark 
and  they  have  two  children,  Eugene  and 
Flora.  (7)  Mary  died  at  the  home  of  her 
father,  in  Burns  township.  (8)  Arthur, 
deceased,  married  Loretta  Folsoni,  now  a 
resident  of  (Colorado,  and  they  had  three 
children,  Ernest,  Ira  and  Asa.  (9)  Lydia 
married  Joseph  Mooney,  and  they  died, 
leaving  luur  children,  Sarah,  Alice,  Pearl 
and  Alva,  now  residents  of  Munson  town- 
ship. Henry  county.  (10)  Frank,  a  resi- 
dent of  Decatur  county,  Iowa,  married 
Sarah  \Vhitehouse  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren, William,  Cynthia  and  Thomas.  (11) 
Hettie  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Garland,  of 
Decatur  count}-,  Iowa,  and  they  have  si.x 
children.   Bertha,    Elizabeth,     Ethel,    Pearl, 

Harrison  and  . 

Isaac  Thorp  was  a  lad  of  twelve  years 
on  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Henry- 
county,  and  amidst  pioneer  scenes  he  grew 
to  manhood.  He  remembers  when  the  town 
of  \\'ethersfield  had  but  one  store,  that  o£ 
McClure  &  Penny,  and  the  early  settlers  did 
most  of  their  trading  at  Peoria,  while  most 
of  the  lumber  was  hauled  by  ox  teams  from 
Chicago,  it  requiring  one  week  to  make  the 
trip.  His  father  first  rented  a  farm  of  Pat- 
rick Neville,  in  Burns  township,  on  which 
a  log  house  had  been  built,  but  later  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  at  the  govern- 
ment price  of  one  dollar  and  a  ijuartcr  per 
acre,  but  so  rapidly  did  land  rise  in  value 
that  the  second  year  it  was  worth  eight  dol- 
lars per  acre,  and  is  today  worth  eighty  dol- 
lars. Mr.  Thorp  entered  the  service  of  his 
country  during  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, and  served    for  seven    months  in  the 


38o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Illinois  Infantry.  In  1879  he  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Kewanee  township, 
for  which  he  paid  fifteen  hundred  dollars, 
and  to  its  improvement  and  cultivation  he 
has  since  devoted  his  energies.  As  time 
has  passed  he  has  prospered  in  his  labors, 
and  has  added  to  his  landed  possessions 
from  time  to  time  until  he  now  has  one  hun- 
dred acres.  He  is  a  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  but  has  never  cared  for  po- 
litical honors,  preferring  to  give  his  entire 
attention  to  his  business  interests. 

On  the  27th  of  February,  1861,  in  Burns 
township,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Thorp  and  Miss  Eliza  Adams,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Mary  Ann  (Sims) 
Adams.  The  father,  who  was  a  native  of 
Xew  Jersey  and  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
came  to  Kewanee  with. his  family  in  185::. 
Of  his  twelve  children,  Rhoda,  Jano.  Maiy 
Ji..,  John,  Martin,  Caroline,  Samuel  and 
Harriet,  are  all  now  deceased.  John  desert- 
ed the  Rebel  army  and  joined  the  Union 
iorces  during  the  Civil  war;  Martin  was  a 
jnember  of  the  Missouri  Volunteer  Cavalry; 
and  Samuel  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twen- 
ty-fourth Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  Those 
of  the  family  now  living  are  as  follows  :  ( i ) 
James,  a  resident  of  Weiser,  Idaho,  mar- 
ried Ellen  Clark,  and  they  have  six  children, 
Elias,  Charles,  James,  Madison,  Ida  and 
Xora.  {2)  Eliza,  wife  of  our  subject,  is  the 
next  of  the  family.  (3)  Lucy  is  the  wife  of 
Alonzo  Collins,  of  Geneseo,  Illinois,  and 
their  children  are  Alfreta,  Carrie,  Lee, 
Wealthy,  Annetta,  Edith,  Clyde,  Addie. 
;Mary,  Kate,  Harry,  Grover  and  John.  (4) 
Louisa  married  first  William  Kiser,  of  Ke 
wanee,  by  whom  she  had  two  children,  Sam- 
uel and  Clara,  and  for  her  second  husband 
married  John  Wolf,  by  whom  she  had  four 
children,  Robert,  Bertha.  Xellie  and  Minnie. 


(5)   Joseph,  a  resident  of  Bureau  county. 

lilinois,  was  also  a  member  of  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois  regiment 
cUiring  the  Civil  war.  He  married  Wait- 
still  \\'ilsey  (known  as  Dot),  and  they  have 
six  children,  Roxey,  William.  Frank,  Hat- 
tie,  Agnes  and  Grover. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thorp  have  been 
born  nine  children  :  ( i )  ^lary,  born  June 
24,  1862,  is  the  wife  of  Oran  De  Witt,  who 
lives  near  Arispee,  Iowa,  and  they  have  two 
children,  ^Myrle  and  Oma.  Samuel,  born 
January  11,  1864,  is  a  carpenter  of  Kewa- 
nee. He  married  Lena  Whetzig,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Mabel  and  Lloyd.  (3) 
John,  born  December  4,  1865,  is  represented 
on  another  page  of  this  volume.  (4) 
Stella,  born  April  6,  1868,  has  been  three 
times  married,  her  first  husband  being  Grant 
\\'illiamson,  the  second  Charles  Kern,  and 
the  third  Robert  Wolf,  a  resident  of  Burns 
township.  Her  son  Clifford  resides  with 
our  subject.  (5)  Carrie,  born  June  14,  1871, 
is  the  wife  of  William  Carter,  of  Lahonta, 
Colorado,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Etha,  Emmet  and  Helen.  (6)  Xellie.  born 
July  13,  1874,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Buftat, 
of  Kewanee,  and  they  have  one  child,  Hazel. 
(7)  Xorman,  born  July  9,  1877,  married 
Emma  Whetzig  and  lives  in  Kewanee.  (8) 
Xora,  born  February  16,  1880,  died  May 
10,  1880,  and  was  buried  in  Burns  township. 
(9)  Jessie,  born  July  9,  1881,  resides  in 
Kewanee. 


JOHX  THORP. 

John  Thorp  is  one  of  the  energetic  and 
progressive  farmers  of  Kewanee  township, 
V.  here  he  is  now  successfully  engaged  in  the 
operation  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


381 


land,  wliich  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state 
•of  cultivation.  His  entire  life  lias  heen  spent 
in  Henry  county  and  he  is  indebted  to  its 
district  schools  for  his  educational  privi- 
leges. He  was  lx)rn  in  Burns  township,  De- 
ceml)er  4,  1865,  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Eliza 
(Adams)  Thorp,  whose  sketch  rqipears 
elsewhere  in  this  work. 

May  II.  1890.  Mr.  Tiinri)  was  united  in 
Jiiarriage  with  Miss  Hattie  Williamson,  of 
Kewanee.  Her  father.  Chester  William 
son,  was  horn  and  reared  in  \ew  ^"ork  state 
and  there  married  Miss  Electa  Jane  Rogers. 
They  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early  date  and 
took  up  their  residence  in  a  log  cabin  on  a 
farm  in  Bureau  county.  Mrs.  Williamson 
is  still  a  resident  of  that  comity,  but  her  hus- 
band died  there  in  April.  i89(;.  Their  fam- 
ily numbered  ten  children,  namely:  Lafay- 
ette, who  died  leaving  a  family  living  in 
Oregon;  Seymour,  a  resident  of  Iowa,  who 
married  Melissa  Hackett,  and  has  four  chil- 
dren, Gertrude,  Roy,  Blanch  and  an  infant; 
Sarah,  a  resident  of  Iowa  and  widow  of 
Samuel  Keppler,  by  whom  she  four  ciiil- 
dren,  Josie,  ^ilaud,  Tillie  and  Cecil ;  Par- 
don, deceased,  who  resided  in  Oregon,  but 
was  buried  in  Kewanee;  Lousetta,  wife  of 
Frank  Lewis,  of  Kickaixxi,  Peori.i  count}-. 
Illinois,  by  whom  she  has  fi\e  children.  Mav, 
Ira,  Elmer,  Fred  and  Eddie:  (iilbert,  a  resi- 
dent of  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  who  mar 
ried  Augusta  Knight  and  has  five  children. 
Nellie,  Myrtle,  Knight,  May  and  Ray; 
Grant,  deceased,  who  married  Stella  Thorp, 
now  a  resident  of  Burns  township,  by  whom 
he  had  one  child,  Clifford ;  Chester,  who 
died  unmarried  in  Bureau  county,  in  July. 
1900;  Hattie,  wife  of  our  subject,  and  Effie, 
who  died  unmarried  in  Bureau  county  in 
May,  1900. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thorp  were  born  four 


children,  Blanch,  Ruby.  Roy  and  Xora,  but 
Roy  and  Nora  are  now  deceased.  Mr.  Thorp 
casts  his  ballot  with  the  Republican  party 
and  has  efficienth'  served  as  school  director 
in  his  district.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Modern  W^oodmen  of  America,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
bis  community. 


GEORGE  W.  FERGUSON. 

Success  is  determined  1)\-  one's  abilitv 
to  recognize  opportunity,  and  to  pursue  this 
with  a  resolute  and  unflagging  energy.  It 
results  from  continued  labor,  and  the  man 
who  thus  accomplishes  his  purpose  usually 
becomes  an  important  factor  in  the  business 
circles  of  the  community  with  which  he 
is  connected.  Through  such  means  Mr. 
I'erguson  has  attained  a  leading  place 
among  the  substantial  citizens  of  Western 
township,  his  home  being  on  section  11.  He 
was  born  near  Quincy,  Adams  county,  Illi- 
nois, June  18,  1847,  :"id  is  the  son  of  Rob- 
ert G.  and  Nancy  (^WilsonJ  Ferguson,  the 
former  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  near  Steuben- 
\ille,  Jefferson  county,  the  latter  part  of 
December,  18 15,  and  the  latter  at  Chelsea, 
hve  miles  from  Boston,  Massachusetts,  De- 
cember 13,  1825. 

When  a  young  man  Robert  G.  Ferguson 
left  his  native  state  and  came  to  Illinois, 
becoming  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Adams 
county.  He  there  married  Nancy  Wilson,  ' 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  ilary  (Webster) 
Wilson,  pioneers  of  Adams  county,  locating 
there  in  1836,  when  their  daughter  was  but 
eleven  years  of  age.  For  some  years  after 
their  marriage,  Mr.  Ferguson  engaged  in 
farming  in  Adams  county,  but  in  1850  he 
made  an  overland   trip  to   California,   and 


382 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


after  working  in  the  mines  of  that  state 
for  about  ten  months  he  returned  to  Illi- 
nois by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and 
New  Orleans.  After  his  return  he  followed 
farming  in  Adams  county  until  1863,  when 
he  removed  to  Henry  county  and  purchased 
a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on 
section  1 1 ,  Western  township,  where  our 
subject  now  resides.  This  place  he  improved 
and  operated  until  called  to  his  final  rest, 
October  10,  1869,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three 
3'ears.  His  widow  survives  him  and  makes 
her  home  with  our  subject.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church.  In 
politics  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Re- 
publican. As  road  commissioner  he  as- 
sisted in  laying  out  the  roads  in  an  early 
day. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Adams  county, 
and  in  Prairie  Academy,  at  Orion,  George 
W.  Ferguson  was  educated,  and  after  the 
death  of  his  father  he  took  charge  of  the 
farm  and  business,  and  has  since  added  to 
the  original  farm  until  he  now  has  four 
hundred  acres,  which  he  has  converted  into 
one  of  the  best  improved  places  of  the  town- 
ship. He  has  erected  a  large  and  pleasant 
residence,  two  barns  and  other  outbuildings, 
has  set  out  fruit  and  shade  trees,  and  has 
a  most  attractive  country  home.  Besides 
his  valuable  property  he  owns  another  well- 
improved  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  acres  on  section  4,  Western  township. 
He  has  always  given  considerable  attention 
to  the  raising  and  feeding  of  stock  for  mar- 
ket, and  annually  ships  from  six  to  eight 
carloads  of  cattle  and  hogs.  As  a  farmer 
and  stock  raiser  he  has  been  eminently  suc- 
cessful, but  has  not  confined  his  attention 
alone  to  these  industries.  On  the  re-or- 
ganization of  the  Farmers  Bank  of  Orion 
he  became  a  stockholder    and    was    elected 


president  of  what  is  now  one  of  the  most 
substantial  financial  institutions  in  the  coun- 
ty and  not  a  little  of  its  success  is  due  tO' 
his  business  ability  and  sound  judgment,  as 
he  is  one  of  the  ablest  financiers  of  his  com- 
munity. He  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  Osco,  \\'estern  and  Rural 
I\Iutual  Insurance  Company,  and  at  its  or- 
ganization was  elected  one  of  its  directors 
and  treasurer  of  the  same.  He  has  not 
missed  a  meeting  of  the  board  since  its 
organization,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say- 
that  much  of  its  success  is  due  to  him.  In 
1897  he  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the 
Western  Telephone  Company,  which  has- 
an  instrument  in  nearly  every  home  in 
Western  township. 

In  Osco  township,  Henry  county.  Mr. 
Ferguson  was  married,  January  20.  187J, 
to  Miss  Inez  E.  Hitchcock,  a  native  of 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of 
Walker  L.  Hitchcock,  who  came  to  this 
state  at  an  early  day  and  finally  located  in 
Henry  county.  By  this  union  were  born  six 
children  as  follows :  Grace,  wife  of  'SI.  I-. 
Love,  a  farmer  living  near  Orion ;  Roy  T., 
who  assists  in  the  operation  of  one  of  his 
father's  farms;  Helen  M..  now  a  student  at 
Knox  College,  Galesburg;  Harry,  who  is 
attending  the  high  school  in  that  city ;  and 
PTarriet  and  Alice,  both  at  home. 

Politically  Mr.  Ferguson  has  been  iden- 
tified with  the  Republican  party  since  cast- 
ing his  first  presidential  vote  for  General 
U.  S.  Grant,  and  has  ever  taken  an  active 
interest  in  political  affairs,  though  he  has 
never  sought  office.  For  some  years, 
however,  he  efificiently  served  on  the  school 
board,  and  has  always  been  a  friend  of 
education.  With  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Orion  he  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
bership,  and   in  social   circles  of  tiie   com- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


383 


munity  tliey  occupy  an  enviable  position. 
His  strict  integrity  and  honoral)le  dealing 
in  business  commend  bim  to  tbe  confidence 
of  all;  his  pleasant  manner  wins  him 
friends  and  he  is  one  of  the  popular  and 
lionored  citizens  of  the  section  of  the 
•county. 


P.   H.   NEVILLE. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  farmers  and  stock  raisers 
of  Burns  township,  as  well  as  one  of  its 
most  popular  and  influential  citizens.  He 
was  Ijorn  near  his  present  home,  Xovem- 
l)er  II.  1848,  his  j)arents  being  Patrick  and 
Jane  (Pounds)  Xeville.  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland,  tbe  latter  of  Pennsyl\-ania. 
In  1833,  when  about  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  the  father  emigrated  to  the  new  world 
and  spent  some  time  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, and  from  that  state  removed  to  Illinois 
prior  to  1835.  In  early  life  be  was  vari- 
ously employed,  hut  afterwards  be  turned 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
jnirchased  one  iiundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
government  land  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  24,  Burns  township,  Henry  coun- 
ty, and  to  its  cultivation  and  improvement 
■devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  owned 
one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
April,  1849.  He  was  one  of  tlie  earliest 
settlers  of  this  county,  and  was  a  man  hon- 
ored and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 
His  wife  long  survived  bim  and  died  at  tbe 
home  of  our  subject.  February  14,  1897. 
Their  children  were  T.  P.,  a  resident  of 
Stewart  Iowa;  J.  L.,  of  Republic  county, 
Kansas;  P.  H..  of  this  review;  and  W.  A., 
of  Kewanee.  Illinois. 


Our  subject  attended  the  public  schools 
if  this  county  and  grew  to  manhood  uix)n  the 
home  farm.  On  reaching  maturity  he 
took  charge  of  the  family  affairs  and  cared 
for  his  mother  until  her  death.  Through- 
out his  active  business  life  be  has  followed 
farming  and  stock  raising  extensively, 
and  now  feeds  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
head  of  cattle  and  alxnit  five  hundred  hogs 
per  year.  He  ships  his  own  stock  to  the 
city  markets.  In  business  affairs  he  is 
energetic  and  progressive,  and  has  met  with 
most  excellent  success.  He  is  now  the 
owner  of  seven  hundred  and  ten  acres  of 
valuable  farming  land,  whicb  is  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  improved 
with  good  buildings.  He  has  been  one  of 
the  directors  and  stockholders  of  tbe  Ke- 
wanee National  Bank  since  its  organiza- 
tion. 

On  the  31st  of  August,  1886,  Mr.  Ne- 
ville was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Frances  Ann  Tossell,  a  native  of  Devon- 
shire, England,  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Grace  (Berry)  Tossell.  Her  father  is 
still  a  resident  of  that  country,  but  her 
mother  is  now  deceased.  Of  the  four  chil- 
dren lx)rn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neville,  the  eld- 
est, George  Henry,  is  deceased.  Those 
living  are  Nora  Edna,  born  November  26, 
1889;  Florence  E.,  May  16,  1891;  and 
Olive  Myrtle,  March  8,  1896. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Neville  is  a  member  of 
tbe  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  politically  is  a 
stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 
For  over  twenty  years  he  has  served  as 
school  director  in  his  district ;  filled  tiie  of- 
fice of  assessor  two  years;  and  is  at  present 
supervisor  of  his  township,  to  which  re- 
sponsible position  he  was  elected  in  1899. 
He  is  connected  with  the  Kewanee  District 
Agricultural    Fair   .'\ssociation.     and     takes 


384 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


considerable  interest  in  the  agricultural  ex- 
liibits  of  the  county.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  fair  and  has  for  the  past 
two  years  been  director  and  has  every  year 
had  some  official  position.  He  is  puljlic- 
spirited  and  progressive,  and  gives  a  cheer- 
ful support  to  all  enterprises  calculated  to 
advance  the  interests  of  his  community  along 
any  line. 


DAVID  M.  MARTIN. 

Throughout  iiis  business  career  this 
gentleman  has  been  identified  with  the  ag- 
ricultural interests  of  Henry  Cdunty,  and 
is  now  successfully  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  on  section  5,  Ke- 
wanee  township.  He  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania,  on  the  i8th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1862,  and  was  only  a  few  weeks  old 
when  brought  to  this  country  by  his  par- 
ents, Joseph  and  Mary  Ann  Martin,  natives 
of  Ireland,  mIio  emigrated  to  America  in 
1856,  landing  in  Philadelphia.  On  the 
Emerald  Isle  the  father  had  followed  carpet 
weaving  and  continued  to  carry  on  that 
business  during  his  residence  in  Phila- 
delphia, but  in  this  county  he  engaged  in 
farming.  Plis  death  occurred  in  Cornwall 
township  on  the  7th  of  July,  1892,  but  his 
wife  is  still  living  and  continues  to  reside 
there.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, namely:  (i)  Robert  died  in  Annawan 
township,  in  January,  1869.  (2)  Eliza  is 
the  wife  of  A.  S.  Cosner,  a  farmer  of  Corn- 
wall township,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Sarah,  now  the  wife  of  Mart  Farnum. 
(3)  John,  a  resident  of  Burns  township, 
married  Luella  Potter  and  they  have  two 
children,  Marion  and  Elsie.  (4)  Joseph, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  stock  business  in  Ke- 


wanee,  married  Hulda  Dunmyer,  and  they 
had  two  children.  Clair  and  Carl,  deceased. 
(5)  David  M.,  our  subject,  is  next  in  order 
of  birth.  (6)  Samuel,  a  farmer  and  stock 
raiser  of  Annawan  township,  married  Alice 
Wright,  and  they  have  five  children,  Leah, 
Wilbur,  Ehncr  and  Roy.  and  an  infant  son. 
(7)  George,  who  is  engaged  in  the  cream- 
ery business  in  this  county,  married  Ella 
Girkin.  and  they  have  two  children,  Arthur 
and  Earl.  (8)  Mary  Jane  died  in  Burns 
township  in  1862. 

The  father  of  t)ur  subject  was  one  of  a. 
family  of  seven  children,  tiie  others  being 
as  follows:  (2)  John  was  married  in  Ireland 
to  Elizabeth  McKrell  and  on  coming  to 
this  country  settled  on  a  farm  in  Burns 
township,  Henry  county,  Illinois.  He  died 
in  October.  1899.  lea\ing  five  children, 
Hugh,  Robert,  John.  William  J.  and  Sarah 
J.  (3)  Hugh,  a  retired  farmer  of  Kewanee, 
married  Jane  Graham  and  has  five  children,. 
Henry,  Anna,  Robert,  Da\id  and  Mary. 
(4)  Robert,  a  retired  farmer  of  Cliarles 
City,  Fhiyd  county,  Iowa,  married  Belle 
Anderson,  and  they  have  eight  children, 
George,  Anna,  Hugh,  Albert,  Jennie,  David, 
William  and  Samuel.  (5)  Samuel,  a 
farmer,  who  died  in  1898,  married  Kate- 
Walker,  now  a  resident  of  Eldora,  Iowa, 
and  they  had  five  children,  Wallace,  Harry, 
William,  Charles  and  Effie.  (6)  William, 
unmarried,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war 
and  died  in  the  ser\-ice  at  Cairo,  Illinois. 
(7)  Mary  Ann  wedded  Hugh  Hawthorn, 
of  Wethersfield,  and  died  in  Galesburg,  Illi- 
nois, in  1877,  leaving  six  children.  Eliza- 
beth, Robert,  Martin  FI.,  David,  Anna  and 
James. 

Mr.  ?^Iartin,  wlmse  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  ac- 
quired   his    early   education    in    the    district 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


385 


scliools,  l)ut  in  1876  went  to  Iowa,  wliere  lie 
completed  his  studies,  returning  home  in 
1882.  He  then  commenced  farming  in 
Iiurns  township,  hut  a  year  later  removed 
to  Ciirnwall  township.  He  suhsequently 
spent  another  year  in  Burns  township,  and 
at  the  end  of  that  time  returned  to  Corn- 
wall township,  where  he  made  his  home  for 
thirteen  years.  Since  then  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Kewanee  township.  In  1894  he 
purchased  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres  in  Cornwall  township,  which 
lit  still  owns.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  is  still  engaged  in  raising  stock 
for  market,  and  as  he  thoroughly  imder- 
stands  his  chosen  calling  he  is  meeting  witli 
marked  success  in  his  undertakings. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1888,  in  Burns 
township.  Mr.  Martin  married  Miss  Sarah 
C.  Anderson.  Her  father,  David  Anderson, 
was  born  in  Ireland,  in  1818,  and  came  to 
America  with  his  parents,  locating  on  a  farm 
in  Ohio.  There  he  married  Sarah  Hen- 
derson, and  shortly  afterward  remo\-ed  to 
Wisconsin,  but  after  a  year  spent  in  that 
state  he  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and 
made  his  home  on  a  farm  in  Burns  town- 
ship throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  there  May  18,  1895.  His  widow  is 
still  residing  ujjon  that  place.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  seven  children,  namely  :  ( 1 )  ^laggie 
is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Warner,  of  Burns 
township,  and  they  have  four  children,  Burt, 
Lartie,  Margaret  and  Lowell.  (2)  George, 
a  farmer  of  Burns  township,  married  Esther 
Corkrell,  of  Kewanee,  and  they  have  two 
children,  David  and  Lolla.  (  t,)  Mamie 
died  in  1867.  (4)  Sarah  C..  wife  of  our 
subject,  is  next  in  order  of  l)irth.  (5) 
Ollie  Belle  is  the  wife  of  Ernest  Couve,  a 
farmer  of  Burns  township.  ( 6  )  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  \\'illiam  Rol)Son.  a  farmer  and  stuck 


raiser  of  Burns  township,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Wilbur.  (7)  Albert  lives  on  the  home 
farm  with  his  mother. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Grover  Cleveland,  Mr.  Martin  has  affil- 
iated with  the  Democratic  party,  but  has 
never  sought  nt)r  desired  public  office, 
though  as  a  pul)lic-spirited  and  progressive 
citizen  he  takes  a  deep  and  commendable 
interest  in  public  affairs  and  gives  his  sup- 
port to  all  enterprises  for  the  good  of  the 
community.  Airs.  Martin  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 


DANIEL     SELXER. 

Among  the  practical  and  progressive  ag- 
riculturists of  Edford  township  is  this  gen- 
tleman, who  resides  on  section  36.  He  was 
born  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the 
2ist  of  May,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
^Margaret  (Yothers)  Seiner,  both  of  whom 
were  Dunkards.  The  father,  who  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  came  to  the  L'nited 
States  at  an  early  date  and  settled  in  Bucks 
county,  Pennsyhania,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  died  in  1856,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
tv,'o  years,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  J  lis  wife,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  of  German  parentage,  sur- 
\-i\ed  him  ior  some  years,  dying  in  Bucks 
county  in  1882,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
enty-eiglit.  This  worthy  couple  were  the 
jjarents  of  seven  children,  namely:  Alary 
Ann,  deceased  wife  of  Richard  Corson,  a 
carpenter  of  Bucks  county;  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Isaac  Wolfe,  a  farmer  of  the  same  coun- 
ty :  Hiram,  a  farmer  of  Bucks  county,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  about  fifty  years;   Bar- 


386 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


iwra,  wife  of  James  Flack,  a  carpenter  and 
contractor  of  Bucks  county;  Wilhelmina, 
wife  of  Henderson  Van  Pelt,  a  farmer  of 
Maryland;  Daniel,  our  subject;  and 'Cath- 
erine, widow  of  Alfred  Boileau,  a  merchant 
of  Southampton,  Pennsylvania. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Daniel 
Seiner  attended  the  public  schools  of  Bucks 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  remained  at  the 
place  of  his  birth  until  1865.  In  the  mean- 
time the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and  he  enlisted 
in  July,  1864,  in  Company  D,  Thirty-first 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  State  ^lilitia,  and 
was  honorabh-  discharged  at  Philadelphia, 
in  July  of  that  year.  Returning  home,  he 
remained  on  the  farm  until  the  following 
spring,  and  then  came  west,  locating  in 
Geneseo  township,  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  upon  rented 
land  for  eleven  years.  His  first  purchase 
consisted  of  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section 
31,  that  township,  where  he  made  his  home 
for  nine  years,  and  then  operated  a  rented 
farm  of  eighty  acres  for  the  same  length 
of  time.  In  1894  he  bought  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  section  36,  Edford  township,  and 
to  its  development  and  cultivation  has  since 
devoted  his  energies  with  marked  success. 
He  has  made  all  the  improvements  oi:  the 
place,  and  its  neat  and  thrifty  appearance 
plainly  indicates  his  careful  supervision. 

At  Doylestown,  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Seiner 
was  married  September  19,  1864,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Annie  ^I.  Brown, 
also  a  native  of  the  Keystone  state,  and  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Maria  (Closson) 
Brown.  The  father,  who  was  a  retired 
farmer,  died  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania. 
To  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Seiner  were  born  three 
children,  namely:  Jennie,  born  in  Osco 
township,  this  county,  is  now  the  wife  of 
Frank  L.    Butler,    who   is   engaged   in    the 


creamery  and  poultry  business  in  Geneseo. 
Kate  married  William  Frank,  of  Geneseo, 
a  son  of  Jacob  Frank,  and  is  now  a  farmer 
of  Alabama,  and  she  died  leaving  one  child, 
Leonard  Ray,  who  resides  with  our  subject. 
Arthur  Bertram,  born  in  Geneseo  township, 
is  now  twenty-four  years  of  age  and  assists 
his  father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm. 


JAMES  S.  HADSALL. 

Burns  township  has  no  more  honored 
or  highly  esteemed  citizen  than  James  S. 
Hadsall,  whose  home  is  on  section  34.  He 
was  born  in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania, 
September  26,  1822.  His  ancestry  were 
of  English  descent  and  among  the  very 
earliest  settlers  of  the  Wyoming  valley, 
owning  a  large  tract  of  land  at  the  mouth 
of  Sutton's  creek,  four  miles  up  the  Susc|ue- 
hanna  river  from  the  head  of  the  \\'yoming 
valley.  There  his  great-grandfather,  to- 
gether with  his  negro  servant,  was  killed  by 
the  Indians  while  hoeing  corn,  in  177.6,  the 
da\'  before  the  Wyoming  massacre.  His 
brothers,  Stephen  and  John  Hadsall,  were 
serving  in  the  Colonial  army  and  were  then 
located  at  Wyoming,  where  they  were  cap- 
tured by  the  Indians,  but  their  lives  were 
saved  by  reprie\'e.  To  Stephen  was  al- 
l()tted  the  task  of  carrying  a  keg  of  paint 
to  Connecticut,  it  being  used  to  paint  the 
reprieved  prisoners  every  morning. 

Edward  Hadsall,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  removed  from  Connecticut  to  the 
\\'yoming  valley  prior  to  the  massacre,  but 
fortunately  was  away  when  that  terrible 
crime  was  committed,  having  gone  to  Xew 
England  for  some  cattle.  Subsequently  he 
returned  and  made  his  home  on  the  original 


J.   S.   HADSALL. 


UNIVERSlit  OF  ILLiNOiS 
URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


389 


Hadsall  farm  at  the  iiioutli  nf  Suttmi's 
creek  until  1803,  when  he  sold  his  jJrDperty 
there  an<l  with  other  members  of  the  family 
removeil  to  ]\rartiiisville,  Oliio,  jitst  across 
the  ri\er  from  W'heeliiii;'.  where  lie  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  twice 
married  and  reared  a  lar^e  family.  By  his 
lirst  union  he  had  three  sons:  James,  Ed- 
ward and  lienjamin.  Tiie  latter  came  west 
a!  an  early  day  and  built  the  tirst  tavern  in 
Rock  Island,  Illinois,  at  which  place  he  later 
erecteil  a  large  hotel.  By  profession  he  was 
a  physician.  After  his  wife's  death  he  went 
to  Calil\)rnia  and  there  died. 

James  Hadsall,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  E.xeter  township,  Pennsylvania, 
^ larch  _'0,  1787,  and  spent  his  early  life  in 
the  Wyoming  valley,  ^\'hen  his  father  re- 
mo\-ed  to  Ohio,  he  remained  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, being  engaged  in  farming  in  Luzerne 
county.  On  the  4th  of  February,  1810,  he 
niarried  ]\liss  Elizabeth  Smith,  who  w-as 
born  in  Connecticut,  December  29,  I795> 
and  died  in  1885.  His  death  occurred  the 
same  year.  All  of  their  fourteen  children 
w  ere  born  in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania. 
The  tW'O  eldest  died  in  infancy.  Edward, 
born  January  26,  1813,  married  Jane  Dia- 
mond, of  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  1856  removed  to  Michigan,  where 
he  now  resides. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  James  S. 
Hadsall  grew  to  manhood,  and  after  com- 
pleting bis  education  in  the  local  schools  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  i8y6.  In  1852  he  first  canie 
to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  entered  the 
Miuthwest  quarter  of  section  34,  Burns 
township,  but  spent  the  following  four 
years  in  Pennsylvania,  locating  permanently 
here  in  1856.  In  connection  with  farming 
he  has  engaged  in  contracting  and  building, 


and  has  also  operated  a  coal  bank  located  on 
the  southern  part  of  his  farm.  He  first  dis- 
covered coal  and  opened  up  his  first  bank  in 
1857,  since  which  time  he  has  worked  the 
mines,  and  at  times  has  employed  as  many 
as  twenty  men.  He  has  done  a  large  amount 
of  building  in  liurns  and  adjoining  town- 
ships, as  well  as  in  .\el)raska  and  L.nva,  and 
has  built  many  bridges  in  this  and  other 
It.icalities.  This  w  as  bis  principal  occupation 
during  the  summer  months,  during  which 
time  he  emjjloyed  from  four  to  eight  men. 
He  has  thoroughly  improved  the  home  farm, 
and  also  owned  a  farm  in  Saunders  county, 
Xebraska,  that  he  later  gave  to  his  daughter. 

Mr.  Hadsall  was  married  January  13, 
1848,  in  New  Trov,  now  Wyoming,  Penn- 
sylvania, to  Miss  Malinda  Brace,  wdiose 
parents,  William  rmd  Anna  (Munson) 
Brace,  were  natives  of  New  York  state. 
l-"ive  children  were  born  to  this  imion :  ]Me- 
dora,  who  died  in  infancy;  Anna  E.,  wife  of 
Edgar  Kimerling,  of  Xebraska;  Henry, 
who  was  born  September  2t„  1855,  and  was 
killed  by  falling  from  a  Iniilding  December 
3,  1882;  one  who  died  in  infancy;  and 
Smith,  a  farmer  of  Burns  township,  wdio 
was  born  September  12,  i860,  and  married 
Julia  Zeigler,  of  Kewanee. 

During  the  Civil  war  ^Ir.  Hadsall  en- 
listed in  the  spring  of  1864,  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  being  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  at  Chicago.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is  also  connected 
with  the  ^Masonic  fraternity.  •  He  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Henry  Clay  and 
supported  the  \\'big  party  until  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party,  with  which 
he  has  since  been  identified.     Since  coming 


39° 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  Henry  ccmiity  he  l.as  taken  an  active  and 
prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  and  has 
been  honored  with  several  local  offices,  hav- 
ing served  as  school  trustee  and  director 
and  commissioner  of  highways.  In  i860 
he  was  first  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
which  position  he  creditably  filled  for  six- 
teen years  and  then  declined  to  longer 
serve.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
Hawley,  June  16,  1879.  and  filled  the  office 
for  the  long  period  of  twenty-two  3'ears  to 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.    . 


AUGUST  WALTERS. 

Residing  on  section  2,  Burns  township, 
is  one  of  the  representative  German- Ameri- 
can citizens  of  Henry  count}-.  He  was  born 
in  Prussia,  Germany,  on  the  2d  of  October, 
1824,  his  parents  being  Martin  and  Hannah 
(\\'ithaus)  Walters,  also  natives  of  Prussia, 
where  they  spent  their  entire  li\es.  In  their 
family  were  five  children.  Our  subject  had 
one  brother  who  came  to  America  but  after- 
ward returned  to  the  fatherland,  and  a  sister 
who  became  a  resident  of  Michigan,  where 
her  death  occurred. 

During  his  boyhood  Air.  \\'alters  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  his  native  land, 
and  continued  to  live  in  the  land  of  his  birth 
until  after  reaching  man's  estate.  There 
he  was  married  March  31,  1850,  to  Miss  Au- 
gusta \\'olgost.  who  was  also  born  in  Prus- 
sia, July  16,  1825.  In  1857  *^'^^3'  came  to  the 
United  States,  taking  passage  at  Bremen  on 
the  Augusta,  which  after  a  pleasant  voyage 
of  six  weeks  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of 
New  York.  By  way  of  Chicago  Mr.  \\'al- 
ters  came  direct  to  Kewanee,  Illinois,  where 
he  was   employed    at   general    labor    for     a 


time.  In  1861  he  made  his  first  purchase  of 
land,  but  the  tract  was  unbroken  and  covered 
with  brush;  four  year  later  he  added  to  it 
forty  acres  of  timber  land.  He  cleared  and 
placed  under  cultivation  the  entire  tract  witlj 
exception  of  five  acres,  and  in  1869  traded 
it  for  eightv  acres  of  improved  land  on  sec- 
tion 3,  Burns  township,  to  which  he  subse- 
quently added  another  eight}'  acres  on  sec- 
tion 2.  He  still  owns  the  latter  tract  and  to 
its  cultivation  and  further  improvement  is 
now  devoting  his  time  and  attention.  He  is 
also  engaged  in  stock  raising. 

]\Ir.  and  ]\Irs.  Walters  became  the  par- 
ents of  six  children :  August  F.,  born  in 
Germany,  Feliruary  20,  1851,  married  Hel- 
ena Spengel  and  is  engaged  in  farming;  two 
others,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Ger- 
many, died  in  infancy;  Amelia,  born  in  Ke- 
wanee, Illinois,  November  18.  1858,  is  the 
wife  of  W.  F.  Berg,  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  a  farmer  of  Burns  township,  living 
with  our  subject;  they  have  three  children. 
Carl,  Hulda  and  ^^'illian■l;  Carl,  born  Oc- 
tober 2,  i860,  died  from  the  eff'ects  of  a 
sunstroke  and  was  buried  in  Cosner  ceme- 
tery ;  and  Lizzie  died  in  Kewanee  and  was 
buried  at  \\'ethersfield. 

Politically  Mr.  ^^'alters  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  for  two  years  he 
capably  filled  the  cfiice  of  pathmaster  in  his 
township.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife  are 
Ijoth  members  of  the  Gerinan  Lutheran 
Church,  and  are  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed 1.1V  all  who  kn<nv  them. 


:\IRS.  JULI.V  E.   DUNHAM. 

One  of  the  well-known  and  highlv  es- 
teemed ladies  of  Geneseo,  Illinois,  is  Mrs. 
Julia  E.  Dunham,  who  was  born  in  Char- 
don.    Ohio,    December    8,    iS^;,    and    is    a 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


39' 


I'uUighter  of  Erastus  and  Xaiicy  (  DiinniDck) 
Foot,  botli  natives  of  Stafifonl.  Connecti- 
cut, tlie  former  born  July  ^5,  1794.  the  lat- 
ter August  15.  1801.  Her  maternal  grand- 
father. Amzi  Dimmock,  was  chajjlain  of  a 
regiment  in  Washington's  army  dtning  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  returned  to  his  home 
bare-footed  and  penniless  when  hostilities 
ceased.  Mrs.  Dunham's  parents  were  mar- 
ried at  their  birth  place.  June  10.  iSji.  and 
eight  children  blessed  their  union,  namely: 
Eliza  X.  married  James  Current,  and  died 
on  Christmas  day.  1870,  in  I'ainesville. 
Ohio.  Her  liusband  died  in  Cle\eland.  that 
P  state.  His  son  Warren  is  now  chief  clerk 
in  the  United  States  railway  jwstal  service. 
Sophronia  M.  married  Daniel  Warner,  and 
died  in  Osco  township,  while  here  on  a  visit, 
October  20,  1888,  having  survived  her  hus- 
band some  years.  Francis  E.  married  Har- 
riet Eldridge  and  lives  in  Munson.  Ohio. 
Martha  J.  married  Harding  Stoughton  and 
died  in  Osco,  this  county,  in  1892,  while 
her  husband  died  in  1890.  Wealthy  C.  is 
the  wife  of  John  Folder,  of  Rock  Creek, 
Ohio.  Cyrus  S.  married  Catherine  Potter, 
now  a  resident  of  ^lenlow,  Iowa,  and  he 
was  killed  by  a  cannon  ball  at  the  battle  of 
Knoxville,  Tennessee,  November  18,  1863. 
Julia  E.  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years. 
Julia  E.   (second)  completes  the  family. 

Reared  in  Chardon,  Ohio,  Mrs.  Dun- 
ham acquired  her  education  in  its  public 
schools.  On  the  i8th  of  August,  1863,  she 
gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Addison  A. 
Dunham,  who  was  a  native  of  Union  City, 
Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  was  born 
February  5,  1844,  a  son  of  George  and  Cath- 
erine (Wilson)  Dunham,  natives  of  the 
Buckeye  state.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of 
eight  children,  the  others  being  Sidney,  a 
resident     of     Union     Citv.    PennsvKania; 


Adolphus.  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years ;  Charles,  an  oil  merchant  of  Sisters- 
ville.  Ohio;  Samuel,  a  resident  of  the  same- 
place;  Henry,  of  Warren,  Pennsylvania; 
\\'illiam,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years; 
and  Lilly,  wife  of  Frank  Zinn,  Sistersville, 
Ohio. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Dunham  en- 
listed at  L^nion  City,  Erie  county,  Pennsyl- 
A'ania.  in  Company  L.  Twelfth  IV-nnsyhanin 
C'avalry,  and  was  discharged  at  Piiiladel- 
pbia,  June  20,  1862,  on  account  of  disabil- 
itv.  He  never  recovered  from  the  effects  of 
h.is  military  service,  and  died  February  24,, 
1 87 1,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years,  from 
illness  contracted  shortly  after  his  enlist- 
ment. He  was  engaged  in  the  Hour  and 
feed  business  in  Union  City.  He  was  rive- 
feet,  seven  and  a  half  inches  in  heigiit.  and 
of  dark  complexion,  gray  eyes  and  dark  hair, 
and  as  a  man  was  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all  who  knew  him. 

In  1871,  after  her  husband's  death,  Mrs. 
Dunham  same  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and 
located  on  a  farm  in  Osco  township,  where, 
she  made  her  home  until  1890.  Since  then 
she  has  resided  in  (ieneseo.  In  the  man- 
agement of  her  affairs  she  has  displayed 
excellent  business  and  executi\e  ability,  ruid 
those  won-ianly  qualities  which  have  en- 
deared her  to  all.  She  is  a  member  of  Col- 
onel Galligan  Circle  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  and  is  an  active  and  faithful 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  Aid  Societ}'. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunham  were  born 
three  children,  namely :  (,  i )  William,  born 
November  11,  1864,  died  January  22.  1896. 
(2)  Warren,  born  September  26,  1866,  is 
a  farmer  of  Geneseo  township,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  Eutopia  Lodge,  No  312.  K.  P..  of 
Geneseo.     He  was  married  laiuiarv  2,  1N94- 


392 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  iliss  Lotta  Lewis,  who  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 12.  1873,  ^"t'  is  the  only  child  of 
Aliram  and  !Mary  (Reese)  Lewis,  natives  of 
01ii(i  and  Illinois,  respectively.  By  this 
union  tliere  are  two  children :  Blanch,  born 
February  i.  1895.  and  \\'illiam.  bom  Oc- 
tober 6,  1899.  (3)  Nettie,  the  youngest 
child  of  our  subject,  was  lx>rn  November  7. 
1870,  and  died  ^lay  15.  1871. 


ELIJAH  STOREY. 

The  stock  raising  interests  of  Henr\' 
county  find  in  Mr.  Storey  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative. He  has  owned  some  of  the  most 
noted  animals  in  this  section  of  the  state, 
and  in  his  chosen  line  of  occupation  has  been 
eminently  successful.  He  was  born  in  Ke- 
wanee  on  the  29th  of  October,  1851,  and 
belongs  to  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  fam- 
ilies of  the  county.  His  father,  janus  Sto- 
rey, was  born  in  Oneida  county.  New  York. 
jMarch  18,  1828,  and  attended  the  common 
schools  of  that  locality.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
years  he  removed  to  Canada  with  his  par- 
ents, Elijah  and  Louise  (^Vheeler)  Storey, 
also  natives  of  Oneida  county,  New  York. 
While  in  Canada  the  father  of  our  subject 
worked  for  a  man  who  was  in  the  emplo}-  of 
the  English  government  as  Indian  agent  and 
trader,  and  remained  with  him  until  se\en- 
teen  years  of  age.  Two  years  later  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  reaching  Ke- 
v.-anee  on  the  23d  of  July.  1S47.  Here  his 
father  died  in  1850,  and  his  mother  passed 
away  soon  afterwards.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Dutchess  county.  New  York,  and 
spent  their  lives  in  that  state.  The  paternal 
greatgrandparents  of  our  subject  were  also 
born  in  this  country. 

On  coming  to  Henry  county,  Jarius 
Storey  entered  forty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 


tion 4,  Kewanee  township,  and  later  entered 
two  other  forty-acre  tracts.  At  that  time 
there  was  not  a  single  building  on  the  present 
site  of  Kewanee,  it  being  covered  with  tall 
prairie  grass.  A  few  Indians  were  still  en- 
camped here,  and  deer  and  other  wild  game 
was  plentiful.  About  four  times  a  year  i[r. 
Storey  would  go  either  to  Peru  or  La  Salle, 
on  the  Illinois  river,  to  obtain  provisions, 
these  being  the  nearest  market  places  at  that 
time.  In  those  early  days  he  cut  all  his  grain 
with  a  cradle  and  threshed  it  with  a  flail. 
Throughout  life  he  has  successfully  engaged 
in  farming  and  is  still  living  on  the  land 
which  he  entered  from  the  government.  He 
was  married  in  Kewanee,  in  1850,  to  ^Miss 
Nancy  Dingman,  who  was  born  in  Canada, 
and  came  to  this  county  with  her  parents  in 
1849.  They  were  also  natives  of  that  coun- 
try and  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Storey  was  seventh  in  order  of  birth.  The 
others  were  as  follows :  ( i )  Mary,  wedded 
James  Bradford,  a  blacksmith  of  Annawan, 
who  during  the  Civil  war  enlisted  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  T went}'- fourth  Illinois 
Regiment,  but  was  confined  in  the  hospital 
at  Indianapolis  during  the  most  of  his  ser- 
vice. He  and  his  wife  died,  leaving  three 
children,  Lucy,  Lovina  and  Josephus.  (2) 
David,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  married 
Mary  Showers,  of  Kewanee,  and  moved  to 
Kansas,  where  both  died,  leaving  a  family. 
(3)  William  married  a  Miss  Hodge,  and 
they  died,  leaving  four  children  who  arc 
residents  of  Dayton,  Iowa.  (4)  Joseph 
married  Jane  Rockey  and  lived  in  Kewanee 
when  the  Civil  war  broke  out.  In  1864  he 
enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
fourth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  wounded 
during  Morgan's  raid.  After  the  war  he 
removed  to  Kansas,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  his  death.     He  left  three  chil- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


393 


dren.  (.5)  Jennette  married  George  Min- 
ord  and  they  died,  leaving-  nine  children, 
who  reside  in  Iowa.  (6)  Margaret  wedded 
George  Mesker,  and  at  their  deaths  they  left 
four  children,  IMerritt,  Hattie,  Elizabeth 
and  George,  residents  of  Kewanee.  (7) 
Nancy  was  the  mother  of  our  subject.  (8) 
Eliza  married  James  McXeal  and  they  died, 
leaving  two  children,  \\'illiam  and  John,  of 
Alba  township.  (9)  James  and  his  wife 
died  in  Iowa  leaving  no  family.  (10)  Law- 
rence was  married  in  Abingdon,  lllino'S, 
and  at  his  death  left  a  family.  He  was  a 
contractor  and  was  killed  in  the  erection  of 
a  building,  (ii)  Frank  enlisted  in  1861 
in  Company  I,  Twenty-seventh  Illinois  In- 
fantry, was  wounded  in  the  battles  of  Look- 
out Mountain  and  Chattanooga,  and  was 
mustered  out  in  1865.  He  first  married  Hat- 
tie  Aikens  and,  second,  Ella  Kelsey,  and  with 
liis  family  now  resides  in  Iowa.  !Mrs.  Xancy 
Storey,  who  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  died  December  30,  1865, 
and  was  buried  on  the  ist  of  January,  1866. 
Elijah,  our  subject,  was  the  oldest  of  her 
seven  children.  David  L.,  born  in  1853, 
died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years;  Josephus 
died  at  the  age  of  four  months;  and  three 
died  in  infancy.  Jane,  born  in  1861,  is  the 
wife  of  Geoge  Ditto,  of  Keithsburg,  Iowa, 
and  they  have  tiiree  children  living,  Dora, 
Jarius  and  Laura  Pearl,  and  one  deceased, 
Ray.  The  father  was  again  married  April 
25,  1867,  his  second  union  being  with  Eliz- 
abeth Swyhart,  whose  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Ohio.  By  this  union  two  children 
were  born,  but  the  older  died  at  the  age  of 
two  months.  Tessa,  born  October  4,  1872, 
is  with  her  parents.  Since  casting  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  he 
has  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  served  as  overseer  of  high- 


ways and  school  director  for  a  number  of 
years,  but  has  never  sought  office.  He  is 
one  of  the  honored  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  his  conniuniity. 

Since  attaining  man's  estate  Elijah 
Storey,  of  this  review,  has  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  and  now  successfully 
operates  eighty-five  acres  of  land,  but  he 
gives  especial  attention  to  the  other  branch 
of  his  business  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  mosr 
extensive  stock  raisers  of  Illinois.  The  first 
colt  he  raised  won  first  premium  at  Cam- 
bridge in  1876  and  afterward  won  pre- 
miums wherever  shown  for  the  four  years. 
He  owned  the  French  draft  horse,  Sultan, 
who  was  also  shown  at  four  county  fairs 
and  won  first  and  sweepstakes  at  each  exhi- 
bition, and  won  first  prize  for  two  succes- 
sive years  at  the  Illinois  state  fair.  He  was 
then  sold  to  a  party  in  Iowa.  His  next 
horse,  Arimus,  a  Percheron,  won  twenty- 
four  first  prizes  in  Henr}-  county,  and  also 
won  prizes  at  the  state  fairs.  He  now  owns 
a  French  coach  stallion,  L'rbin,  which  won 
first  premium  and  a  gold  medal  in  his  class 
at  the  World's  fair  in  1893.  ^Ir.  Storey 
owned  the  celebrated  horse,  \'oltaire,  also  a 
prize  winner,  being  considered  the  best 
horse  in  his  class  in  the  state.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  breeding  Percheron,  Clydesdale 
and  French  coach  horses,  and  also  registered 
cattle  and  hogs.  He  thoroughly  under- 
stands his  business,  and  the  success  that 
has  crowned  his  well-directed  efforts  is  cer- 
tainly justly  merited. 

On  the  27th  of  February.  1872,  Mr. 
Storey  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lavina  ^IcClennan,  who  was  born  in  Ken- 
dall county,  Illinois,  September  2^,  1852.  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Resinda  I,  Call  j  Mc- 
Clennan.  Her  father  was  born  in  Xiagara 
county,  Xew  York,  September  5.  1820.  antl 


394 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


■came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  in  1855.  lo- 
cating first  in  Annawan,  and  later  removing 
to  Alba  township.  He  died  December  9, 
1898.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Canada, 
November  _'_>,  1820.  died  December  29. 
i860.  They  were  married  August  29.  1844. 
and  became  the  parents  of  four  children, 
namely :  George,  the  eldest,  died  in  infancy. 
John  married  Retta  Blake  and  lived  for  a 
time  in  Alba  to\vnshi|j.  and  then  removed 
to  Iowa,  where  she  dietl.  Of  their  four 
children,  two  are  now  deceased.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  ]\Irs.  Sabina  Ben- 
son, and  they  now  live  in  Ruthven,  Palo 
Alto  county,  Iowa.  Lavina  is  the  wife  of 
our  subject.  Ella  married  George  Andrews. 
^vho  died  November  9,  1899,  and  she  has 
since  married  Chris  Jorgensen,  of  Pipestone, 
Minnesota.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Storey  were 
born  five  children,  namely:  Nellie,  born 
September  19,  1874,  died  October  5,  1875; 
Jarius  L.,  born  July  12,  1876,  Clarence  L., 
born  October  7,  1882,  are  all  at  home,  with 
exception  of  Ida,  who  stays  with  her  grand- 
parents much  of  the  time,  being  a  great  fa- 
vorite with  them.  Politically  ]Mr.  Storey  is 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party, 
.and  religiously  is  an  active  and  prominent 
m-ember  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and 
is  now  serving  as  trustee  and  steward  of 
the  parsonage  and  church. 


JONAS  WESTERLUND. 

A  brilliant  example  of  a  self-made 
American  citizen  and  a  grand  exemplifica- 
tion of  the  progress  that  an  ambitious  for- 
eigner can  make  in  this  country  of  unbound- 
ed opportunities,  is    shown    in  the    case  of 


Jonas  Westerlund.  who  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  Orion.  Success  in  any  walk  of 
life  is  an  indication  of  earnest  endeavor  and 
persevering  effort — characteristics  that  he 
possesses  in  an  eminent  degree. 

Mr.  Westerlund  was  born  in  Hasela, 
North  Hilsingland,  Gafleburgsland,  Swe- 
den, March  31,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Eric 
Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Johnson)  Wester- 
lund. botli  of  whom  were  natives  of  Swe- 
den, the  father  horn  in  1801.  In  1850,  the 
family  sailed  for  the  new  world,  and  after 
spending  a  year  or  two  in  Andover,  the 
father  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Lynn  township,  which  he  improved  and 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  in  1867.  He  was  one  of  the  early 
members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Churcli 
in  Andover,  uniting  with  it  on  his  arri\al  in 
the  county. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm 
in  liis  native  land,  and  there  attended  school 
but  his  educational  advantages  were  very 
limited,  and  his  knowledge  of  English  has 
been  acquired  through  his  own  unaided  ef- 
forts since  coming  to  this  country.  In  1850. 
with  the  other  members  of  his  father's  fam- 
ily, he  took  passage  on  the  Oden,  a  sailing 
vessel,  which  was  eleven  weeks  and  three 
days  in  crossing  the  ocean.  The}-  exper- 
ienced some  very  severe  storms,  during 
which  the  masts,  railings  and  nearly  every- 
thing on  deck  was  washed  overboard.  The 
captain,  who  was  an  old  sailor,  said  that  he 
had  never  seen  as  rough  a  sea  or  as  bad 
a  storm,  and  Mr.  Westerlund  says  that  he 
would  not  have  returned  to  his  native  land 
ii\  such  a  storm  for  all  Sweden.  His  mother 
and  one  sister  died  during  the  voyage  and 
were  buried  at  sea.  On  reaching  New  York 
the  remainder  of  the  family  proceeded  at 
once  to  Illinois  bv  wav  of  the  Hudson  river 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


395 


to  Albany;  hy  railroail  to  Buffalo;  by  the 
Great  Lakes  to  Chicago;  by  canal  to  Peru, 
Illinois;  and  by  team  to  Andover.  Our 
subject,  however,  walked  from  Peru  to  his 
new  home  in  this  county,  arriving  here  the 
middle  of  November,  1850.  On  the  way 
his  father's  brother,  Andrew  W'esterlund. 
was  killed  while  crossing  the  bridge  at 
Princeton.  Illinois. 

For  a  year  Jonas  Wcsterlund  worked 
as  a  farm  hand  in  this  county,  and  in  the  fall 
of  185 1,  went  to  Minensota,  where  he  was 
employed  in  the  pineries,  sawmills  and  on 
the  river  for  five  years,  during  which  period 
he  visited  the  family  in  Henry  county  thre>.' 
or  four  time.  He  ran  numerous  rafts  of 
logs  and  lumber  down  the  river  to  St.  Louis 
during  which  time  he  would  call  at  home. 
In  1854  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land, 
consisting  of  eighty  acres  of  wild  prairie 
on  section  2,  Lynn  township,  which  he  hired 
broken  and  which  he  leased  until  his  return 
to  the  county  in  1856,  when  he  took  up  his 
residence  thereon  and  turned  his  attention 
to  farming.  Prospering  in  this  undertak- 
ing he  was  able  to  add  to  his  property  fmm 
time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  four  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  ricli  and  arable  land. 
upon  which  he  has  erected  a  large  frame 
house,  good  barns  and  other  outbuildings. 
set  out  one  of  the  early  orchards,  and  ma(L* 
many  other  improvements  which  add  great- 
ly to  the  value  and  attractive  appearance  of 
the  place.  Since  1895,  however,  he  has 
rented  his  farm  and  has  lived  a  retired  life 
in  Orion,  where  he  owns  a  good  residence 
and  where,  surrounded  b'-  all  the  comforts 
of  life,  he  is  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest. 

While  in  Minnesota,  Mir.  Westerlund 
was  married,  in  1856,  to  Miss  Ellen  Nelson, 
who  was  born  in  Skona,  Snoarp  Brobyso- 
ken,     Gynehard,     Christiansladt,     Sweden. 


December  23,  1835,  and  daughter  of  Nels 
Olsen  and  his  wife,  Manuel  E.  Peterson, 
who  died  in  Sweden.  With  two  brothers 
she  came  to  Minnesota  in  1853,  locating  in 
Stillwater,  which  was  her  home  until  her 
marriage.  By  this  union  were  born  five 
children,  who  are  still  li\ing:  Lizzie,  wife 
of  John  W.  Anderson,  of  Dayton,  Iowa; 
Neils  Hennings,  a  farmer ;  John  Edwartl,  a 
farmer  of  Lynn  township;  Joseph  E.,  a 
practicing  physician  of  Cambridge;  and 
Luther,  who  operates  his  father's  farm.  Two 
sons  died;  Charles  died  shortly  after  his 
marriage;  and  Nathan  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years. 

When  the  family  first  located  in  Henry 
county,  labor  was  cheap,  and  a  man  could 
earn  but  twenty-five  to  fifty  cents  a  day, 
and  that  usually  had  to  be  taken  in  "store 
pay,"  the  party  receiving  an  order  on  a 
store  for  the  amount.  On  one  occasion,  the 
family  needing  some  groceries,  Mr.  Wes- 
terlund started  for  Rock  Island,  the  near- 
est trading  point,  with  twenty  bushels  of  com 
on  the  ear,  which  he  sold  for  nine  cents  a 
bushel.  He  had  to  pay  twenty  cents  toll 
across  Rock  river,  and  a  storm  coming  up 
he  had  to  remain  all  night  in  Rock  Island. 
When  he  i)aid  for  his  meals  and  lodgings  he 
liad  but  twenty-five  cents  left,  and  that  he 
spent  for  tobacco.  Returning  home,  he 
again  loaded  his  wagon  with  corn,  and  this 
time  met  with  better  success,  as  he  sold  it 
promptly  and  was  enabled  to  return  home 
the  same  night  with  the  much  needed 
groceries. 

Politically  Mr.  Westerlund  was  origi- 
nally a  Whig  and  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Millard  Fillmore  in  1856,  in  Min- 
nesota, but  four  years  later  he  supported 
.Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  presidency,  and 
has    since    been    a    stanch    Republican,  but 


396 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


never  an  office  seeker.  However,  he  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  educational  af- 
fairs and  was  a  member  of  the  school  board 
for  several  years,  during-  which  time  he  did 
much  to  secure  better  schools  and  compe- 
tent teachers.  He  has  also  served  as  com- 
missioner of  highways,  and  in  the  discharge 
of  his  public  duties  has  displayed  the  same 
fidelity  that  has  ever  marked  his  private  life. 
He  and  his  wife  are  active  and  earnest 
members  of  the  Evangelical  Swedish  Lu- 
theran Church,  ha\ing  been  reared  in  that 
faith,  and  are  among  the  most  highly  re- 
spected and  esteemed  citizens  of  their  com- 
munity. His  remarkable  success  in  life,  is 
due  to  his  own  energy  and  capable  man- 
agement, and  his  career  has  ever  been  such 
as  to  win  for  him  the  confidence  and  high 
regard  of  those  witli  whom  he  has  been 
brought  in  contact. 


JULIUS   CHARLET. 

This  prominent  and  influential  agricul- 
turist residing  on  section  lo,  Burns  town- 
ship, Henry  county,  Illinois,  was  born  on  the 
25th  of  July,  1839,  in  Klein  Ziethen,  a 
small  \illage  of  Germany,  not  far  from  Ber- 
lin, and  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Dorothy 
Charlet,  also  natives  of  that  country,  where 
the  father  died  in  1848.  In  1856  the  mother 
came  to  America,  bringing  the  family  with 
her.  She  had  six  children,  fom-  sons  and 
two  daughters,  namely :  John,  now  de- 
ceased; August,  who  is  represented  on  an- 
other page  of  this  \olume;  Dorothy,  de- 
ceased; Julius,  our  subject;  William,  de- 
ceased; and  Louisa,  widow  of  Oscar  Fischer 
and  a  resident  of  Burns  township,  whose 
sketch  also  appears  in  this  work. 


Julius  Charlet  was  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  he  came  with  the  family  to  this  coun- 
try and  became  a  resilient  of  Henry  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  was  employed  at  general 
labor  until  after  the  Civil  war  broke  out. 
Feeling  that  his  adopted  country  needed  his 
services  he  enlisted  at  Kewanee  in  1862,  in 
Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
fourth  Illinois  Vohuiteer  Infantry,  under 
Captain  M.  B.  Potter.  The  regiment  was 
organized  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  saw 
considerable  active  service.  Mr.  Charlet 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Port  Gib- 
son, Raymond,  Jackson,  Champion  Hills, 
Brownsville,  Chunkey  Station,  Benton, 
Jackson  Cross  Roads  and  the  siege  of  Span- 
ish Fort.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Vicksburg,  and  after  three  years  of  faithful 
service  on  southern  battlefields  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged  and  returned  to  Kewanee. 

In  1866  Mr.  Charlet  married  Miss  Au- 
gusta Couve,  a  native  of  Prussia,  Germany, 
and  a  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Ouart ) 
Couve,  who  were  also  born  in  that  country 
and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1855,  lo- 
cating in  Wethersfield,  this  county.  She' 
was  one  of  a  family  of  five  children.  Of  the 
eight  children  born  to  ^Mr.  and  Mrs.  Char- 
let, five  are  still  living,  namely:  William; 
Edward,  who  married  Louisa  Lehman; 
Lena,  wife  of  Gustaft'  Gutchlag;  Bernard; 
and  Leonora. 

After  his  marriage  ^Ir.  Charlet  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  near  Kewanee  until  1871, 
and  then  purchased  eighty  acres  of  his 
present  farm  on  section  10,  Burns  township, 
the  boundaries  of  which  he  has  since  ex- 
tended until  they  now  enclose  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  acres  of  well  improved  land. 
Flaving  mastered  the  carpenter's  trade  he 
has  done  considerable  work  along  that  line 
in  connection  with  farmiup-. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


397 


Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charlet  arc 
members  of  the  Christian  Science  Church ; 
socially  he  is  an  honored  member  of  Kewa- 
nee  Post  G.  A.  R.  His  political  support  is 
given  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republi- 
can part}-,  and  he  has  taken  (|uite  an  active 
and  prominent  part  in  local  politics.  For 
four  years  he  acceptably  served  as  supervisor 
of  his  township,  and  has  filled  the  office  of 
school  director  for  fifteen  years  in  a  capable 
and  satisfactorv  manner. 


WILLIS  F.  EVANS. 

Among"  Henr}-  county's  native  sons  none 
have  been  more  prominently  identified  with 
her  agricultural  interests  than  Willis  V. 
E\ans,  who  was  born  I\Iay  jo,  18O5,  on  the 
old  homestead  on  section  jo,  Pheni.K  town- 
ship, where  he  now  resides,  liis  parents  be- 
ing Thomas  and  Christnia  (liorshmanji 
Evans.  His  father  was  also  a  native  of  this 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Phenix 
township  on  the  14th  of  October,  iS4_'. 
During  his  minority  he  remained  upon  the 
farm  where  he  was  born,  and  then  purchased 
the  place  now  occupied  by  our  subject.  His 
first  purchase  consisted  of  ninety-six  acres, 
on  which  he  built  a  large  and  substantial 
farm  hou.se  and  other  buildings.  He  placed 
his  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
continued  to  successfully  engage  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
on  the  home  farm  November  22,  1891,  after 
a  long  illness.  He  always  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising  and  took 
great  pride  in  making  his  place  one  of  the 
model  farms  of  the  couiity.  In  his  political 
views  he  was  a  Republican,  and  for  three 
years  he  capably  filled  the  office  of  highway 


commissioner,  but  never  cared  for  political 
preferment.  In  early  life  he  was  a  supporter 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  but  afterward  at- 
tended the  United  Evangelical  Church,  and 
always  led  an  upright,  honorable  Christia:?, 
life.  His  wife  died  on  the  _'7th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1886.  They  were  married  in  (ieneseo 
and  became  the  parents  of  four  children, 
of  whom  Willis  F.,  is  the  oldest,  the  others 
being  Alta  M.,  now  a  resident  of  Kansas; 
Charles,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years;  and  Thomas  M.,  who  is  employed  in 
a  cannery  at  Washington. 

Willis  F.  Evans  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  upon  the  home  farm  and 
under  his  father's  able  direction  actjuired  an 
excellent  knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits, 
which  now  numbers  him  among  the  most 
thorough  and  skilled  farmers  of  his  commu- 
nity. In  the  winter  of  i8yo,  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Phenix  township  to  Miss  Cora  E. 
Siebcn,  a  daughter  of  Valentine  and  Caro- 
line (Butzer)  Sieben.  The  father  was  boru 
in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  October 
14,  1839,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Aboline  Sie- 
ben, and  came  with  his  family  to  the  United 
States  in  1852.  The  parents  located  in 
Whiteside  county.  Illinois,  but  he  came  to 
Henry  county,  where  he  obtained  work  as 
a  farm  hand,  being  thus  employed  until  his 
marriage  July  10,  i860.  Later  he  engaged 
in  breaking  prairie  and  threshing,  he  and 
his  brother-in-law,  Jacob  Butzer,  buying  a 
threshing  machine  together  in  1862.  The 
following  year  he  purchased  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  on  section  3,  Phenix  township, 
where  he  continued  to  make  his  home  until 
(*allcd  from  this  life  in  1886.  His  wife 
sur\i\ed  him  for  a  number  of  years  and  at 
the  time  of  her  death,  which  occurred  in 
1898,  was  living  in  Geneseo.  She  was  a 
native  of  this  county,    anil    a  daughter    of 


398 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


George  Frederick  Butzer,  one  of  its  pioneer 
settlers.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sieben  were  George,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  years ;  Fred  ;  Annie ;  Ella ;  Cora  E. : 
Frank;  and  two  wlio  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
and  ^Irs.  Evans  have  one  child,  Glenn  L., 
born  on  the  old  homestead,  September  15. 
1894. 

As  a  Repnblican  'Sh.  Evans  takes  quite 
an  active  and  prominent  part  in  local  poli- 
tics, and  has  held  die  office  of  collector  two 
years;  assessor  of  Phenix  township  for  five 
years;  and  at  present  is  a  school  trustee. 
which  position  he  has  filled  most  creditably 
for  six  years.  Religiously  he  is  a  member 
of  Ebenezer  United  Evangelical  Church. 


AUGUST  F.  SPIEGEL. 

Germany  has  furnished  to  America 
many  of  her  most  enterprising  and  thrifty 
citizens,  who  in  this  land  of  the  free  have 
gained  for  themselves  and  family  a  com- 
fortable competence.  Among  those  who 
have  settled  in  Henry  county,  and  are  to-day 
numbered  among  her  best  citizens  is  Au- 
gust F.  Spiegel,  who  is  successfully  engaged 
in  farming  on  section  21,  Burns  township. 

He  was  born  in  German}',  July  19,  1837, 
a  son  of  Frederick  and  Foeder  Spiegel,  who 
remained  in  Prussia  until  1861,  when  they 
emigrated  to  the  new  w-orld  and  took  up 
their  residence  in  Kewanee  township,  Henry 
county,  Illinois.  Here  the  father  followed 
farming,  though  in  his  native  land  he  had 
worked  at  the  miller's  trade.  He  died  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1889,  and  his  wife  departed  this 
life  in  1880,  the  remains  of  both  being  in- 
terred in  the  Kewanee  cemetery.  In  their 
family  w'ere  eight  children  who  came  to  this 


country,  our  subject  and  his  brother,  Fred- 
erick, being  the  first  to  cross  the  Atlantic. 

August  Spiegel  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  land,  and  received  a  good  practical 
education  in  the  German  language.  In 
1857,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  and  his 
brother  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  at 
Hamburg,  and  after  a  stormy  voyage  of 
five  weeks  and  three  days  landed  in  Xew 
York.  He  came  at  once  to  Kewanee.  Illi- 
nois, where  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  a 
time.  In  1865  he  bought  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  Neponset  township.  Bureau  county,  Illi- 
nois, to  which  he  subsequently  added  sixty 
acres.  On  disposing  of  that  property  in 
18S3  "he  purchased  a  half  section  of  land  in 
Burns  township,  Henry  county,  but  has 
since  sold  eighty  acres  of  this.  The  remain- 
der he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation and  supplied  with  all  the  conven- 
iences and  accessories  of  the  model  farm  of 
the  present  day. 

On  the  19th  of  June,  1862,  [Mr.  Spiegel 
was  united  in  marriage  with  iliss  Carrie 
Custer,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
came  to  America  in  1856  with  her  parents, 
\\'illiam  and  Caroline  (Nuebert)  Custer, 
landing  in  New  York.  The  family  located 
ill  Kewanee,  Illinois,  where  the  father 
worked  at  the  mason's  trade  for  about  five 
years,  and  then  purchased  property  in  Ke- 
wanee township  and  turned  his  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  prospered  in 
his  labors  and  accumulated  a  valuable  prop- 
erty. He  died  in  1897,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
six  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1876, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  their  remains  be- 
ing interred  in  Kewanee  township.  Of 
their  eight  children  four  are  still  living. 
]\Irs.  Spiegel  began  her  education  in  the 
schools  of  Prussia,  and  after  the  emigra- 
tion of  the  familv  to  America  she  attended 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


399 


school  liere  to  some  extent.  By  her  mar- 
riage she  has  become  the  mother  of  twelve 
<:hildren,  but  only  five  are  now  living. 
Louisa  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years 
and  was  buried  in  Kewanee.  The  surviv- 
ing members  of  the  family  are  as  follows : 
Edward,  born  in  1863,  luarried  Emma 
Lehman,  and  is  engaged  in  fruit  farming 
near  Milan,  Illinois:  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Henry  Kempin,  of  Kewanee;  Clara  is  the 
wife  of  Peter  Verstrette,  who  is  employed 
in  the  shops  at  Kewanee;  and  Carl  and 
Theodore  assist  their  father  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  Jiome  farm. 

By  his  ballot  Mr.  Spiegel  sui)p«)rts  the 
juen  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  for  two  years  he  efficiently  filled  the 
office  of  school  director.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  German  Lutheran  Churcii,  and  is  a  man 
highly  respected  and  esteenied  l)_v  all  wlm 
Jinow  him  on  account  of  his  sterling  worth. 
His  wife  is  also  a  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church.  'Sir.  Spiegel  has  a  fine 
home,  furnace  heated,  and  a  barn  40x60 
ftet.  with  large  cribs  and  outlniildings. 
In  addition  to  general  farming  he  raises 
considerable  stock. 


H.  J.  STEWART.  M.  D. 

Although  but  a  recent  ac(|uisition  to 
the  goodly  array  of  enterprising  professional 
ir)en  of  Kewanee  this  well-known  physician 
and  surgeon  is  already  building  up  an  ex- 
cellent practice,  his  specialties  being  the  dis- 
eases of  the  eye.  ear,  nose  and  throat.  He 
was  born  in  Warren  county,  Illinois,  March 
21,  1868,  a  son  of  David  B.  and  Sarah  E. 
(Pilkington)  Stewart,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
•\ania  and  early  settlers  of  this  state.     Tiie 


fatlier,  who  is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  is 
still  living  in  Warren  county,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six  years,  while  his  wife  is  sixty- 
three  j'ears  of  age.  For  many  years  lie 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Spring 
Grove,  that  township.  On  account  of  a 
cancer  the  Doctor  recently  assisted  in  re- 
moving his  father's  left  ear  with  the  hope 
of  stopping  that  terrible  disease.  In  the 
family  were  nine  children,  of  whom  five 
sons  and  three  daughters  are  still  living. 

Dr.  Stewart  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
began  his  education  in  the  country  schools. 
Later  he  attended  the  high  school  at  Alexis, 
Illinois,  and  the  Northwestern  University 
at  Chicago,  graduating  from  the  medical 
department  of  that  institution  in  1893.  He 
devoted  several  months  to  hospital  work, 
and  in  1899  took  a  post-graduate  course  on 
tlie  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat, 
thus  becoming  well  fitted  for  the  profession 
which  he  has  chosen  as  a  life  work.  On  the 
1st  of  June,  1893,  soon  after  his  graduation, 
lie  opened  an  ofifice  in  Viola,  Mercer  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged  in  practice 
until  coming  to  Kewanee,  March  i,  1900. 
With  seven  years'  experience  he  comes  to 
this  place  w-ell  qualified,  and  his  skill  and 
ability  have  already  won  for  him  a  good 
patronage.  He  is  very  progressive  and 
keeps  well  posted  on  the  latest  discoveries 
made  in  the  science  of  medicine  and  sur- 
gery. As  a  citizen  he  is  enterprising  and 
public  spirited  and  is  such  a  man  as  gives 
character  to  a  community. 

In  1894  Dr.  Stewart  married  Miss  Ade- 
laide H.  Frazier,  a  native  of  Viola.  Her 
father  H.  B.  Frazier,  was  one  of  the  leading 
merchants  of  that  place,  where  he  died  July 
II,  1898,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years, 
and  was  succeeded  in  business  by  his  sons, 
John,  Fred  and  Edwin.      There    are    also 


400 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


three  daughters  in  the  family.  Adelaide 
H.,  wife  of  our  subject;  Xannie,  wife  of 
M.  R.  McKinnon ;  and  Sarah,  wife  of  Dr. 
McClannahan.  of  ^^iola.  The  mother  of 
these  children  is  still  an  honored  resident 
of  that  place. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart  have  two  chil- 
dren, Florence  Verl  and  Louise  Ruth.  The 
parents  both  hold  membership  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  the  Doctor  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Galva 
District  iledical  Association,  the  State 
Medical  Association,  and  the  Kewanee 
Medical  Society,  being  secretary  of  the  last 
named.  In  \\'arren  county  he  served  as 
school  trustee  for  a  time;  was  also  president 
of  the  village  board  of  Viola  for  six  )-ears; 
trustee  and  chairman  of  the  village  council; 
and  township  school  trustee  three  years. 
He  was  elected  to  these  positions  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  but  at  present  is  not  an 
advocate  of  the  issues  of  modern  Democ- 
racy 


JOSEPH  JOHXSTOX. 

There  passed  away  at  his  home  in  Galva 
township,  February  ii,  1899,  Joseph 
Johnston,  who  was  one  of  the  most  highly 
esteemed  men  of  that  locality.  He  was  lx)rn 
in  Ayrshire,  Scotland,  Xovember  14,  1831, 
a  son  of  Isaac  and  Margaret  (McGill) 
Johnston,  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in 
that  country,  the  father  being  engaged  in 
farming.  Our  subject  \\as  the  second  in 
order  of  birth  in  their  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters are  still  living.  The  daughters  and  one 
son  still  reside  in  Scotland,  while  two  sons 
make  their  home  in  this  country,  these  be- 
ing John,  who  lives  in  Iowa;  and  William, 
who  lives  north  of  Oneida,  Illinois. 


During  his  boyhood  Joseph  Johnston  re- 
ceived only  a  limited  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  land,  but  by  reading  and  ob- 
servation in  subsequent  years  became  a  well 
informed  man.  He  always  transacted  his 
own  business  affairs  and  by  the  successful 
management  of  the  same  became  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  citizens  of  his  community. 
On  coming  to  America  in  1856  he  tirst  lo- 
cated near  \'ictoria,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  a  !Mr.  Sansberry 
until  going  to  the  gold  fields  of  Colorado, 
in  1862.  There  he  engaged  in  prospecting 
and  teaming,  three  times  crossing  the  plains 
\\  ith  merchandise  to  Den\-er.  He  met  with 
success  while  in  the  west,  and  on  his  return 
to  Illinois  was  able  to  purchase  eighty  acres 
of  land  south  of  Xekoma,  in  Henrj-  county, 
to  the  impro\ement  and  cultivation  of 
which  he  at  once  turned  his  attention. 
Later  he  purchased  an  improved  farm  of 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  part  in 
Ontario  and  part  in  Walnut  Grove  town- 
ships, where  he  made  his  home  until  1881, 
when  he  removed  to  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
seventy-two  and  a  half  acres  west  of  Galva, 
though  he  still  retained  his  former  place. 
He  also  purchased  one  hundred  and  seven- 
teen acres  of  land  adjoining  Galva,  a  part 
of  which  has  since  been  subdivided  into 
town  lots.  In  his  farming  operations  he 
met  with  most  excellent  success,  becoming 
the  owner  of  about  six  hundred  and  ten 
acres  of  valuable  land,  two  hundred  and 
ninety  acres  of  which  was  in  this  county, 
the  remaining  half  section  being  in  Knox 
county.  He  gave  special  attention  to  the 
raising  of  stock,  both  horses  and  cattle,  and 
found  this  branch  of  his  business  quite  profit- 
able. 

Mr.  Johnston  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Janet  Anderson,  by  whom 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


401 


lie  had  five  children,  all  living,  namely: 
jNIary,  John,  Isaac,  Henry  and  Maggie,  and 
all,  with  the  exception  of  John  who  resides 
in  Knox  county,  living  in  Henry  county. 
After  the  death  of  the  mother,  Mr.  Johnston 
was  again  married,  in  March,  1877,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Margaret 
JNIeikle,  who  was  born  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland, 
in  1845,  ^'''d  came  to  the  new  world  in 
1873,  locating  in  Henry  county,  Illinois. 
Her  parents  both  died  in  the  old  country, 
never  coming  to  the  United  States.  To 
them  were  born  three  children :  Elizabeth, 
now  the  wife  of  Lloyd  Jones,  of  Galva 
township,  by  whom  she  had  one  child,  Ber- 
iiice;  William,  who  lives  with  his  lirother  on 
the  farm;  and  Janet,  at  home  witli  her 
mother. 

The  Republican  ])arty  always  found  in 
Mr.  Johnston  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  prin-. 
ciples,  but  he  would  never  accept  or  hold 
public  office,  preferring  to  gi\e  his  undi- 
vided attention  to  his  business  interests. 
He  always  enjoyed  good  health  up  to  within 
a  few  months  of  his  death  and  continued  to 
actively  engage  in  the  work  of  the  farm 
until  the  last.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
was  connected  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  was  an  earnest  and 
■consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Xo  man  in  his  community  was 
more  respected  of  more  fully  enjoyed  the 
-confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  none 
€ver  better  deserved  such  respect  and  con- 
fidence, for  his  was  an  honorable  and  up- 
right life,  consistent  with  his  professions  in 
every  respect. 

ORIX  FI.  LOOM  IS. 

For  many  years  this  gentleman  was  one 
of  the  leading  business  men  of  Kewanee, 
but  in  January,    1900.  he  sold  out,  and  is 


now  practically  living  a  retired  life  in  that 
city,  where  he  is  so  well  and  favorably 
known.  He  was  born  in  Coventry,  Connec- 
ticut, June  17,  1822,  and  is  one  of  a  family 
of  eight  children,  three  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, whose  parents  were  Selah  and  Esther 
(Howard)  Loomis,  natives  of  Connecticut 
and  Massachusetts,  respectively.  In  1S33 
the  family  removed  to  Michigan,  and  after 
seventeen  years  spent  in  that  state  came  to 
W'ethersfield  township,  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois. The  father  died  in  Kewanee  in  1871, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  and  the 
mother  passed  away  in  1876,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four. 

Orin'  H.  Loomis  began  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  state,  and  com- 
pleted his  literary  training  at  the  White 
Pigeon  brancli  of  the  ^Michigan  University. 
For  one  year  he  was  professor  of  metlie-' 
matics  at  that  institution,  and  for  the  suc- 
ceeding five  years  taught  in  the  district 
schools  of  Michigan.  In  1S4J  he  had 
charge  of  a  school  at  Freeport.  Illinois, 
where  was  educated  Charles  Giteau  and  sis- 
ter. E\en  at  school  they  were  notably  bad, 
so  much  so  that  the  teacher  sent  them  home 
with  their  books,  and  with  the  understand- 
ing that  they  were  not  to  return  until  better 
behavior  on  their  part  could  be  assured. 
Several  days  later  the  father  returned  the 
children  to  school  and  vouched  for  their 
good  behavior.  They  were  accordingly 
given  another  trial  and  there  was  a  marked 
improvement  in  their  deportment.  Their 
father  stood  high  in  the  community,  but 
the  children  were  taught  disobedience  to 
his  rule  by  their  mother.  This  fact  un- 
doubtedly led  to  the  terrible  event  which 
occurred  at  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  dejxjt 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  July  2,  1881,  when 
the  .son  took  the  life  of  one  of  the  nation's 


402 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


able  and  worthy  statesmen — James  A.  Gar- 
field— and  caused  sorrow  throughout  the 
civilized  world.  For  this  act  Charles  Giteau 
was  hanged  at  W'asliington,  June  30,  1882. 

In  1849  ^^f.  Loomis  came  to  Henry 
county  and  was  engaged  in  farming  with  his 
father  in  Wethersfield  township  for  a  time. 
On  the  1st  of  September,  1854,  he  embarked 
in  the  grain  business  in  Kewanee,  and 
shipped  the  second  carload  of  grain  that 
ever  left  this  station.  In  1855  he  and  his 
associates  built  the  first  steam  elevator 
erected  in  Kewanee,  and  he  continued  to 
deal  in  grain  until  1862,  when  he  became 
interested  in  the  agricultural  implement 
business,  which  he  carried  on  until  1870. 
For  the  following  three  years  he  engaged 
in  farming,  and  on  his  return  to  Kewanee 
at  the  end  of  that  time  resumed  business 
at  his  old  stand,  where  he  remained  until 
he  retired  from  active  life  in  January,  1900. 

At  Edwardsburg,  Michigan,  j\Ir.  Loomis 
%vas  married,  in  1846,  to  JMiss  Rosetta 
Rogers,  who  died  there  in  the  spring  of 
1849.  On  the  27th  of  August,  1850,  at 
East  Hamburg,  New  York,  Mr.  Loomis 
vas  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cornelia 
A.  Starkweather.  By  this  union  were  born 
eight  children,  namely :  ( i )  Frances,  who 
passed  away  in  1857,  when  only  six  years 
and  a  half  old.  (2)  Niles  Howard,  a  resi- 
dent of  Nora,  Oklahoma,  married  Carrie 
Minnick,  and  they  have  nine  children :  Orin 
Howard,  who  first  married  Louise  Feurst, 
who  is  deceased;  Bertha,  wife  of  Fred 
Steele,  by  whom  she  has  one  son,  George, 
deceased ;  William  H. ;  Guy ;  Fred  ;  Eugene ; 
George ;  Clark ;  Alma ;  and  Carrie,  who  died 
in  childhood.  (3)  Henry  L.,  a  resident  of 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  married  Jennie 
Regan,  and  they  have  seven  children :  Cath- 
erine, wife  of  John  Borst,  by  whom  she  has 


two  children;  ^lark ;  Raymond;  William; 
Henry;  and  Louise.  (4)  Lucy  C.  is  the  wife 
of  Willis  E.  Terry,  of  Galesburg,  and  they 
have  five  children :  Grace  L. ;  Julia  T. ;. 
Willis;  Lucy;  and  Ruth.  (5)  Rosetta  M. 
is  the  wife  of  Edward  A.  Hubbard,  of  Chi- 
cago, and  they  have  one  child,  Loren.  (6) 
Grace  E.  is  the  wife  of  J.  J.  Pratt,  an  im- 
porter of  goods  at  Buenos  Ayres,  South 
America,  and  they  have  one  child,  Norman. 
(7)  Emma  F.,  now  a  resident  of  Galesburg, 
is  the  widow  of  Rev.  Charles  Leeper,  a 
Congregational  minister,  who  died  at  Pe- 
tosky,  Michigan.  (8)  Hattie  M.  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  C.  W.  Hall,  of  Kewanee.  The 
mother  of  these  children,  who  was  an  earnest 
and  consistent  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  died  January  18,  1890. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Loomis  is  an 
ardent  Republican,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  that  organized  the  party  in  Henry 
county  in  1854.  Of  that  number  only  our 
subject  now  survives,  Henry  G.  Little,  aged 
eighty-eight  years,  died  in  Grinnell,  Iowa, 
ir  November,  1900.  ]\Ir.  Loomis  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  for  some  time  during 
the  '60s,  and  was  a  school  trustee  for  years. 
He  has  been  an  important  factor  in  edu- 
cational affairs,  and  was  one  of  the  pro- 
jectors of  the  Wethersfield  Academy,  with 
the  establishment  of  which  he  was  promi- 
nently identified,  and  which  was  finally  con- 
verted into  a  common  school.  Both  edu- 
cation and  religion  have  had  Mr.  Loomis'' 
best  endeavors  through  life.  He  is  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
and  since  coming  to  Henry  county  has 
served  as  superintendent  of  the  Wethers- 
field Sunday-school  eleven  years,  and  the 
Kewanee  Sunday-school  thirty-seven  year.s 
— a  record  which  probably  has  no  parallel 
in  the  state.     For  sixteen  vears  he  had  a 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


403 


Sunda3'-school  in  the  country  and  attendeil 
every  Sunday.  His  life  has  been  an  hon- 
orable and  useful  one,  and  he  justly  merits 
the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  uniformly 
held  by  his  fellow  citizens,  who  appreciate 
his  sterling  worth  and  many  excellencies  of 
character. 


ELBERT   P.    KEMERLIXG. 

This  progressive  and  enterprising  agri- 
culturist, whose  home  is  on  section  35, 
Burns  township,  has  spent  his  entire  life 
upon  his  present  farm,  for  there  he  was 
born  February  i,  1851,  and  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  prominent  pioneer  fam- 
ilies of  Henry  county.  His  father,  Jacob 
Kemerling,  was  born  in  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  May  18,  1807,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  that  lo- 
cality. He  chose  farming  as  a  life  work. 
On  the  23d  of  March,  1837,  he  became  a 
resident  of  Hem-y  county,  Illinois,  where, 
in  connection  with  his  brothers  he  entered 
a  large  amount  of  land.  He  was  one  of  a 
family  of  seven  children,  the  others  being 
John,  Joseph,  Henry,  George,  Katherine 
and  Anna.  His  share  of  the  property  was 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Kewanee 
township,  a  similar  amount  in  Galva  ttnvn- 
ship,  and  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
in  Burns  township.  On  the  last  men- 
tioned tract  he  erected  a  log  house  _'Oxi6 
feet,  in  which  he  and  his  family  lived  while 
he  broke  the  virgin  soil  and  made  other  im- 
provements upon  the  place.  The  lumber 
for  his  first  frame  house  had  to  be  hauled 
from  Rock  Island,  and  in  those  early  days 
he  marketed  his  grain  in  Chicago  and  Pe- 
oria. Wild  game  of  all  kinds  was  found 
in  abundance,  wolves  often  came  prowling 


about  the  house  at  night,  and  on  one  oc- 
casion the  father  of  our  subject  was  attacked 
by  a  catamount,  which  he  shot  at  but  failed 
to  kill.  It  was  captured,  however,  the  fol- 
lowing morning  by  others.  On  the  loth 
of  February,  1831,  Jacob  Kemerling  mar- 
ried Sarah  Albright,  who  died  September 
20,  1863.  By  that  union  he  had  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  our  subject  is  the  youngest. 
The  others  that  are  still  living  are  Henry 
H.,  who  married  Anna  Miller,  of  Burns 
township,  and  is  now  engaged  in  farming 
at  Rockport,  Missouri;  Sophrona,  wife  of 
George  Carbaugh,  of  Crawford  county, 
Iowa;  Prudence  H.,  wife  of  W.  J.  Anscomb, 
a  farmer  of  Burns  township ;  and  Charlotte, 
wife  of  G.  W.  Caldwell,  of  Iowa.  Levi, 
the  oldest,  died  in  Arkansas  in  1894.  In 
1868  the  father  was  again  married,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Elizabeth  Ewing. 
He  filled  the  offices  of  assessor  and  school 
director,  serving  in  the  former  position  for 
the  long  i)eriod  of  twenty  years.  He  died 
in  1881. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  Ivirn  in  a 
primitive  log  caliin.  then  so  conmiun  on 
the  frontier,  and  was  reared  amid  pioneer 
scenes,  while  his  early  education  was  ob- 
tained in  an  improvised  school  room  in  the 
cellar  of  his  present  home.  He  early  became 
familiar  with  the  labors  of  the  farm,  and 
since  reaching  manhood  has  dev(.>ted  his 
time  and  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
old  homestead,  owning  a  line  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  on  which  he  has 
made  many  impro\'ements. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  1878,  near  Har- 
lansburg,  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Kemerling 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elvira 
Dean,  a  native  of  that  county,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  E.  and  Eliza  (Hanna)  Dean, 
who  were  born  in  Pennsylvania.    She  is  the 


404 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


oldest  of  their  four  cliildren.  the  others 
being  Judson,  who  married  Hattie  Hetten- 
baugh  and  Hves  in  Lawrence  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; ilary,  wife  of  ^^lisner  Kemerling. 
a  farmer  and  carpenter  of  the  same  county ; 
and  Edward,  who  married  Florence  Stude- 
baker,  of  Butler  county,  and  follows  farm- 
ing in  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kemerling  have  two  children : 
William  J.,  born  September  15,  1880,  at- 
tended Brown's  Business  College  at  Gales- 
burg,  from  which  he  received  a  diploma  for 
bookkeeping  in  1899,  ^"d  is  now  at  home; 
and  Mones  Albert,  born  Ocfbber  8,  1888. 
still  attending  school. 

Politically  Mr.  Kemerling  has  been  a 
lifelong  Democrat,  and  has  taken  an  active 
and  prominent  part  in  local  affairs,  having 
served  as  tax  collector  one  term,  road  com- 
missioner three  years  and  school  director 
about  twenty  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge.  Xo.  128,  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  Camp,  Xo.  84,  both  of 
Kewanee;  while  his  wife  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Baptist  Church.  Both  are  wide- 
ly known  and  have  a  host  of  warm  friends 
in  the  community  where  they  reside.  He 
now  lives  retired  on  the  farm. 


OLOF  L.  PETERSOX. 

A\'Iiile  "the  race  is  not  always  to  the 
swift  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong,"  the  in- 
variable law  of  destiny  accords  to  tireless 
energA"  and  ability  a  successful  career.  The 
truth  of  this  assertion  is  abundantly  verified 
in  the  life  of  Mr.  Peterson,  a  leading  furni- 
ture dealer  of  Galva,  Illinois. 

He  was  born  on  tlie  30th  of  August, 
1840,  in  Sweden,  where  his  parents.  Per 
Persson  and  Christine  Olson,  spent  their  en- 


tire lives  as  farming  people.  Twelve  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  and  five  of  the  num- 
ber are  still  living,  namely :  Per,  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Sweden;  Olof  L.,  our  subject; 
Jacob,  of  Sweden ;  John,  a  railroad  em- 
jjloye  of  Galva ;  and  Eric,  who  is  employed 
on  a  ranch  in  Colorado. 

Reared  in  the  land  of  his  birth,  O.  L. 
Peterson  is  indebted  to  its  common  schools 
for  his  educational  advantages.  He  re- 
mained on  the  home  farm  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  commenced  learning 
the  trade  of  a  cabinet  and  furniture  maker, 
receiving  no  wages  during  two  years  of  his 
apprenticeship.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
had  become  a  skilled  workman.  Before 
leaving  Sweden  he  was  married,  in  1865  to 
]\Iiss  Brita  Hansen,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  neighborhood  as  her  husband,  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1840,  and  is  the  only  member  of 
her  family  now  living.  Her  parents  both 
died  in  Galva,  Illinois. 

In  1865,  soon  after  his  marriage,  ilr. 
Peterson  brought  his  bride  to  the  L'nited 
States,  it  requiring  fourteen  days  to  make 
the  voyage  from  Liverpool  to  Xew  York, 
and  another  week  to  reach  Chicago.  Com- 
ing at  once  to  Galva,  he  secured  work  with 
a  Mr.  Bates,  a  furniture  dealer  of  this  place, 
with  whom  he  remained  onl\'  a  short  time, 
and  for  two  years  was  in  the  employ  of  a 
Mr.  Curtis,  who  kept  one  man  constantly 
busy  manufacturing  furniture,  nearly  all  of 
which  was  made  by  hand  at  that  time,  with 
the  exception  of  beds  and  chairs. 

When  he  landed  in  Galva  Mr.  Peterson 
had  only  twenty  dollars,  but  being  econom- 
ical and  industrious  he  was  soon  able  to 
purchase  a  home.  After  working  for  others 
for  a  few  years,  he  also  bought  an  interest 
in  a  furniture  store,  in  partnersiiip  with  ilr. 
Headstrom,   and   together  thev   carried   on 


O.   L    PETERSON. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


407 


business  for  a  year.  In  1870  P.  Herdien 
2jurcliased  INIr.  Headstrom's  interest,  antl 
the  firm  of  Peterson  &  Herdien  conducted 
the  business  for  eighteen  years  with  marked 
success.  They  started  on  a  small  scale.  Init 
kept  adding;-  to  tlieir  stock  until  they  car- 
ried a  complete  line  of  furniture,  much  of 
whicii  was  manufactured  i>y  them,  alsd  con- 
ducting Ijranch  stores  at  Cambridge  and 
Kearney,  Nebraska.  In  1887  Peterson  & 
Herdien  dissolved  partnership  after  their 
store  was  destroyed  by  fire,  at  a  loss  of  about 
two  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Peterson  at 
once  rebuilt,  erecting  his  present  building, 
and  put  in  a  new  and  better  stock  of  goods. 
Besides  furniture  he  carries  carpets,  win- 
dow shades  and  bicycles,  his  stock  being 
valued  at  seven  thousand  dollars,  and  he 
occupies  both  floors  of  his  building.  He 
does  some  repair  work,  and  also  does  under- 
taking and  embalming  in  partnership  with 
Andrew  Becklean. 

In  connection  with  his  home  and  busi- 
ness property  in  Galva,  JMr.  Peterson  owns 
a  farm  of  si.xty  acres  adjoining  the  ttnvn. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  stockholders  of  the 
First  National  Bank,  incorporated  Farmers' 
and  Merchants'  Bank,  but  in  1887  sold  the 
stock  and  invested  in  the  Galva  State  Bank, 
of  which  he  is  now  a  stockholder.  He  was 
one  of  the  incorporators  and  is  a  stock- 
holder of  the  Wistrand  Manufacturing 
Company,  which  he  assisted  in  organizing; 
is  also  a  stockholder  of  the  Hayes  Pump  & 
Planter  Company,  the  Galva  Gas  &  Coke 
Company,  the  Galva  Telephone  Company 
and  the  Farmers'  Elevator  Company.  From 
1877  to  1891  he  held  shares  in  the  Herdien 
Coal  Company,  whose  mine  was  operated 
quite  profitably.  From  1891  to  1896  he  held 
the  largest  share  in  the  Grav  Eagle  Coal 
Company,  of  Galva. 


]\Ir.  and  ]\Irs.  Peterson  are  the  parents  of 
five  children,  namely :  A.  Olivia,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  the  public  schools  of  Galva  and 
the  Northwestern  University  of  Evanston, 
and  is  now  teaching  in  the  schools  of  Galva ; 
Alfred  L.  received  a  business  educatitm  in 
Galesburg,  married  Althea  Anderson  and 
is  a  head  Ijookkeeper  for  the  Hayes  Pump 
&  Planter  Company;  Oscar  Manual,  who 
took  a  business  course  in  Chicago,  and  is 
with  his  father  in  the  store;  Emma  Z..  at 
home;  and  Victor  V.,  who  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Swift  &  Company  for  a  year,  and 
is  now  bookkeeper  for  a  hartlware  company 
of  Chicago. 

Politically  Mr.  Peterson  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  fraternally 
affiliates  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  No.  408,  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  No.  241.  He  is  a 
prominent  and  influential  member  of  the 
.Swedish  Methodist  Church  of  Galva,  which 
he  assisted  in  building,  and  with  which  he 
has  always  been  officially  connected,  having 
served  as  trustee  for  twenty-six  years.  He 
is  a  very  liberal  supporter  of  the  church  and 
for  a  time  the  whole  burden  rested  upon  him, 
the  congregation  being  weak.  Without  the 
aid  of  influence  or  wealth  he  has  risen  to 
a  position  of  prominence  in  his  community 
and  his  native  genius  and  acquired  ability 
are  stepping-stones  on  which  he  has 
mounted. 


NELS   RUNQUIST. 

\\'hen  after  years  of  long  and  earnest 
IaI)or  in  some  honorable  field  of  business  a 
man  puts  aside  all  cares  to  spend  his  re- 
maining   years    in    the    enjoyment  of  the 

fruits  (jf  his   former  toil,   it   is  certainlv  a 


4o8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


well  deserved  reward  of  his  former  industry. 
Mr.  Runquist  is  now  living-  retired  at  his 
pleasant  home  in  Galva.  Illinois,  and  his 
history  is  one  that  shows  the  accomplish- 
ment of  well-directed  labor. 

A  native  of  Sweden,  he  was  born  in 
Helsingland,  August  31,  1837,  and  in  1846 
came  to  America  with  his  parents,  John  and 
Christine  Runquist,  who  formed  a  part  of 
the  colony  that  settled  at  Bishop  Hill,  this 
county,  during  that  year.  There  the  mother 
died  in  1856,  and  the  father  passed  away 
in  1865.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and 
followed  that  occupation,  both  in  Sweden 
and  in  Illinois.  Of  their  five  children  two 
are  also  deceased,  the  living  being  j\Irs. 
Christine  Ottestrum,  Mrs.  Hannah  Lind- 
gren  and  Xels,  all  residents  of  Galva. 

Xels  Runquist  began  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  continued 
his  studies  for  a  time  after  the  family  lo- 
cated at  Bishop  Hill.  During  his  youth  he 
learned  the  harness  maker's  trade,  which  he 
followed  until  1863,  and  then  embarked  in 
the  grocery  business  at  Galva  as  a  member 
of  tlie  firm  of  Johnson,  Erickson  &  Com- 
pany. This  partnership  was  dissolved  two 
5-ears  later,  and  jSIr.  Runquist  carried  on  the 
business  alone  imtil  1883.  He  began  work 
with  a  small  stock,  which  he  gradually  in- 
creased to  meet  the  growing  demands  of  his 
trade  as  the  population  of  the  town  in- 
creased, and  was  soon  at  the  head  of  a  large 
and  profitable  business.  In  1883  he  sold 
out,  but  started  in  the  same  business  again 
on  the  1st  of  January,  1890,  with  a  stock 
of  goods  valued  at  three  thousand  dollars, 
which  was  destroyed  by  fire  the  following 
March.  He  at  once  rebuilt,  erecting  a  good 
brick  building,  which  has  been  divided  into 
two  large  store  rooms,  and  from  the  rent  of 
these  he  receives  a  good  income.     In  1892 


Mr.  Runquist  purchased  the  Galva  House, 
which  is  a  fire-proof,  brick  structure,  and 
besides  this  property  he  owns  his  residence 
and  two  other  houses  and  lots  in  Galva. 
He  has  a  nice  home,  supplied  with  all 
modern  conveniences  and  conveniently  lo- 
cated within  two  blocks  of  the  business  jMr- 
tion  of  the  town. 

In  1865  Mr.  Runquist  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Martha  Nelson,  who 
was  born  in  Sweden,  June  24,  1840,  and 
as  a  member  of  the  Bishop  Hill  colony  start- 
ed for  America  in  1 846  with  her  parents,^ 
who  died  on  the  journey,  together  with  her 
two  brothers.  She  was  thus  left  alone  iii 
the  world  at  the  tender  age  of  six  years,, 
and  grew  to  womanhood  in  the  colony.  The 
voyage  across  the  Atlantic  was  made  in  a 
sailing  vessel  and  consumed  seven  weeks. 
From  New  York  the  colony  made  their  way 
by  the  canal  and  the  Great  Lakes  to  Chi- 
cago, and  then  walked  to  Bishop  Hill.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Runquist  were  quite  young 
al  this  time.  They  found  the  country  very 
vvild  and  entirely  unimproved.  It  was  most- 
ly prairie  land  with  very  little  timber,  but 
settlements  were  ahva}s  made  in  the  forests. 
\\'olves,  deer  and  feathered  game  abounded. 
Four  children  were  born  to  our  subject  and 
his  wife,  of  whom  one  died  in  infanc\-,  and 
Lillie  died  in  1896,  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years.  Olive,  born  in  1876,  is  now  the  wife 
of  Professor  B.  J.  Dean,  of  ^lendota  Col- 
lege, and  the)'  have  one  son,  Harold  F. 
Fred  E.,  born  in  1879,  lives  at  home,  and 
is  now  pursuing  a  collegiate  course  at  ;\Ien- 
dota,  Illinois,  where  he  graduated  after  tak- 
ing a  business  course. 

^Ir.  Runquist  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Repu1)lican 
party,  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
work  of  his  party.     He  has  twice  efficiently 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


409. 


served  as  a  member  of  tlie  town  board  and 
has  capably  filled  tbe  office  of  township  as- 
sessor since  1894,  having  been  constantly 
re-elected  to  that  position.  He  and  his  wife 
are  faithful  members  of  the  Second  Ad- 
ventist  Church,  of  Mendota.  and  merit  and 
receive  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who 
know  them. 


JOHN   H.    SCHROEDER. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  now 
successfully  engaged  in  carrying  on  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  on  section 
23,  Edford  township,  is  one  of  the  native 
sons  of  Henry  county,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred February  11,  1868,  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  section  15,  Edford  township,  where 
his  father,  G.  H.  Schroeder,  now  resides. 
The  latter  was  born  in  Oldenburg,  Ger- 
many, October  19,  1834,  a  son  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Wicker)  Schroeder,  also  na- 
tives of  that  part  of  Germany.  According 
to  the  laws  of  his  native  land  he  attended 
school  there  from  the  age  of  six  to  fourteen 
years.  He  was  about  seventeen  years  of 
age  when  he  determined  to  try  his  fortune 
in  America  and  took  passage  on  a  sailing 
vessel,  which,  after  a  voyage  of  forty-two 
days,  landed  him  safely  in  New  Orleans, 
on  the  1st  of  June,  1852.  Coming  up  the 
Mississippi  river,  he  first  located  in  Rock 
Island  county,  Illinois,  and  began  life  in 
Hampton  township  with  a  capital  of  twelve 
dollars  and  fifty  cents.  During  the  first 
summer  he  received  only  seven  dollars  per 
month  for  his  labor.  The  succeeding  win- 
ter he  attended  school  while  doing  chores 
for  his  board,  and  continued  to  work  as  a 
farm  hand  until  1859,  when  he  purchased 
a  tract  of  land  in  that  township,  residing 


thereon  for  four  years.  In  1863  he  came 
to  Edford  township.  Henry  county,  where 
he  operated  rented  land  one  year,  and  then 
purchased  eighty  acres  on  section  15,  where 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  has  pros- 
pered in  his  new  home,  and  is  to-day  the 
owner  of  a  valuable  and  well  improved  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  where  he 
resides,  besides  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres  on  section  23.  Edford  town- 
ship, and  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Osco  township.  In  1859  he  married  Miss 
Wilhelmina  Weigand,  a  native  of  Prussia,. 
Germany,  and  they  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children,  whose  names  and 
dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Henrietta  P., 
October  13,  1863;  ^Martha  P.,  February 
2~,,  1866;  John  H.,  February  11.  1868; 
Charles  F.,  June  21,  1870;  Minnie  L.,  Oc- 
tober 5,  1874;  Louie  A.,  April  25,  1876; 
and  Elmer  A.,  February  12,  1881. 

The  early  education  of  John  H.  Schroe- 
der was  obtained  in  the  district  schools  near 
his  boyhood  home,  and  for  two  years  he 
pursued  his  studies  at  the  Xorthwestern 
Normal  School  of  Geneseo.  His  knowledge 
of  farm  work  was  obtained  under  the  able 
direction  of  his  father,  and  he  remained 
under  the  parental  roof,  assisting  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  fields,  until  twenty-si.x  years 
of  age,  when  he  removed  to  the  farm  which 
he  now  occupies.  In  its  operation  he  is  now 
meeting  with  good  success,  being  a  thor- 
ough and  systematic  farmer  and  a  man  of 
good  business  abilitv.  In  connection  with 
general  farming  he  is  quite  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  raising  of  cattle,  his  specialty 
being  Aberdeen  Angus. 

On  the  30th  of  January,  1S95.  at  Mor- 
ristown,  Osco  township,  Mr.  Schroeder 
married  Miss  Nora  E,  Weidlein,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  and  Sarah  (Conrad)  W'eid- 


410 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lein.  Slie  was  born  in  Osco  townsliij),  and 
\vas  educated  in  the  ]nil)lic  Schdols  <if  ( iene- 
seo,  where  her  parents  ninx-ed  fur  tlie  pur- 
pose of  giving  their  ciiildren  the  advantages 
of  the  city  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scliroeder 
have  one  child,  Lucile  Kathleen,  born  on 
the  home  farm  June  i,  1898.  Our  sul)ject 
is  now  efficiently  ser\-ing  as  town  clerk  of 
Edfiird  township,  having  been  electetl  to 
that  office  in  the  spring  of  1900  on  the 
People's  ticket.  He  is  a  menil)er  of  the 
Congregational  Church  of  tjeneseo,  and  is 
a  man  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all 
who  know  him. 


M.  B.  BLISH. 


]M.  B.  Blish,  a  pmminent  citizen  of  Ke- 
wanee,  now  retired  from  acti\e  business 
cares,  belongs  to  one  of  the  honored  pio- 
neer families  of  Henry  cr)unty,  where  he 
was  born  December  5,  1848,  his  parents 
being  Charles  C.  and  Elizabeth  P.  (Bonar) 
Blish,  natives  of  Connecticut  and  Ohio,  re- 
spectively. The  father  was  quite  young 
when  he  came  with  hi;  parents  to  Illinois 
in  1837,  and  in  this  state  was  married.  For 
a  short  time  he  resided  in  Knox  county, 
but  the  greater  part  of  his  life  was  jjassed 
ir  Henry  county,  and  be  owned  a  part  of 
the  tract  secured  by  the  W'ethersfield  col- 
ony. Of  this  our  subject  now  has  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres,  which  has  been 
placed  under  cultivation  and  is  well  im- 
proved, it  being  the  old  homestead  of  the 
Blish  family.  For  many  years  the  father 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  and  serxed 
as  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Kewanee  for  seventeen  years,  being  a  stock- 
holder of  the  same  until  his  death.  In  his 
jjolitical  views  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  he 


was  a  man  of  influence  in  his  community. 
He  died  in  December,  1890,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in 
May,  1900,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 
Both  were  earnest  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  and  were  highly  respected 
by  all  who  knew  them.  Their  family  num- 
bered six  children,  namely :  James  K.,  now 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of 
Kewanee ;  \Villiam  and  Sylvester,  who  both 
died  in  infancy;  M.  B.,  our  subject;  and 
Carrie  and  Kittie,  who  also  died  in  infancy. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  M.  B. 
Blish  attended  the  public  schools  of  Ke- 
wanee, and  for  one  year  was  a  student  at 
the  University  of  Michigan.  ^Vhen  his 
school  days  were  over  he  took  up  farm 
work  and  followed  that  occupation  through- 
out his  active  business  life,  but  for  the  past 
six  years  has  lived  retired  in  Kewanee. 

In  December,  1868,  Mr.  Blish  married 
]\Iiss  Martha  F.  Morrill,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia and  a  daughter  of  D.  \V.  and  E.  A. 
I\Iorrill,  who  came  to  this  state  from  the 
Old  Dominion  about  1854  and  settled  in 
^Vethersfield  township,  Henry  county.  Her 
father  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
in  W'ethersfield  for  some  time,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  served  as  postmaster  at  Adrian, 
Missouri.  He  died  in  the  faith  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  in  1887,  at  about  the  age  of 
sixty  years.  Mrs.  Morrill,  who  now  makes 
her  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blish,  was  born 
in  Washington  county,  Ohio,  July  9,  1830, 
a  daughter  of  Abijah  and  Lucinda  (Hollo- 
way)  Wedge.  Her  maternal  grandfather 
was  a  native  of  Germany  and  was  residing 
it'  a  seaport  town  in  tliat  country  when  the 
American  Revolution  broke  out.  He  and 
his  brother  were  taken  from  their  beds  and 
forced  to  enlist  in  General  Burgoyne's  army, 
but  on  reaching  America  they  deserted  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


411 


joined  the  Colonial  army  under  General 
Washington.  Two  brothers  of  Mrs.  Mor- 
rill's paternal  grandfather  also  served  in 
the  same  army.  Her  father,  Abijah  Wedge, 
a  native  of  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  served 
with  distinction  as  a  colonel  in  the  war  of 
1812.  His  wife  later  received  a  pension. 
For  many  years  he  followed  farming,  but 
late  engaged  in  preaching  as  an  itinerant 
minister  of  the  ^letholist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  died  in  1872,  when  over  eighty  years 
of  age,  and  his  wife,  who  was  a  faithful 
member  of  the  same  church  for  many  years, 
departed  this  life  in  1883,  at  the  extreme 
old  age  of  ninety-eight.  Of  their  ten  chil- 
dren five  died  in  early  life.  The  others 
were  Homer  L.,  Chester  O.  and  Lucy  L., 
all  now  deceased ;  Orange  V. ;  and  .Mrs. 
Morrill. 

Mrs.  Blish  is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of 
four  children,  and  is  followed  by  Henry 
W.,  a  resident  of  Hilliard,  Washington; 
Ida  A.,  wife  of  S.  W.  Dustin,  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, Missouri;  and  Fred  D.,  who  died  in 
the  fall  of  1899,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight 
years.  The  children  born  to  our  subject 
and  his  wife  are  Katie  E.,  wife  of  C.  D. 
Handley,  of  Kewanee,  by  whom  she  has 
two  children,  Lillian  B.  and  Charles  M. ; 
Charles  B.,  of  Kewanee,  who  married  Sarali 
A.  Jones  and  has  one  child,  Florence  E. ; 
and  Dwight  M.,  at  home. 

Politically  Mr.  Blish  is  an  ardent  Re- 
publican, and  socially  is  an  honored  mem- 
ber of  Kewanee  Lodge,  Xo.  159,  1'.  &  A. 
M. ;  Kewanee  Chapter,  Xo.  47,  R.  A.  AL, 
in  which  he  has  served  as  high  priest ;  the 
Ciuncil,  Xo.  81,  R.  &  S.  'SI.;  and  Temple 
Commandery.  Xo.  20,  K.  T.  He  has  served 
as  a  delegate  to  the  grand  lodge  of  the 
state,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  connect- 
ed with  the  Eastern   Star  Chapter.     They 


receive  and  merit  the  high  regard  of  the 
entire  community  and  are  deser\ing  of 
prominent  mention  among  the  honored  pio- 
ners  and  representative  citizens  cif  the 
countv. 


CHARLES  E.  LITTLE. 

Among  the  leading  citizens  and  repre- 
sentative farmers  of  Geneseo  township  is 
the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  his  home  being  on  section  29.  He 
is  a  native  of  Henry  county,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  the  city  of  Geneseo,  Xo- 
vember  14,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Mary  (Jones)  Little.  On  the  paternal 
side  he  is  of  the  ninth  generation  in  direct 
descent  from  George  Little,  the  progenitor 
of  the  family  in  America,  who  came  to 
America  from  England  in  1640  and  settled 
in  Xewbury,  Alassachusetts.  He  marrried 
Alice  Poor,  who  sailed  for  Xew  England 
from  Southampton,  England,  on  th'e  Bevis 
in  May,  1638.  Our  subject's  grandfather, 
James  Little,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  was 
born  June  21,  1791,  and  died  at  Bailey's 
Point,  Illinois,  in  1840.  In  1816  he  mar- 
ried Polly  Cook,  who  died  January  17, 
1841. 

Daniel  Little,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Campton,  Xew  Hampshire, 
March  25,  1818,  and  resided  in  his  native 
place  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal 
to  Seneca  county,  Xew  York,  where  they 
engaged  in  farming  until  their  emigration 
to  Illinois  in  1839.  They  settled  in  La 
Salle  county,  where  the  grandparents  ut  our 
subject  both  died.  In  1855  the  father  came 
to  Henry  county  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  Geneseo.     Having  the  year  previous  pur- 


4i: 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


chased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  29,  Geneseo  township,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  its  cultivation,  and 
made  the  first  improvements  upon  the  place. 
He  broke  the  entire  tract  and  throughout 
his  active  business  hfe  successfully  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  In 
1864  he  located  upon  his  farm,  making  it 
his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
jMay  25,  1883.  He  was  public  spirited  and 
an  advocate  of  all  that  tended  to  impro\e 
or  advance  the  interests  of  the  community 
in  which  he  lived,  but  he  never  cared  for 
the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office. 
He  was  chosen  deacon  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  the  year  he  came  to  Geneseo, 
j.nd  held  that  office  until  his  death,  always 
taking  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  all 
church  work.  His  widow  continued  to  re- 
side on  the  old  homestead  with  her  son 
Charles,  until  she,  too,  was  called  to  her  final 
xest,  in  1890. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple 
were  six  children,  of  whom  Charles  E.  is 
the  youngest,  the  others  being  as  follows : 

( 1 )  Amanda,  born  in  La  Salle  county,  Illi- 
nois, September  27,  1842,  died  July  4,  1884, 
unmarried,  and  was  laid  to  rest  with  her 
lather  and  mother  in  Oakwood   cemetery. 

(2)  James  A.,  born  in  the  same  county, 
January  14,  1844,  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Xorthfield,  Minnesota.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  One 
Hundred  and  Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  was  se\erely  wounded  in  the 
battle  of  Yuta  Creek,  after  serving  for  about 
two  years,  and  has  ne\"er  recovered  from 
the  effects  of  his  injuries.  He  married 
Laura  A.  Fitch,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
■dren,  James  E.,  Jessie  A.  and  Amanda  L. 

(3)  Eliza  R.,  born  in  La  Salle  county, 
JMarch   17,   1846,  is  cottage  matron  in  the 


State  Orphans  Home  at  Davenport,  Iowa, 
with  which  she  has  been  connected  for  the 
past  eighteen  years.  (4)  Susan  L.,  born 
in  La  Salle  county,  February  i,  1849,  was 
married,  December  20,  1869,  to  Rollin  J. 
Wells,  now  a  lawyer  of  Sioux  Falls,  South 
Dakota,  and  they  have  five  children,  Robert 
L.,  Bertha  S.,  Helen  A.,  Ruth  and  Mary. 
(5)  Edwin  L.,  born  in  La  Salle  county, 
in  September,  1852,  died  July  6,  1854. 

Charles  E.  Little,  of  this  review,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Geneseo, 
and  with  his  parents  removed  to  the  farm 
in  Geneseo  township,  in  1864.  Forty  acres 
of  the  farm  has  since  been  sold,  but  he  still 
owns  one  hvindred  and  twenty  acres  of  the 
original  tract,  and  is  successfully  engaged 
iri  agricultural  pursuits.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  has  held  the  office  of  school  director 
and  is  still  filling  that  position  in  a  most 
creditable  manner.  He  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church,  which  his 
family  also  attend,  and  is  one  of  the  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  his  community. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1886,  ^Xlr.  Little 
was  united  in  marriage  with  ^Miss  Cliarlotte 
E.  Huntington,  of  Sharon,  Whiteside  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  they  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  fi\e  children,  whose  names  and 
dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  ilary  E.,  No- 
vember 3,  1888;  Esther  H.,  December  15, 
1891;  George  E.,  September  17,  1893; 
Clarence  R.,  August  28,  1895 ;  and  Ruth  E., 
August  23,  1899. 

Mrs.  Little  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  still  living,  her 
parents  being  John  and  Harriet  (Schmiedt) 
Huntington,  natives  of  Connecticut  and 
Pennsylvania,  respectively,  and  now  resi- 
dents of  Geneseo.  The  father  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  his  family  about  1854  and  first 
settled   in   Whiteside  county.      Throughout 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


413 


his  active  business  life  he  followed  farming;, 
but  is  now  lixing  a  retired  life. 

Xathau  B.  Huntington,  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  Airs.  Little,  was  born  in 
Asliford,  Connecticut,  February  22,  1810, 
and  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Andrew  Huntington, 
a  practicing  physician  of  that  place.  The 
family  were  among  the  early  Puritans  of 
New  England.  The  first  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica was  William  Huntington,  who  settled 
in  Salisbury,  Massachusetts,  in  1640.  Com- 
ing to  Illinois  in  1838,  Nathan  B.  Hunting- 
ton located  in  Tazewell  county,  where  he" 
engaged  in  farming  until  his  removal  to 
Henry  county  in  1854.  He  became  tlie 
owner  of  a  large  amount  of  real  estate  in 
Geneseo  and  the  surrounding  country.  ;uul 
platter  of  what  is  known  as  the  Huntington 
addition  to  that  city.  In  1857  lie  went  to 
Elbridge,  New  York,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  furniture  and  also  owned 
and  operated  a  sawmill.  On  his  return  to 
Illinois  in  1862  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
Galesburg,  and  spent  the  following  ten 
years  in  farming  in  Knox  county,  after 
which  he  was  engagel  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness in  Geneseo.  where  he  died  August  10, 
1885.  lie  was  one  of  the  leading  and  in- 
liuential  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church  of  that  place,  and  served  as  deacon 
for  many  years.  On  the  i6th  of  May,  1833, 
he  married  Matilda  W'hiton,  who  died  Oc- 
tober I,  1840,  leaving  three  children:  John, 
the  father  of  !Mrs.  Little;  Maria,  wife  of 
Cornelius  H.  Van  Vechten,  of  Elbridge, 
New  York;  and  Andrew,  living  at  Rantoul, 
Illinois.  He  was  again  married,  December 
9,  1841,  his  second  union  being  with  Re- 
becca Willard,  whose  death  occurred  May 
3,  1849,  and  there  were  two  children  by 
this  marriage:  Matilda,  who  married 
^litchel  E.  Overstreet,  and  lives  at  Wood- 


hull,  Illinois;  and  Elisha,  who  married  Ag- 
nes M.  Getty  and  lives  at  Rock  Rapids, 
Iowa.  On  the  6th  of  October,  1849.  l^e 
married  Jane  Charevoy,  who  was  born  Jan- 
uary 2,  1805,  and  died  in  April,  1870.  Two 
years  later  he  wedded  Mrs.  Dr.  R.  J.  Stough, 
a  native  of  Harwich,  Massachusetts,  and  a 
daughter  of  Josiuh  and  Deborah   Smalley. 


JOHN   THOMAS   FINCH. 

On  the  19th  of  July,  1898.  there  passed 
away  at  his  home  in  Burns  township  John 
T.  Finch,  who  for  forty-six  years  had  been 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  that  locality, 
and  whose  name  was  inseparably  connected 
with  its  agricultural  interests.  A  native  of 
Indian  Hill,  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  he  was 
born  near  Cincinnati,  July  23,  1828,  aiul  was 
a  son  of  AVilliam  and  Elizabeth  (Ferris) 
Finch,  both  of  whom  were  nati\es  of  Con- 
necticut. He  was  one  of  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased, 
the  others  being  Catherine,  who  died  un- 
married in  Harveysburg,  Ohio;  Joseph, 
who  married  Christina  Kiger,  of  Ohio,  and 
followed  farming  near  Harveysburg;  Adelia, 
who  married  a  Mr.  Black,  a  lumberman,  and 
died  at  Dubuque,  Iowa;  Priscilla,  who  first 
married  Asa  Schoonover,  a  school  teacher, 
and,  second,  J.  J.  Hollister,  a  farmer  and 
politician  of  Dunham,  Ohio;  EJiza,  wife  of 
Rev.  Isaac  Morrison,  a  Methodist  Episcopal 
minister,  who  died  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio; 
Ann,  wife  of  Samuel  Smalley,  a  farmer 
near  Milford,  Ohio;  Mary,  wife  of  a  Mr. 
Stupes,  of  Ohio;  Hannah,  wife  of  S.  Leg- 
gett,  a  farmer  of  Ohio;  Louisa,  wife  of  J. 
Scott,  a  farmer  of  the  same  state;  and  Mrs. 
Sarah  Neadry. 


414 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Ohio,  Jolm 
T.  Fincli  was  educated  in  tlie  schools  of 
Iiulian  Hill,  Asa  SclKjonover  heins;-  his  first 
teacher,  and  on  la^-ing  aside  his  text  books 
he  aided  liis  father  in  the  operation  of  the 
farm  until  he  attained  his  majority.  On 
the  1st  of  January,  1852,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Emeline  Schoonover, 
of  Marietta,  Ohio.  Her  parents,  Henry 
and  Eunice  (Hopkins)  Schoonover,  \\ere 
natives  of  Washington  county,  Ohio,  wiiile 
her  paternal  grandparents,  Nicholas  and 
Sarah  (Blue)  Schoonover,  were  natives  of 
Connecticut  and  pioneers  of  the  Buckeye 
state.  The  grandfather  was  of  Holland 
descent,  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a  soldier 
of  the  war  of  1812.  Mrs.  Finch's  great- 
great-uncle,  Stephen  Hopkins,  was  one  of 
the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence. Her  father  was  killed  by  being- 
thrown  from  a  horse  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
seven  years,  but  her  mother  Ii\-ed  to  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighty-two.  She  was  the  oldest 
of  their  six  children,  the  others  being  Ros- 
siter  F.,  Adolphus,  Mary,  Caroline  and  .\sa. 
To  our  subject  and  his  wife  were  born  three 
children,  namely:  Hattie,  born  October  i, 
1852,  married  Henry  F.  King,  a  farmer, 
who  died  at  Omaha,  Nebraska,  and  she 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  h'eb- 
laiary  6,  1876,  leaving  two  sons,  Walter  and 
Ralph;  Henry  C,  born  October  16,  1859, 
married  Armina  jNIetler  and  followed  farm- 
ing in  this  county;  they  have  three  children, 
Ernest  T.,  Bessie  I.  and  \\'inona  Belle;  and 
Adolphus,  born  February  2,  1862,  married 
Marian  Ensminger,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
business  at  Pueblo,  Colorado.  He  owns 
land  near  Goff's,  Kansas,  and  has  three 
children,  Vernon,  Eva  and  Glenn. 

In  March,  1852,  shortly  after  his  mar- 
riage,  Mr.    Finch   came   to   Henry   county, 


Illinois,  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  wild 
prairie  land  on  section  34,  Burns  township. 
Xo  railniad  had  _\et  been  built  through  the 
country,  and  the  town  of  Kewanee  was  not 
started.  To  his  original  [jurchase  ^Ir.  Finch 
added  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  and  haxing  prospered  during  his  resi- 
dence here  he  owned  at  the  time  of  his 
death  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  in  Henry  county  (having  also  sold  two 
hundred  forty  acres)  and  eighty  acres  in 
Colorado,  and  at  one  time  one  of  the  largest 
land  owners  here.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling- 
integrity  noted  for  his  fairness  in  all  busi- 
ness transactions,  and  he  commanded  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact.  He  cast  his  lirst  presi- 
dential vote  for  General  Winiield  Scott,  the 
Whig-  candidate,  and  became  a  stanch  Re- 
publican on  the  organization  of  that  party. 
He  served  as  school  director,  and  in  1896 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Altgeld  as  asso- 
ciate delegate  to  the  Farmers  National  Con- 
gress held  at  Indianapolis,  and  at  St.  Paul, 
by  Governor  Tanner,  in  1897.  He  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  of  his  com- 
munity, and  was  an  earnest  and  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  country,  of  which  his  estimable  wife 
was  also  a  member.  Of  late  years  they 
liave  held  membership  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Kewanee. 


AARON  RAPP. 

The  subject  of  this  biography,  one  of 
Illinois'  native  sons  and  a  distinguished  res- 
ident of  Geneseo,  is  to-day  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  men  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lives.  Genuine  success  is  not  likely  to 
be  the  result  of  mere  chance  or  fortune,  but 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


415 


if.  Sduiothing-  to  be  lalHired  for  and  soui^ht 
out  witli  consecutive  effort.  Mr.  Rapp  lias 
a  wide  reputation  as  a  capalile  financier,  and 
his  life  demonstrates  what  can  be  accom- 
plished through  industry,  perseverance  and 
good  management. 

Among  the  honorcil  pioneers  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state  was  Philip  l\ai)i),  the  father 
of  our  subject.  He  was  born  in  Alsace, 
(Germany,  in  1811,  a  son  of  John  Rapp,  and 
was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in  a  faniil\- 
of  si.\  children,  the  others  being  Jnhn,  who 
married  Catherine  Howard  and  lived  for 
some  years  in  Loraine  township,  this  county, 
and  died  in  Geneseo ;  Jacob,  who  married 
Elizabeth  Schuler  and  also  died  in  Cieneseo, 
after  living  some  time  in  J.oraine  township; 
(ieorge.  who  was  drowned  in  Rock  river, 
at  the  age  oi  twent_\--two  years;  Christ,  who 
married  Margaret  Esther  and  died  in  Lo- 
raine township;  ami  Catherine,  who  married 
Rudolph  I'rick  and  also  died  in  that  town- 
shi]). 

.\t  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  Philip 
Rapp  came  to  the  L'nited  States,  crossing 
the  ocean  in  an  old  time  sailing  vessel,  which 
ref|uired  six  weeks  to  make  the  voyage. 
On  landing  in  New  ^'ork  he  went  direct 
to  Pennsylvania,  and  engaged  in  farming 
in  Warren  county.  That  part  of  the  coun- 
try was  then  covered  with  a  dense  growth 
of  timber,  which  had  to  be  cut  down  and 
burned  to  make  way  for  the  cultivation  of 
the  land  and  the  raising  of  cereals,  -\fter 
two  years  s]3ent  in  that  state  Mr.  Ra])p 
came  on  foot  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  from 
there  went  to  Portland  township,  White- 
side county,  where  he  entered  a  tract  of 
government  land  in  1835,  and  began  the  im- 
provement of  a  farm.  He  continued  to  op- 
erate that  land  until  1878,  when,  having 
prospered  in  his  undertakings,  he  concluded 


to  retire  from  ;ictivc  labor,  and  that  year 
removed  to  Cieneseo,  where  he  lived  in  ease 
and  rpiiet  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  dying  there  in  January,  1890. 

In  1841  Philip  Rapp  married  Miss 
Christina  Ort,  wlm  is  now  a  resident  of 
Geneseo.  She  is  a  native  of  Wurtemburg, 
Cjcrmany.  She  came  with  her  parents  to 
America,  the  father  dying  in  Aurora,  Illi- 
nois, aged  seventy-two,  and  the  mother  in 
Rock  Island,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years.  In  her  family  were  seven  chil- 
dren, two  sons  and  five  daughters,  namelv : 
John  and  Philip,  both  deceased;  \^ena,  who 
died  in  Chicago;  Fredericka,  who  died  in 
Whiteside  county;  Harriet,  widow  of  Philip 
Zahn  an<l  a  resident  of  Milan,  Illinois; 
Christina,  mother  of  our  subject;  and  Mar- 
garetta,  a  resident  of  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

Of  the  fourteen  children  born  to  Philip 
and  Christina  (Ort)  Rapp,  tin-ee  died  in 
infancy,  while  the  others  are  Christina,  wife 
of  J.  J.  Weitline,  of  Geneseo;  Harriet, 
widow  of  Jacob  Wesling,  and  a  resident  of 
Chicago;  Aaron,  our  subject;  Abraham  L., 
v,ho  married  Clara  .\rnett  and  lives  in 
Loraine  township,  this  county;  William, 
who  married  Susan  Lauderbaugh  and  re- 
sides in  Hastings,-  Nebraska;  Louisa,  twin 
sister  of  William,  residing  with  her  mother 
in  Cieneseo;  Emily,  wife  of  E,  O.  Goemble, 
of  Hooppole;  John  H.,  who  married  Clara 
Libby  and  lives  in  Rockford,  Illinois;  Sam- 
uel, who  married  Malvina  Arnold  and  lives 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Whiteside  county; 
h'red  E..  a  resident  of  Cieneseo;  and  Jennie, 
wife  of  Cirant  Henncy,  of  Fairburv,  Ne- 
braska. 

'Sly.  Kapj),  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Portland  township,  \\'hiteside  county,  Illi- 
nois, November  25,   1848,  and  received  his 


4i6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


education  in  tlie  public  schools  near  his  boy- 
hood home.  On  leaving  the  parental  roof, 
at  the, age  of  twenty  years,  he  started  out 
to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  The  in- 
domitable will,  energy  and  pluck  character- 
istic of  the  father  were  inherited  by  the  son, 
and  he  has  made  his  way  to  the  front  rank 
among  the  substantial  business  men  of  his 
locality.  His  success  is  but  the  logical  re- 
sult of  well-directed  efforts.  His  broad 
common  sense,  vigorous,  able  management 
of  his  business  affairs,  and  upright  and  hon- 
orable dealing  have  been  important  factors 
in  leading  him  to  wealth.  That  success  is 
the  result  of  merit  can  truthfully  be  said 
of  ;Mr.  Rapp.  From  time  to  time  he  has 
added  to  his  possessions  until  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  over  eleven  hundred  acres  of  land 
in  Henry  county,  besides  city  propertv  in 
Geneseo. 

On  the  1 7th  of  :May,  1S70,  Mr.  Rapp 
married  iliss  Christina  Hines,  who  was 
born  Xovember  10,  185 1,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Susan  Hines,  the  farmer  a 
native  of  Prussia,  Germany,  the  latter  of 
Pennsylvania.  She  is  the  third  in  order  of 
birth  in  their  family  of  eight  children,  the 
others  being  John  H.,  who  married  Amanda 
Hirshman  and  makes  his  home  in  Kansas; 
Lucy,  wife  of  George  ^^'.  Rowe,  whose 
sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume; Mary,  wife  of  Abner  Offerle,  and 
Sarah,  wife  of  L.  Sieben,  both  of  whom  are 
represented  elsewhere  in  this  work ;  Harriet, 
wife  of  John  H.  Goemble,  of  Geneseo;  Peter 
H.,  who  married  Eva  Grimes  and  is  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance  business  in  Geneva. 
Nebraska;  and  Frederick  H.,  who  married 
Sarah  Bolen  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Phenix  township,  this  county. 

Unto  Mr.  and  ilrs.  Rapp  have  been 
born  the  following  named  children :  Alice, 


born  June  21.  1S71,  is  the  wife  of  John  W. 
Bolen,  a  farmer  of  Geneseo  township.  Flora 
and  Cora,  twins,  born  October  13,  1873.  are 
at  home.  Stella,  born  September  4.  1877, 
died  March  26,  1881.  Emma,  bom  July 
27,  1880,  is  the  wife  of  \\'illiam  Berge.  of 
Geneseo.  Howard  Roy  is  mentioned  more 
fully  below.  \'esta,  born  October  4.  1887, 
is  at  home. 

Howard  R.  Rapp  was  born  October  24, 
1882,  and  died  September  21,  1899.  while  in 
the  bloom  of  youth  with  a  most  brilliant  ca- 
reer before  him.  Although  a  mere  boy  he 
had  already  won  the  admiration  and  friend- 
ship of  men  of  influence  and  learning,  being 
exceptionally  bright.  He  was  a  graduate 
of  the  Collegiate  Institute  of  Geneseo,  was 
president  of  his  class  and  treasurer  of  the 
Alumni  Association.  During  his  school  days 
he  was  a  most  faithful  student  and  contin- 
ually won  the  honors  of  his  class.  He  was 
loved  by  his  teachers  and  schoolmates  alike 
and  filled  no  ordinary  space  in  the  affec- 
tions of  the  people  of  his  native  city.  His 
personal  friendship  extended  far  beyond  the 
confines  of  Geneseo  and  was  made  brighter 
and  stronger  by  the  goodness  and  greatness 
of  his  character.  He  approached  the  ladder 
of  fame  as  a  scholar  and  placed  his  foot  on 
every  round  on  which  he  stood  as  the  result 
of  his  own  labor  and  merit.  If  he  had  op- 
portunity he  created  it;  if  he  had  success  he 
achieved  it;  if  he  had  victory  he  won  it;  and 
his  sudden  death  was  felt  not  alone  by  his 
immediate  family  but  by  the  entire  coni- 
nninitv  in  which  he  lived. 


MRS.  ELIZABETH  MARTIN. 

Among  the  ladies  of  Burns  township 
none  are  more  widely  known  or  more  highly 
respected  than  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Martin,  who 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


417 


jias  resided  here  fi>r  alnmst  lialf  a  century. 
-v  native  of  Ireland,  slie  was  born  in  county 
Londonderry,  August  9,  1827,  and  is  one 
of  a  family  of  tive  children,  all  of  wliom 
are  now  living.  Her  parents,  Robert  and 
Catherine  (Gibbons)  McRell,  were  also 
boni  on  the  Emerald  Isle  and  came  to  the 
new  world  in  1848,  locating  first  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania.  Four  years  later 
they  came  to  Hein-y  county,  Illinois,  and 
tLX)k:  up  their  residence  in  Burns  township, 
V,  here  they  continued  to  make  their  home 
throughout  life.  They  were  consistent  and 
faithful  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  were  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  had 
the  pleasure  of  their  acquaintance.  The  fa- 
ther died  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  ninety-three 
years,  and  the  mother  passed  away  Septem- 
ber 4,  1885,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine,  the 
remains  of  both  being  interred  in  Cosners 
cemetery.  The  family  is  noted  for  lon- 
gevity. 

Miss  Elizabeth  McRell  \\as  a  young  lady 
when  she  came  to  this  country  with  her  sis- 
ter in  1847,  one  year  before  her  parents 
•came,  and  in  1850  she  was  married  in  Phila- 
delphia to  John  Martin.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  lived  for  about  two  years  in  Phil- 
adelphia and  then  moved  to  Bellefontaine, 
Ohio,  where  they  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1855,  and  then  came  to  Henry  county, 
Illinois.  Subsequently  they  spent  a  short 
time  in  Iowa,  but  on  disposing  of  their  prop- 
erty there  they  returned  to  this  county  and 
I\Ir.  Martin  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Burns  township,  to  which  lie  added  from 
time  to  time  until  he  had  accumulated  four 
hundred  acres,  but  having  given  a  farm  to 
bis  son,  he  had  but  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  farm 
he  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  in  connection  with  its  operation  he  also 


cn,gaged  in  raising  and  feeding  stock  for 
market,  and  was  quite  an  extensive  shipper. 
He  served  as  county  commissioner  and 
school  director  and  also  filled  other  local 
oftices  of  honor  and  trust.  He  was  one  of 
the  leading  and  prominent  citizens  of  his 
community.  After  a  useful  and  well-spent 
life  lie  passed  away  October  28,  1899,  and 
was  laid  to  rest  in  Cosners  cemetery.  He 
lield  membership  in  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
to  which  Mrs.  Martin  also  belongs. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  were  born  six 
children,  as  follows:  Hugh  A.,  who  is  rep- 
resented on  another  page  of  this  volume; 
Robert,  a  resident  of  Kewanee;  John  G., 
deceased ;  William  James,  a  resident  of  Chi- 
cago; Sarah  Jane,  now  Mrs.  J.  W.  Barber, 
\\ho  has  charge  of  Airs.  Alartin's  farm, 
having  rented  it  for  the  past  eleven  years; 
and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  The  members 
of  this  family  are  quite  prominent  in  the 
communities  where  thev  reside. 


ARTHUR  C.  BUTLER. 

Among  the  prominent  educators  of  west- 
ern Illinois  is  numbered  Professor  A.  C. 
Butler,  who  is  now  serving  as  superintend- 
ent of  the  public  schools  of  Kewanee.  He 
is  a  native  of  this  state,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  Morgan  county,  in  1848.  His 
fatlier,  James  L.  Butler,  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, in  1815,  and  about  1840  came  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  near  Jacksonville,  Morgan 
county,  where  he  was  married,  in  1844,  to 
Miss  Oletha  Sargent,  who  was  born  in 
Brown  county,  Ohio,  in  February,  1825,  and 
v.as  bn  night  to  this  state  in  1828,  by  her  par- 
ents, \\'illiam  L.  and  Malinda  Sargent.  Her 
father  took  a  very  prominent  part  in  local 


418 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


politics,  and.  Ijeing  \ery  outspoken  in  liis 
support  of  aljolition  principles,  he  got  into  se- 
rious trouble  several  times.  He  was  a  per- 
sonal friend  of  Owen  Lovejoy  and  strongly 
denounced  liis  murderers.  His  home  was 
the  stopping  place  for  the  itinerate  minis- 
ters, for  he  was  a  devout  Christian,  and  in 
early  days  with  h.is  wife  and  children  in  an 
ox  cart  would  go  t«j  the  two-days'  meet 
ings  in  their  locality.  Later  the  Mount  Zion 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  built  upon 
his  farm  in  Morgan  county,  and  his  home 
became  a  station  on  tlie  "underground  rail- 
road." 

James  L.  Butler,  the  professor's  father, 
engaged  in  farming  in  Morgan  county  until 
1862,  when  he  removed  to  Macon  county, 
Illinois,  and  eight  years  later  went  to  Xeosha 
county.  Kansas,  where  he  improved  a  farm 
and  continued  to  make  his  home  until  his 
death,  whicli  occurred  in  1891,  when  he 
was  seventy-si.x  years  of  age.  He  was  also 
actively  identified  with  religious  work,  and 
was  an  officer  in  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal 
Church  for  more  than  a  generation.  He  was 
a  radical  temperance  man,  and  often  talked 
on  that  and  other  subjects  along  moral  lines. 
He  also  took  a  deep  interest  in  educational 
affairs,  was  a  prominent  factor  in  all  school 
work,  and  was  a  member  of  the  school  board 
for  years.  He  was  instrumental  in  building 
the  first  brick  school  house  in  his  locality, 
and  took  great  interest  in  building  and  sus- 
taining the  church  at  South  Mound.  Kansas. 
He  was  a  lover  of  nature,  especially  the 
forest,  and  planted  more  than  one  thousand 
trees  upon  his  farm.  Upon  that  place  his 
son  and  daughter  still  reside.-  His  wife 
passed  away  !\lay  29,  1900.  At  the  age  of 
eight  vears  she  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  throughout  life  was 
a  consistent  and  faithful  Christian. 


To  this  worthy  couple  were  Ix^rn  twelve 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  the 
others  being  as  follows:  Charles  \\'esley, 
enlisted  in  1862  in  Battery  B,  Second  Illi- 
nois Light  Artillery,  and  was  with  Sher- 
man on  the  march  to  the  sea.  He  was  cap- 
tured at  Goldsboro.  North  Carolina,  and  as 
a  prisoner  of  war  was  confined  at  Danville, 
\'irginia,  for  a  short  time,  and  was  then 
transferred  to  Libby  prison,  remaining 
there  until  Grant  captured  Richmond. 
\\'hile  waiting  to  be  mustered  out  at  Camp 
Butler,  Springfield,  Illinois,  he  died  in  June. 
1865,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years.  Ar- 
thur C,  our  subject,  is  the  next  in  order  of 
birth,  \\illiam  K.  is  a  resident  of  Kansas 
City.  John  T.  makes  his  home  in  Tuscola, 
Illinois.  Fletcher  A.  is  a  practicing  physi- 
cial  of  Harvard,  Nebraska.  Thomas  P. 
ii"  a  physician  of  San  Diego,  California. 
Z^Iilton  S.  and  IMelinda  reside  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Kansas.  Julia  Belle  is  the 
wife  of  George  Duree,  of  Edna,  Kansas. 
Harriet  ^I.  is  the  wife  of  John  Hinson.  a 
farmer  of  Oxford,  Arkansas. 

Professor  Butler  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  un- 
til fourteen  years  of  age,  when  he  accom- 
panied the  family  on  their  removal  to  Macon 
county.  His  early  education  was  acquired 
in  the  district  schools,  and  he  later  attended 
the  State  Normal  School  at  Normal,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  was  graduated  in  1878.  Prior 
to  his  graduation  he  taught  school  for  two 
terms,  and  then  took  charge  of  the  public 
schools  at  Normal,  where  he  remained  two 
years.  For  the  same  length  of  time  he  was 
principal  of  the  public  schools  of  \^irginia. 
Cass  county,  where  he  had  seven  assistants. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  was  chosen  super- 
intendent of  the  schools  at  Beardstown,  the 
same  countv.  where  he  remained  nine  years. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


419 


ai:(l  Iiad  from  fifteen  to  twenty-two  teachers 
imder  him.  During  that  time  three  scliool 
buililing:;  were  erected  at  tliat  place  and  a 
great  improvement  made  in  educational 
work.  He  established  a  manual  training 
department  of  the  public  school — one  of  tlie 
first  of  its  kind  in  the  state — which  was 
■very  successful  during  his  stay  there.  In 
1 89 1  Professor  Butler  was  elected  as  princi- 
jial  of  the  Taylorville  (Illinois)  township 
ingh  school,  where  he  remained  three  years, 
and  in  1894  was  chosen  superintendent  oi 
the  schools  of  Kewanee.  which  responsible 
position  he  has  since  filled  in  a  most  credit- 
able and  satisfactory  manner.  He  now  has 
forty-five  assistants,  and  everything  is  in  first 
c'ass  order.  Kewanee  has  five  moderr, 
.^chool  buildings,  which  in  regard  to  sanitary 
conditions  and  conveniences  rank  among  the 
best  in  the  state. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  1871,  Professor 
I'.utler  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Eliza  Eaton,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  a 
daughter  of  William  K.  and  Elizabeth  Ea- 
ton, who  were  natives  of  Sullivan  county, 
Indiana.  By  this  union  were  born  three 
children  :  Wilbur  F.  (iazcllc  J.  is  very  pro- 
ficient in  music  and  is  now  jjursuing  her 
studies  along  that  line  at  Kno.x  College, 
Galesburg:  she  has  successfully  taught  both 
vocal  and  instrumental  music,  and  her  ser- 
vices as  a  musician  are  in  great  demand  in 
both  church  and  social  circles.  Ruby  Al- 
berta died  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  eight  years. 
She  was  a  sweet  little  girl  of  much  prom- 
ise, and  possessed  remarkable  elocutionary 
talent. 

William  K.  Eatcm.  Mrs.  Butler's  father, 
^vas  one  of  the  active  ami  enterprising  far- 
mers of  Christian  county,  and  served  as 
supervisor  of  his  town.ship  from  its  organi- 
jzation  until  his  death,   which    occurred   in 


1867,  when  he  was  about  fifty-two  years  of 
age.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  did  all  within  his 
power  for  the  betterment  of  his  fellow  men. 
His  wife  was  a  remarkable  woman,  who 
after  his  death  kept  her  familj-  together 
and  carefully  reared  them.  She  was  also  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  died  in  that  faith  in  June,  1900, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Emma  R.,  wife  of  M.  R.  Wetzel, 
a  farmer  of  Christian  county;  Eliza,  wife  ot 
cur  subject :  Margaret  A.,  wife  of  W'.  A. 
Clawson,  of  Assumption,  Illinois;  William, 
a  farmer  living  near  the  same  place :  Jordan 
S.,  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  near 
Stonington.  Christian  county ;  and  Dora, 
wife  of  Bentley  Kearns,  who  lives  near 
Owaneco,  Illinois. 

Professor  Butler  is  ])rominent  in  educa- 
tional circles,  and  has  served  as  president  of 
the  Central  Illinois  Teachers'  .Association 
and  vice-president  of  the  State  .\ssociation. 
He  has  achieved  a  iiigh  reputation  in  insti- 
tute work,  in  which  he  has  taken  a  very  ac- 
tive and  prominent  part  since  the  law  was 
enacted  for  that  purpose.  .\s  an  educator 
he  ranks  deservedly  high,  and  has  contrib- 
uted many  able  articles  to  educational  jour- 
nals and  other  magazines.  He  is  the  author 
of  a  work  entitled  "Persimmons,"  a  twelve 
mo.  volume,  and  has  written  many  bright 
and  interesting  stories  for  boys  and  girls, 
which  have  been  published  in  the  School 
Xews  and  have  been  most  highly  appre- 
ciated. .Among  these  are  a  vacation  story, 
Christmas  story.  Thanksgiving  story,  tem- 
perance story  and  Memorial  Day  story,  the 
last  being  an  allegory.  The  Professor  has 
also  delivered  a  numl)er  of  lectures  before 
institutes  and  teachers"  associations.  He  is 
a  Master  Mason,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 


420 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


are  active  meinljers  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  of  Kewanee.  of  wiiich  lie  is 
one  of  the  trustees. 


RICHARD  PAYXE. 

Among  the  representative  business  men 
of  Galva  is  this  well-known  manufacturer  of 
brick,  who  has  lieen  a  resident  of  Henry 
count}-  since  1865.  and  during  the  greater 
part  of  this  time  has  been  prominently  iden- 
tified with  its  industrial  interests.  He  was 
born  in  Oswestry.  Shropshire,  England, 
May  12,  1824,  his  parents  being  Thomas  and 
Catherine  (Richards)  Payne,  natives  of  the 
same  place.  The  father  and  grandfather 
were  also  brick-makers,  the  latter  being  en- 
gaged in  that  business  in  England  through- 
out life.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine 
years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  ex- 
treme old  age  (if  line  hundred  and  one  years. 
In  his  nati\e  land  the  father  fullowed  his 
chosen  occupation  until  1850.  when  he 
brought  his  familv  to  America  and  settled 
at  Henry,  Marshall  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  imtil  he  laiil  aside 
all  business  cares.  There  his  death  occurred 
when  he  was  ninety-six  years  of  age,  and  his 
wife,  who  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
W'esleyan  ^ilethodist  Ciiurch,  passed  away 
at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 

Nine  cliildren  were  born  to  them,  of 
whom  one  daughter,  ^lary,  died  in  England 
at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  prior  to  the  emi- 
gration of  the  family  to  America.  Thomas, 
the  eldest,  was  for  thirty  years  engaged  in 
market  gardening  at  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  died  in  1899,  when  over  eighty 
years  of  age.  John  was  formerly  engageil  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick  at  Chariton,  Iowa, 


but  is  now  farming  in  Kansas.  Anna  is 
the  wife  of  George  Jarvis  of  England.  Ed- 
ward, who  died  in  Henry,  Illinois  in  1894, 
manufactured  nearly  all  the  brick  made  in 
that  section  of  the  state  for  many  years. 
Ricliard.  our  subject,  is  next  in  order  of 
birth.  William  is  a  brick  manufacturer  of 
Chariton,  Lucas  county,  Iowa.  Ann,  de- 
ceased, was  the  wife  of  Henry  Rommel, 
who  engaged  in  farming  near  Wataga,  Illi- 
nois. George  has  for  thirty-five  years  lived 
a  retired  life  in  Geneseo.  The  children  were 
all  educatetl  in  the  common  schools  of 
England. 

Durng  his  minority  Richard  Payne  re- 
mained at  home  with  his  parents,  and  with 
iiis  father  }earned  the  art  of  brick  making, 
to  which  he  has  devoted  his  time  and  atten- 
tion since  ten  years  of  age,.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  commenced  working  in  a  brick 
A'ard  near  home,  and  after  the  emigration  uf 
the  famil}"  to  the  new  W(.:rld,  he  and  his 
lirothers  .started  a  _\'ard  at  Henry,  Illinois, 
which  was  conducted  by  one  of  the  Iirotliers 
until  his  death  in  1894.  On  withdrawing 
from  the  firm  our  subject  and  lircjther  Will- 
iam went  to  Galesburg,  wiiere  they  estab- 
lished a  plant  and  were  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  brick,  for  ten  years,  meeting  with 
remarkable  success  financially.  Then  sell- 
ing to  his  brother  he  came  to  Henry  count}' 
in  1865,  purchased  land  and  erected  teni- 
porar}-  kilns  near  the  "gnne,"'  where  he  was 
located  for  two  }"ears,  biu  when  coal  \vas 
disco\ered  in  the  eastern  part  oi  (iaha,  he 
removed  to  his  present  local  cni.  He  begar^ 
business  here  on  a  small  scale,  but  has  en- 
larged his  plant  to  meet  tire  growing  de- 
mands of  his  trade,  and  has  manufactured 
as  high  as  two  million,  three  hundred  thou 
sand  brick  annually,  ha\ing  three  large  kilns 
with  a  capacity    of  two  Inindred    thousand 


TPIE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


42 1 


brick  eacli.  In  former  years  Peoria  was  his 
principal  market,  and  lie  furnished  man} 
tiiousand  l)ricks  for  the  post  office  at  that 
jilace.  He  also  shipped  to  manj-  other  points 
throuj^lioiit  the  surrounding  county.  He 
has  employed  as  many  as  thirty  men  during 
the  busy  season,  and  now  gives  employment 
to  about  ten.  At  present  he  does  little  out- 
side soliciting,  taking  only  those  orders 
which  come  to  him.  In  his  brick  making 
he  uses  nunlern  machinerw  the  daily  capac 
ity  of  which  is  about  thirty-five  thousand, 
and  he  makes  it  a  point  to  manufacture  about 
twenty  thousand  brick.  The  capacity  of  his 
tlrying  sheds  and  racks  is  about  one  hun- 
dred thousand.  Mr.  Payne  now  ships  his 
brick  mainly  to  Kewanee.  He  owns  a  whole 
block  of  ground  in  Galva.  and  has  erected 
thereon  his  present  comfortable  residence. 

In  1876  Mr.  Payne  married  Miss  Ame- 
lia Rowe.  a  native  of  Cornwall,  England,  by 
whom  he  liad  two  children,  namely :  Xellie, 
now  the  wife  of  Forest  Barlow,  a  farmer 
of  Kno.\  C()unty,  by  whom  she  has  three  chil- 
dren. Amy,  Richard  and  Howard;  and 
Thomas  who  lives  at  home  and  aids  his 
father  in  business.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  in  i'ebruary,  i88j.  and  in  1SS4  Mr. 
Payne  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Truscott,  also 
a  native  of  Cornwall,  England.  All  her 
people  reside  in  England.  Htr  father  antl 
mother,  however,  are  both  dead.  Mrs.  Payne 
crime  to  .\merica  at  age  of  twenty-five  pears, 
coming  direct  to  Galva.  and  in  the  fall  of 
1S71  was  married  to  William  Truscott,  also 
a  native  of  Cornwall.  England.  He  followed 
mining  until  his  death  in  1881. 

By  his  ballot  Mr.  Payne  supports  tlie 
men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party, 
but  has  never  taken  an  active  part  in  politi- 
cal affairs,  though  he  has  capably  served  as 


a  member  of  the  town  board.  Starting  out 
in  life  for  himself  empty-handed,  he  de- 
serves great  credit  for  the  success  that  he  has 
achieved  in  life,  and  his  career  demonstrates 
what  can  be  accomplished  by  industry,  dili- 
gence and  good  management. 


Pi.WID  B.  BARGE. 

One  of  the  honoretl  early  settlers  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Henry  county 
is  David  B.  Barge,  who  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  on  section  29,  Plienix  township. 
He  was  born  in  Armstrong  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, on  the  3d  of  May,  1827,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Jane  (Elliott)  Barge,  also 
natives  of  the  same  state.  By  trade  the 
father  was  a  carpenter  but  devoted  many 
years  of  his  life  to  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. \\'hen  our  subject  was  seven  years  old 
the  family  removed  to  Richland  county, 
Ohio,  and  after  living  there  for  two  years 
took  up  their  residence  in  Wayne  county, 
that  state,  where  the  father  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  called  from  this  life 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  The  mother 
survived  him  many  years  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois, making  her  home  with  our  subject,  un- 
til she  died  at  about  the  same  age.  They 
were  the  parents  of  sixteen  children,  of 
whom  Da\iil  B.  is  the  fourteenth  in  order  of 
birth.  The  others  who  are  still  living  are 
Robert,  a  farmer  of  Nebraska;  William, 
a  lawyer  of  Dixon,  Illinois;  and  Isabella, 
a  resident  of  Grand  Island,  Nebraska.. 

During  his  boyhood  David  B.  Barge  at- 
tended the  common  schools  of  Ohio,  and  aid- 
ed his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  On 
leaving  home  in  1847.  'i^  started  for  \\'is- 
consin  bv  wav  of  the  (Jreat  Lakes,  l)ut  on 


422 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


account  of  a  fierce  storm  which  was  raging 
the  vessel  on  wiiicii  he  took  passage  was  un- 
able to  land  its  passengers  at  Alilwaukee 
and  proceeded  to  Chicago,  whence  ^Ir.  Page 
went  by  canal  to  La  Salle,  Illinois,  and  by 
stage  to  Princeton,  from  which  place  he 
later  walked  to  Henry  county.  Here  he  oa- 
gaged  in  threshing  until  fall,  when  he  went 
to  Grant  county.  \\'isconsin,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  mining,  but  being  unable  to  obtain 
employment  along  that  line,  he  engaged  in 
chopping  cord  wood  through  the  winter.  On 
March  4,  1848.  he  again  came  to  Illi- 
nois, going  by  stage  to  Galena  and  on  foot 
to  Albany,  where  he  again  took  a  stage  for 
Geneseo,  but  on  account  of  the  muddy  roads 
was  forced  to  walk  much  of  the  distance.  On 
arriving  here  he  purchased  a  land  warrant, 
and  in  May  went  to  Dixon  on  foot  to  enter 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  government 
land  on  section  28.  Phenix  township,  to  the 
improvement  and  cultivation  of  which  he 
devoted  his  energies  until  1894,  when  he 
rented  his  farm  and  went  to  live  on  the  place 
owned  by  his  son,  on  section  29,  Piienix 
township. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1851,  ^Mr.  Barge 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  M. 
Aid  rich,  a  native  of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
and  a  daughter  of  Columbus  C.  and  Sophia 
(Overmeyer)  Aldrich.  The  father  was 
born  in  Providence  county.  Rhode  Island, 
and  at  an  early  day  removed  to  Pickaway 
county.  Obit),  and  afterward  to  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  making  his  home  in  Hanna 
township  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  about  sixty-seven  years  of  age. 
Throughout  life  he  followed  the  occupation 
of  farming.  His  wife  died  in  the  same 
township  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five 
years.  Of  their  six  children,  only  two  are 
now  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Hanna 


township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barge  have  two 
children:  Alvin  W.,  a  prosperous  farmer, 
who  owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  29, 
Phenix  township,  and  has  filled  the  office  of 
road  commissioner,  married  Lulu  Spade, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Clyde,  Milly  and  Glenn,  all 
born  in  Phenix  township.  Alice  C.  is 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Lauderbaugh,  also  a 
farmer  of  Phenix  township. 

When  Mr.  Barge  recorded  the  deed  for 
his  first  piece  of  land  in  Henry  county  there 
V.  as  not  a  house  between  Geneseo  and  Cam- 
bridge, and  hardly  a  foot  of  cultivated  land. 
Deer  and  prairie  wolves  were  often  seen, 
and  wild  game  was  found  in  abundance.  In 
the  work  of  development  and  progress  he  has 
ever  borne  his  part,  and  by  breaking  and 
improving  about  six  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  he  has  materially  advanced  the 
interests  of  the  county  .  His  career  well  in- 
dicates what  can  be  accomplished  by  deter- 
mined effort  for  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  empty-handed,  and  his  success  is 
due  entirely  to  his  own  industry,  good  busi- 
ness ability  and  excellent  management.  Hav- 
ing acquired  a  comfortable  competence,  he  is 
now  able  to  lay  aside  all  business  cares  and 
is  living  a  retired  life.  Politically  Mr.  Barge 
has  been  a  life-long  Democrat. 


EUGEXIO  K.  HAYES. 

In  the  great  competitive  struggle  of  life, 
v.lien  each  must  enter  the  field  and  fight 
his  way  to  the  front,  or  else  be  overtaken 
by  disaster  of  circumstance  pr  place,  there 
is  ever  particular  interest  attaching  to  the 
life  of  one  wlxi  has  turned  tlie  tide  of  sue- 


^^         ~^*?<>~s 

& 

>m^ 

1 

fSH^^^V  >Agjfc 

E.   K.  HAYES. 


^.,1  OFiaiNOIS 
URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


425 


cess,  has  surniounted  tlie  obstacles  and  lias 
shown  his  ability  to  cope  witli  otiiers  in 
their  rush  for  tiie  coveted  goal.  Occupying 
a  prominent  place  among  th.e  successful 
business  men  of  Henry  county  is  E.  K. 
Hayes,  vice-president  and  manager  of  the 
Haves  Pump  &  Planter  Company,  of  Gal\a. 

.\  natixe  of  Illinois,  he  was  born  in  La 
Fayette,  Stark  county,  on  the  21st  of  May, 
1848,  a  son  of  Harry  and  Harriet  (Wright) 
Hayes,  botli  natives  of  New  York,  where 
their  marriage  was  celebrated.  He  is  of 
linglish  and  Scotch  descent,  but  for  many 
generations  his  ancestors  have  been  resi- 
dents of  this  criuntry.  His  father  was  Imrn 
in  Saratoga  county,  Xcw  York,  in  1806, 
and  about  1829  came  to  Illinois,  being  one 
•of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Stark  county. 
From  a  wild,  unbroken  tract  of  land  he 
developed  a  tine  farm,  and  continued  to 
follow  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  life. 
He  was  quite  an  extensive  stock  raiser  and 
met  with  excellent  success  in  his  undertak- 
ings. He  was  a  stanch  Al)olitit)nist  and  one 
of  the  earliest  advocates  of  that  doctrine. 
After  a  long,  busy  and  useful  life,  he  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  and 
his  wife,  wlu)  was  born  in  1807,  died  .Xjjril 
30,  1875,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  Of  their 
four  children  the  oldest  was  Ixjrn  in  Xew 
York  before  the  family  came  to  this  state. 
In  order  of  birth  they  were  as  follows : 
Julia  A.,  who  married  Jnhn  Peterson  and 
died  in  Kewatiee ;  Mary  E.,  deceased  wife 
of  A.  M.  Snyder,  of  Stark  county;  Mar- 
garet, who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years : 
and  Eugenio  K.,  the  only  survivor. 

Mr.  Hayes,  of  this  review,  received  his 
etlucation  in  the  public  schools  of  Stark  and 
Henry  counties.  He  remained  upon  the 
home  farm,  which  he  later  owned,  until 
1875,    when     he    purchased    a    farm    near 


Kewanee,  where  he  remained  si.x  rears.  In 
1 88 1  he  entered  into  partnership  with  H. 
H.  Perkins  in  the  manufacture  of  the  Boss 
shoveling  board.  His  first  invention  was  a 
two-row  stalk  cutter,  known  as  the  Hayes 
two-row  cutter,  which  he  sold  to  the  Decre- 
-Mansur  Company  at  a  fair  price.  This  he 
in\entcd  while  1  m  the  home  farm,  intro- 
(hiced  III  the  trade  by  wagon,  ;md  created 
a  demrnid  for  the  same.  He  was  first  en- 
gaged in  Inisiness  at  Kewanee.  where  he 
soon  doubled  the  manufacturing  capacity 
of  his  place,  and  added  to  it  the  retail  busi- 
ress.  .\t  the  end  of  a  year  he  purchased 
Mr.  Perkins'  interest,  and  CdUtinued  in 
business  alone  at  Kewanee  until  i8S().  when 
he  removed  to  CJalva.  On  the  5th  of  Jan- 
uary, iS(ji,  he  organized  a  stock  cnuipanv 
v,  ilh  a  capital  of  one  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars, which  a  few  years  later  was  increased 
to  two  hundred  lliousand  dnllars.  Mr. 
Hayes,  is  one  of  the  largest  stockholders  of 
the  company,  ser\ed  as  its  president  for 
some  time,  and  is  now  \ice-president  and 
manager.  Tlie_\'  now  manufacture  corn 
planters,  pumjis,  riding  and  walking  cultiva- 
tors, harrows,  shoveling  boards,  but  make  a 
specialty  of  cultiwators  and  planters,  their 
capacity  being  one  hundred  complete  ma- 
chines per  day.  The  plans  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  all  these  machines  have  been  dictated 
by  our  subject,  with  the  exception  of  the 
riding  cultixatur,  whicli  was  inventeil  by 
his  son,  Ralph  W.  Mr.  Hayes  has  i)at- 
ented  an  autmnatic  reel  for  winding  check 
row  wire:  a  two  cylinder  force  iiump:  and 
the  Ha_\es  and  h'.clipse  planters,  nf  which 
th.ere  are  between  thirty-tive  and  forty  thou- 
sand now  on  the  market.  He  has  numer- 
ous patents  on  shoveling  boards,  of  which 
he  manufactures  from  twenty-five  to  thirty 
tliousand  annualh',  and  alxuU   four  inindred 


426 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tliousand  liave  been  placed  upon  the  mar- 
ket. Mr.  Hayes  also  has  two  patents  on  a 
steel  lawn  swing  manufactured  by  the  com- 
pany, and  has  perfected  one  of  the  most  com- 
plet  lines  of  walking  and  riding  cultivators 
on  the  market.  Under  his  management  the 
company  has  steadily  prospered  and  is  one 
of  the  most  important  industrial  concerns 
in  the  county.  They  now  have  eight  sales- 
men upon  the  road,  traveling  through  Illi- 
nois. Iowa,  Kansas.  Missouri,  Indiana, 
Wisconsin.   Minnesota   and    South   Dakota. 

On  the  19th  of  January.  1871,  in  Stark 
county,  ^Ir.  Hayes  was  united  in  marriage 
vvith  Miss  ^latilda  J-  Dack,  who  was  born 
in  Henry  county.  October  8.  1848,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Joim  and  Jane  Dack,  pioneers  of 
this  section.  By  trade  the  father  was  a 
shoemaker,  but  for  many  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  died  upon  his  farm 
south  of  Kewanee.  The  death  of  his  wife 
occurred  in  that  city.  They  were  of  Scotch 
and  Irish  descent.  Their  children  who  are 
now  living  are  John,  a  resident  of  Nebraska, 
who  owns  about  one  thousand,  two  hundred 
acres;  Thomas,  who  is  also  living  in  that 
state,  where  he  owns  sixteen  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land ;  Frederick,  superinten- 
dent of  the  Hayes  Pump  &  Planter  Com- 
pany; !Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Gillan,  a  resident  of 
Omaha :  and  Matilda  J.,  wife  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Hayes  have  five  children, 
namely:  Ralph  ^\'.,  a  graduate  of  the  me- 
chanical engineering  department  of  Ann 
Arbor  University,  is  of  an  inventive  turn 
of  mind  and  is  now  assistant  superintend- 
ent in  his  father's  shop.  He  married  Stella 
]Mink  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Lucile. 
Albert  L.  attended  the  University  of  Cham- 
paign one  year,  and  Ann  Arbor  two  years, 
and  is  now  salesman  and  general  agent  for 
the  Hayes  I^nnp  &  Planter  Company,  with 


headquarters  at  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.  For- 
rest S.  is  fitting  himself  for  a  lawyer  at 
Ann  Arlx'r.  I'red  D.  possesses  consider- 
able talent  as  an  artist,  and  is  now  a  student 
at  the  Chicago  Art  Institute.  Percy  C.  is 
now  employed  as  time  keeper  in  his  father's 
office.  All  of  the  sons,  with  the  exception  of 
Albert  L.,  are  graduates  of  the  Galva  high 
school. 

Being  a  strong  temperance  man  Mr. 
Hayes  supixjrts  the  Prohibition  party,  and 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  its  work.  He 
lias  been  a  delegate  to  its  conventions  and 
has  been  candidate  for  state  treasurer  on 
the  party  ticket.  He  is  an  earnest  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with 
which  he  has  been  officially  connected,  and. 
i.=  now  serving  as  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school.  Fraternally  he  is  a  membec 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
Starting  out  in  life  for  himself  with  no 
capital  his  prosperity  has  been  worthily 
achieved,  and  he  well  deserves  the  enviable 
position  which  he  now  occupies  in  business 
circles.  Self-reliance,  conscientiousness,  en- 
erg}-  and  honesty — these  are  the  traits  of 
character  that  insure  the  highest  emoluments 
and  greatest  success,  and  to  these  may  be 
attributed  tlie  success  that  has  crowned  the 
efforts  of  ^Ir.  Haves. 


HUGH  A.  MARTI X. 

It  is  quite  interesting  to  observe,  in 
noting  the  various  members  of  a  community, 
how  they  ha\e  been  gathered  together  from 
different  states  and  localities  and  how  well 
they  usually  combine  to  form  an  intelligent 
and  prosperous  community.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch,   who  to-dav  is  a  successful 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


427 


fanner  residing  on  section  13.  Burns  town- 
sliip.  Henry  cnnnty.  Illinois,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  19th  of 
June,  185 1.  His  father,  John  Martin,  was 
a  native  of  county  Londonderry,  Ireland, 
his  birth  having  occurred  near  Belfast, 
March  6,  18 18.  On  leaving  the  Emerald 
Isle  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  came  to 
America  and  tiM)k  up  his  residence  in  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  si)ent  several  years.  Liiter 
he  lived  in  Ohio,  and  in  1B54  came  to  Henrv 
county,  Illinois,  making  his  home  in  Burnr. 
township  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  first  purchase  of  land  consisted  of 
forty  acres  which  he  broke  and  improved, 
and  to  it  added  from  time  to  time  as  his 
financial  resources  increased  until  he  had  ac- 
cumulated four  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land,  which  he  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  In  connection  with  the  opera- 
tion of  his  land  he  was  also  extensively  en 
gaged  in  raising,  buying  and  shipping  stock, 
and  found  that  business  (|uite  profitable.  ll\j 
was  widely  and  favorablv  known  through- 
out the  cmmty,  and  in  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred October  jy,  1899,  the  CDmmunity 
realized  that  it  had  lost  one  of  its  best  citi- 
zens. His  remains  were  interred  in  Corner 
cemetery. 

While  a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  John 
Martin  married  Elizabeth  McRell,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  si-x  cnildren,  of  whom 
our  subject  is  the  eldest.  Robert,  now  a 
resident  of  Kewanee,  married  Laura  Snyder, 
native  of  Illinois,  who  died,  leaving  three 
children.  John  G.  married  Elizabeth  Keni- 
erling.  of  this  township,  and  followed  farm- 
ing in  Burns  township  mitil  his  death, 
which  occurred  about  fifteen  years  ago. 
Three  of  his  four  children  are  still  living. 
William  J.  married  Anna  L.  Radford,  and  is 
now  in  the  stock  commission  business  at  the 


stockyards  in  Chicago.  Sarah  Jane  is  the 
wife  of  James  Barber,  a  farmer  of  Burns 
township,  and  they  have  one  child  living. 
Elizabeth,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  died  in 
infancy. 

Hugh  A.  ^Martin  was  only  three  years 
old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  this 
county,  and  almost  his  entire  life  has  been 
passed  in  Burns  township,  though  the  fam- 
ily lived  for  a  short  time  in  Wethersfield. 
After  completing  his  education  he  taught 
school  for  one  year,  but  with  that  exception 
he  has  always  followeil  farming  during  his 
business  career.  He  also  buys  and  sells 
considerable  stock,  and  by  njjrigbt  and  hon- 
orable dealings  has  gained  an'  enviable  rep- 
lilation  in  business  circles.  He  is  now  the 
owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  in  Burns  township,  all  under 
cultivation.  In  his  political  afliliations  he  is 
;'.  stanch  Democrat,  and  has  served  as  trnvn- 
sh.ip  assessor  and  collector. 

On  the  J5th  of  December.  187^^,  Mr. 
Martin  was  united  in  marriage  with  ^liss 
Mary  O.  Alexander,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and 
li  them  have  been  born  three  sons,  namely; 
J-idwin.  born  December  9,  1875.  married 
Alice  M.  Andrews,  a  native  of  Iowa,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Lloyd  :  Charles  A.,  born 
August  30,  1877,  and  Wallace  .\.,  born 
September  2.  1885.  are  both  at  home.  The 
])arents  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Samuel  .\lexander.  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Martin,  was  one  of  the  i)ioneers  of  Henry 
county,  having  come  here  from  Dutchess 
county,  Xew  York,  at  an  early  day.  .\t 
that  time  Kewanee  contained  only  one  or 
tow  log  houses,  and  this  region  was  all 
wild  and  unimproved.  Here  he  conducted 
a  store  and  also  engaged  in  stock  raising  and 
general  farming.     In  1848  he  married  Jane 


42  8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ann  Cline,  and  to  tlieni  were  born  four  chil- 
dren:  Maria  C,  l)orn  June  5.  1849,  '*  the 
wife  of  ^lilo  Bunker,  of  Xew  Hampshire. 
INIrs.  Martin  is  ne.xt  in  order  of  l>irth.  George 
F..  l)orn  June  28,  1858,  married  Alice  Big- 
1)y,  and  is  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
in  Nebraska.  Alice  C.  born  December  20, 
i860,  is  the  wife  of  Stephen  West,  of  Ke- 
v.anee,  Illinois.  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren died  ]\Iay  16.  1875.  and  was  buried  in 
^^'ethersfield,  this  county,  while  the  father 
died  December  17,  189S,  and  was  laid  to  rest 
ip  Xeliraska. 


SHER.MAX  L.  RISHEL. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  a  suc- 
•cessful  and  enterjjrising  farmer  residing  on 
section  32.  Munson  township,  is  one  of 
Henry  county's  native  sons,  his  birth  having 
■occurred  in  Cambridge,  February  28,  1865. 
On  both  sides  he  is  of  German  descent, 
though  his  original  American  ancestors  lo- 
cated here  many  generations  ago.  His  father 
John  A.  Rishel,  was  a  native  of  Columbia 
county.  Pennsylvania,  and  come  to  Henry 
county.  Illinois,  in  September,  1859,  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years.  Being  a  dentist,  he  at 
one  opened  an  office  in  Cambridge,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  for  a 
time,  but  later  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing, becoming  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  Munson  township,  on 
which  he  locater  after  spending  a  short  time 
in  Burns  township.  It  was  in  1865  that  he 
retired  from  his  professional  labors.  He 
erected  a  good  and  substantial  building  upon 
his  place  and  made  many  other  useful  and 
valuable  improvements,  but  was  an  invalid 
during  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life,  dur- 
ing which  time  the  farm  was  operated  by 


his  sons,  who  were  young  men  of  industrious 
habits  and  good  business  ability.  He  died 
upon  his  farm  in  1896.  honored  and  respect- 
ed by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  ^larie  Fesler,  was 
born  in  Havana,  Illinois,  but  was  living  with 
b.er  parents  in  Burns  township,  this  county, 
at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  She  still  sur- 
\i\es  her  husband  and  now  makes  her  home 
in  Cambridge.  The  children  born  to  them 
are  Addie,  wife  of  F.  H.  York,  of  Michigan  ; 
.Sherman  L..  our  subject;  and  ^\'ebster  D., 
who  lives  on  the  home  farm  in  Munson 
township. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Sherman 
L.  Rishel  attended  the  public  schools  and 
also  took  an  elective  course  at  the  North- 
western Normal  Schrx)!  in  Geneseo.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  his  marriage. 
aiding  in  the  work  of  the  farm.  He  now 
owns  and  successfully  operates  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-four  acres  of  well-improved 
and  highly  cultivated  land  on  section  ^2. 
!Munson  township.  He  carries  on  general 
farming  and  stock  raising,  making  a  spec- 
ialty of  Aberdeen  and  Angus  cattle,  and  also 
handles  about  a  carload  of  hogs  annually. 
In  his  farming  operations  he  has  met  with 
fair  success,  and  has  found  the  stock  busi- 
ness quite  profitable. 

In  April,  1889,  Mr.  Rishel  married  ^liss 
Etta  Helson,  who  was  born  in  Munson 
township,  in  1864.  Her  father,  Charles 
Nelson,  followed  farming  in  that  township 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  July, 
1900,  and  her  mother  still  resides  there.  He 
came  to  this  county  about  1859,  and  from 
the  wild  prairie  developed  a  good  farm. 
Mrs.  Rishel  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth 
in  a  family  of  five  children,  the  others  being 
Justina,  wife  of  G.  W.  Hutchinson,  of  Cam- 
bridge; Manie.  wife  oi  ].  M.  Anderson,  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


42^ 


Andovcr ;  \\"i!liani  C.  and  F.  J.,  both  resi- 
dents <it  Munson  township.  To  our  sul)- 
jcct  and  his  wife  lia\e  been  l)orn  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  b'arl  X..  Ira  Cecil.  Siierniai: 
Fay  and  Zella  May.  The  three  oldest  aru 
now  attending  the  district  sch(i(.)l. 

Religiously  Mr.  and  2^irs.  Rishel  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
of  Munson,  and  he  also  holds  membership 
in  the  Odd  Fellowslodge,  the  Rebekah  so- 
ciety and  the  Modern  Woodmen  Camp.  Xo. 
28,  of  Cambridge,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the 
board  of  managers.  The  last  named  order 
lias  a  county  camp,  to  which  each  individual 
camp  sends  delegates.  It  is  the  only  county 
camp  in  the  state  and  was  organized  by  Mr. 
Pigler,  of  Kewanee,  in  1896.  It  holds  quar- 
terly meetings,  and  Mr.  Rishel  is  now  serv- 
ing as  venerable  consul  of  the  same.  In 
political  sentiment  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  always  been  cjuite  prominent  in  political 
circles.  In  1896,  he  was  elected  collector  of 
Munson  township.  He  has  also  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  and  assessor  of  his  town- 
ship, being  elected  to  the  latter  office  in  1898 
r.nd  re-elected  in  1900,  for  another  two 
years'  term.  He  is  also  filling  the  position  of 
clerk  of  the  district  school  board,  and  his  of- 
ficial duties  have  always  been  most  faithfully 
and  satisfactorily  performed. 


WILLIAM  WAVXl-:. 

The  subject  ef  this  sketch,  who  is  now 
Ii\ing  a  retired  life  in  Orion,  was  for  over 
thirty  years  actively  identified  with  the  ag- 
ricultural interests  of  Henry  county,  and  be- 
came one  of  its  most  successful  farmers  and 
slock  raisers.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of 
I'hilailelphia,   Pennsylvania,  April    i,    1827, 


of  English  ancestry,  and  is  a  descendant  of 
Cieneral  Anthony  Wayne.  In  October,  1893, 
while  in  Phila(lel])hia.  he  and  his  wife  visit- 
ed the  old  honicslcad  df  the  general,  it  being 
now  owned  liy  Captain  William  Wayne, 
who  has  allowctl  no  changes  to  be  made  in 
the  general's  room,  which  still  contained  the 
old  furnitin"c  used  by  him.  There  is  also 
an  excellent  portrait  of  him  hanging  on  its 
walls.  William  Wayne,  Sr.,  father  of  our 
sul)ject,  was  also  a  native  of  Philadelphia, 
and  was  a  prominent  hardware  merchant  of 
that  city,  where  he  and  his  wife  bi>th  died, 
the  former  in  1857,  and  the  latter  when 
our  subject  was  very  young.  She  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Rel)ecca  \\'alker,  antl  was  a 
native  of  Xew  Jersey. 

Otu"  subject  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive city  and  was  educated  in  private  schools. 
Having  a  great  fondness  for  country  life  he 
chose  farming  as  an  occupation,  and  when 
a  youiig  man  followed  that  i)iu-suit  near 
I'hiladephia  for  a  time.  'J'here  he  was  mar- 
ried Septemljer  ^.  1849,  to  Miss  Edith 
lilackfan,  and  they  made  their  home  on  a 
farm  within  six  miles  nf  Philadelphia  for 
fi\-e  years.  The  wife  died  on  that  place, 
leaving  a  daughter,  Mary,  who  was  reared 
by  an  aunt  in  Cincinnati,  and  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Piiiladelphia. 

Jt  was  in  the  spring  uf  1836  that  Mr. 
Wa_\ne  came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and 
jjurchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
w  ild  land  near  Orion.  He  broke  acre  after 
acre  of  the  virgin  soil  tuitil  the  entire  tract 
was  under  culti\ation ;  he  erected  good  and 
stibstantial  buildings,  set  out  fruit  and  forest 
trees,  and  made  many  other  improx'ements 
upon  the  place.  He  prospered  in  his  farming 
operations,  and  added  to  his  landed  posses- 
sions from  time  to  time  until  he  had  four 
hundretl  and  ten  acres,  which  he  con\'erted 


430 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


into  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  desirable 
farms  of  the  localit\-.  He  has  since  dis- 
posed of  part  of  this,  but  still  owns  the  orig- 
inal tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  he  now  rents,  while  he  lives  a  retired 
life  in  Orion,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest. 
In  connection  with  general  farming  he  also 
carried  on  stock  raising  in  a  profitable  man- 
ner. His  home  in  Orion  embraces  a  whole 
block  and  is  one  of  the  best  and  most  beau- 
tiful places  in  the  village. 

^Ir.  \\ayne  was  again  married,  December 
^,  1856,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Leibee.  who  was  born  [March  9, 
1835,  and  reared  in  !Middletown,  Ohio,  and 
is  of  German  descent.  Her  paternal  grand- 
father was  one  of  the  first  settlers  and  busi- 
ness men  of  Cincinnati,  at  one  time  owning 
a  large  part  of  that  city.  Her  father,  George 
Leibee,  was  born  in  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
in  1802,  but  his  early  life  was  principally 
passed  in  Cincinnati,  where  he  later  engaged 
in  business.  From  there  he  remo^'ed  to 
IMiddletown,  Ohio,  and  in  1855  came  to 
Osco  township,  Henry  county,  Ilinois,  where 
he  opened  up  and  improved  a  farm  of  eight 
hundred  acres.  He  became  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  the  county,  and  gave  to  each 
of  his  children  a  farm.  He  married  Mar- 
garet Dean,  daughter  of  Adam  Dean.  He 
died  in  1886,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years 
and  his  wife  died  in  1863.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Protestant  ilethodist  Church. 
^Ir.  and  ilrs.  \\'ayne  have  a  family  of  four 
children,  namely:  (i)  George  H.,  a  prom- 
inent business  man  of  Orion,  married  Har- 
riet Jones  and  has  three  children,  Bessie, 
Stella  and  Forest.  (2)  ^largaret  L.  is  the 
wife  of  Etlward  Duffield,  a  stock  dealer  of 
Orion.  (3)  Clara  J.  married  Henry  J- 
Crampton  and  died  in  Orion,  in  1887.  leav- 
ing    two    children,     Geneva    and     Clinton 


\\'ayne.  (4)  Charles,  a  grain  and  lumber 
dealer  of  Reynolds,  Rock  Island  county.  Illi- 
rois,  married  Susan  Breckenridge,  a  daugh 
•ter  of  James  Breckenridge.  of  Galva.  and 
they  have  five  children,  James  B.,  Carl.  Mary 
E.,  William  and  Edward  A. 

Politically  Mr.  Wayne  was  originally  an 
old  line  ^^  hig,  but  since  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party  has  been  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  its  men  and  measures,  but  has  never 
aspired  to  office.  He  has  ever  been  a  stanch 
friend  of  education  and  of  public  schools,  and 
while  living  on  his  farm  efficiently  served  as 
a  member  of  the  school  board  for  some  years. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Science  Church  of  Rock  Island,  and  are 
among  the  most  highly  respected  and  honor- 
ed citizens  of  Orion.  Mr.  \\'ayne  was  made 
a  Mason  at  Cambridge,  and  was  a  charter 
member  of  Coal  \'alley  lodge,  in  Avhicli  he 
served  as  master,  but  has  since  demitted  his 
membership  to  Sherman  lodge,  at  Orion.  He 
takes  a  deep  interest  in  everything  pertain- 
ing to  the  public  welfare  of  the  town,  and 
withholds  his  support  from  no  enterprise 
calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit. 


FRANK  S.   MELVIX. 

Among  the  most  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  ilunson  township  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  and  who  is  successfully  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  on  sections  4  and  11 
and  is  also  interested  in  the  manufacturing 
business  in  Rock  Island.  He  was  born  in 
Belknap  county,  Xew  Hampshire,  May  6, 
1854,  and  on  the  paternal  side  is  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent  and  on  the  maternal  side  of 
English  extraction.  His  parents  were  George 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


431 


T.  and  Lucy  A.  (Fox)  Melvin,  the  foniicr 
of  wiioni  was  born  in  Maine,  in  1825,  and 
died  in  Deceml)er.  1885,  wiiile  tlie  latter  was 
born  in  New  Hanipsliire  in  1832,  and  died 
in  1SS4.  The  fatlier  received  only  a  com- 
mon school  education,  and  when  a  young 
man  commenced  work  as  a  car  builder.  In 
the  spring  of  1857,  he  went  to  Chicago,  and 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Isl- 
and &  Pacific  railroad,  but  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  was  transferred  to  Rock  Island 
and  placed  in  charge  of  the  car  department, 
where  both  passenger  and  freight  cars  were 
built  and  repaired.  He  remainetl  there  un- 
til 1862,  when,  owing  to  ill  health,  he  re- 
signed his  position  and  came  direct  to  Mun- 
son  township,  Henry  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  and  turned  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits.  Meeting  with  suc- 
cess in  this  undertaking,  he  added  to  his 
landed  possessions,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  owned  two  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  valuable  land.  He  was  reared  to 
farm  work  in  Xew  England  and  followed 
it  throughout  much  of  his  life.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  died  on  the  farm  in  Munson  town- 
ship. His  political  support  was  given  the 
Republican  party,  thougii  he  never  would 
accept  office.  He  gave  to  the  support  of  all 
church  and  charitable  work,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. He  came  to  this  state  with  limited 
means,  and  his  success  was  due  to  his  own 
well-directed  and  energetic  efforts.  In  the 
family  were  only  two  children,  of  whom 
Frank  S.  is  the  older.  Fred  H.,  a  retired 
farmer,  formerly  of  Munson  township,  now 
lives  in  Geneseo. 

Reared  on  the  home  farm,  Frank  S.  ^lel- 
vin  was  principally  educated  in  the  neighbor- 
ing schools,  but  also  took  a  special  course 
of  private  instruction.     He  remained  under 


the  parental  roof  until  1874.  when  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad 
Company,  in  the  supply  department  between 
Rock  Island  and  Peru,  but  at  the  end  of  two 
years  his  health  failed  and  he  went  to  Colo- 
rado, remaining  there  about  nine  months. 
On  his  return  to  Illinois,  he  located  on  the 
home  farm,  which  he  and  his  brother  oper- 
ated together  until  his  marriage. 

In  December,  1884,  Air.  Melvin  wedded 
Miss  Eva  J.  Thomas,  who  was  born  in 
Maine,  in  June,  1853  and  came  to  Illinois, 
with  her  parents  in  1870,  locating  on  the 
farm  on  section  4,  Munson  township,  Henry 
county,  now  occupied  by  our  subject.  Here 
her  mother  is  still  living  with  our  subject. 
Of  her  five  children  only  three  survive, 
these  being  Henry  C,  traveling  salesman 
for  wholesale  poultry  dealers  and  a  resident 
of  Minonk,  Illinois;  Augtista  S.  married 
William  M.  Rideout  and  now  resides  in  Ot- 
tumwa,  Iowa;  and  Eva  J.,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Melvin  have  three  chil- 
dren; George  Herbert,  born  in  Decem- 
ber, 1886;  Frank  S.,  born  in  March,  1888; 
and  Lora  A.,  born  in  November,  1890.  Both 
sons  are  now  students  at  the  Collegiate  In- 
stitute of  Geneseo,  where  they  are  pursuing 
a  general  course  of  stud}-.  In  1899,  George 
li.,  though  one  of  the  youngest  of  his  class, 
took  first  prize  of  a  year's  tuition  at  that 
school. 

Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Melvin  has  resid- 
ed upon  his  present  farm,  and  has  success- 
fully engaged  in  general  farming.  He  is  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  of 
very  valuable  and  productixe  land  in  this 
count}'.  He  is  one  of  the  stockholders,  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  the  Xovelty  Manufac 
turing  Company  of  Rock  Island,  which  was 
ii^corporated  with  a  capital  stock  of  twenty- 


432 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


five  liunclred  dollars,  and  he  also  has  charge 
of  the  traveling  department.  He  is  a  wide- 
awake, energetic  business  man,  and  generally 
carries  forward  to  successful  completion 
whatever  lie  undertakes. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  I\Iel\  in 
has  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  ami  is  a  member  of  the  county  cen- 
tral committee  from  INIunson  township.  He 
has  served  as  collector  of  his  township;  was 
appointed  township  school  treasurer  in  1893 
and  has  since  filled  that  office;  and  in  1899 
was  elected  supervisor,  in  which  capacit}-  he 
is  now  serving  his  fellow  citizens  in  a  most 
able  and  acceptable  manner.  ]\Ir.  !Melvin  is 
a  member  of  the  ]\Iodern  Woodmen  Camp, 
No.  40,  of  Genesee,  and  also  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Congregational  Church  at 
that  place,  in  which  he  formerly  served  as 
Sunday-school  superintendent.  He  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  that  class  of  citi- 
zens who  lead  quiet,  industrious,  honest  and 
useful  lives,  and  constitute  the  best  portion  of 
a  community.  \\'herever  known  he  is  held 
in  high  regard,  and  is  certainly  deserving 
of  honorable  mention  in  the  history  of  his 
adopted  county. 


JACOB  J.  FLEMING. 

In  Jacob  J.  Fleming  we  find  a  worthy 
representative  of  the  industrial  interests  of 
Kewanee,  in  which  city  he  has  engaged  in 
mining  since  1857.  He  was  born  in  Dur- 
ham county,  England,  July  9,  1843,  h's  par- 
ents being  Jacob  and  Mary  (Coatsworth) 
Fleming.  The  father  followed  lead  mining 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  that  coun- 
try in  1845,  ^vhen  he  was  about  fift}'  years 
of  age.     Religiously    he    was    a  consistent 


member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Ir.  his  family  were  seven  children,  of  whom 
three  also  died  in  England,  these  being  Mary 
Ann,  who  died  in  infancy;  !Mary  Ann  (the 
second  of  that  name),  who  died  at  the  age 
of  ten  years;  and  Elizabeth.  The  others 
\\ere  Hannah,  now  a  resident  of  Pennsylva- 
nia :  Thomas,  who  died  in  Nevada,  !Mis- 
souri,  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four 
years;  Joseph,  a  resident  of  Spring  A'al- 
ley,  Illinois;  and  Jacob  J.,  our  subject.  In 
1853,  the  mother,  accompanied  by  her  four 
children,  came  to  America.  The  voyage 
was  a  pleasant  one,  lasting  thirty  days.  The 
family  first  located  at  ilonongahela  City, 
I  ennsylvania,  where  they  lived  until  coming 
to  Kewanee  in  1857.  Here  the  mother  died 
July  29,  1887,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty- 
two  years,  six  months  and  twenty-one  days. 
From  early  girlhood  she  was  a  member  of 
the  ilethodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  a 
most  estimable  lady. 

Jacob  J.  Fleming  acquired  the  rudiments 
of  an  education  in  his  native  land,  but  when 
little  over  eight  years  of  age  was  compelled 
to  leaAe  school  and  go  to  work  as  his  father 
was  in  ill  health  and  the  family  needed  his 
earnings.  He  worked  at  washing  and  sepa- 
rating lead  ore  for  the  mills  until  coming  to 
America  with  his  mother.  Since  1857  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  Kewanee  and  has  been 
identified  with  its  coal  mining  interests.  Hf 
is  now  successfully  operating  a  mine  one  mile 
east  of  the  city,  giving  employment'  to  sev- 
enteen men  below  and  one  above  ground. 
The  present  output  of  the  mine  is  about  five 
hundred  bushels  per  day,  and  last  year  about 
seven  thousand  tons  were  mined,  all  of 
which  yas  sold  to  the  local  trade. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1870,  J^Ir. 
Fleming  married  ^Miss  Elizabeth  Fall,  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


433 


and  Mar_\-  Fall,  who  came  to  this  coiinti")' 
from  Coniwall,  England,  in  the  latter  i)art 
of  the  '40s,  and  first  settled  in  Wisconsin, 
but  in  11^65,  took  up  their  residence  in  Henry 
county,  Illinois.  The  father  was  born  No- 
vember 18,  1822,  and  died  February  25, 
1892.  He  was  a  lead,  coal  and  copper  miner, 
but  was  mstly  engaged  in  lead  mining.  His 
widow  is  still  an  honored  resident  of  Ke- 
wanee.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Fleming  is  the  oldest. 
The  others  were  Elijah,  a  grocer  of  Ke- 
wanee;  John,  who  was  accidentally  killed  in 
the  Lathrop  mine  in  1870,  at  the  age  of 
si.xteen  years,  falling  frcm  the  top  to  the  bot- 
tom of  the  shaft;  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Enoch 
I'iler,  of  Peoria;  Almira,  \v!u)  !i\cs  with  her 
nu.ther  in  Kewanee;  William  T..  who  died  in 
January,  1872,  at  the  age  of  ten  years;  Edith 
M..  at  home";  Cora  1.,  who  died  in  1885,  at 
the  age  of  eighteen;  Albert  T.,  a  resident  of 
Kewanee;  and  Esther,  who  graduated  from 
the  sciiools  of  Kewanee,  and  liar,  successfully 
engaged  in  teaching  here  for  about  ten  years. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fleming  have  been 
born  the  following  children :  Mary  E.,  born 
March  17,  1871,  died  September  26,  1872; 
.\nnie  L.,  born  January  17,  1873,  died  Octo- 
ber 11,  1879;  Minnie  Etta  is  at  home;  Es- 
tella  -M.  has  been  a  bookkeeper  at  Lay  & 
Lymans  for  the  past  si.K  years;  .Albert  W.  is 
bookkeeper  for  the  Western  Tube  Com- 
pany ;  Thomas  E.  is  a  traveling  salesman, 
living  in  Denver,  Colorado;  Eva  A.  is  clerk- 
ing in  the  store  of  Lay  tS:  Lyman  at  Kewa- 
nee; John  C.  is  with  the  Kewanee  Boiler 
Company;  Flora  M.  will  graduate  from  tlie 
high  school  of  Kewanee  in  the  class  of  1902 : 
Jacob  E.  is  in  the  eighth  grade  at  school; 
Ethel  .\.  is  in  the  fifth  grade;  and  Edith  O. 
i.-;  in  the  third  grade.  Mrs.  Fleming  is  a 
member  of  the  Primitive  Methodist  Church; 


is  well  \ersed,  and  is  a  lady  of  i)leasing  pres- 
ence, who  takes  jileasure  in  making  those 
around  her  happy  and  contented. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vnte  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864,  Mr.  I-leming  has 
been  identified  with  the  Republican  party 
and  has  done  all  within  his  power  to  insure 
its  success.  For  three  years  he  efticiently 
served  as  alderman  of  Kewanee,  and  has 
recently  been  elected  assessor  for  the  en- 
suing 3'ear.  He  was  census  enumerator  in 
1900,  and  has  ever  taken  an  active  and  com- 
mendable interest  in  public  affairs.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed citizens  of  Kewanee,  and  deserves 
great  credit  for  the  success  that  he  has 
;ichie\-ed  in  life. 


ROBERT  .McRELL. 

This  well-to-do  and  highly  esteemed 
citizen  of  Burns  township,  whose  home  i.s 
on  section  10,  was  born  near  Tubermore, 
county  Londonderry,  Ireland,  in  Ma\-,  1827, 
and  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
lanil,  being  a  young  man  of  twenty-one  years 
when  he  came  to  the  new  world,  in  1848. 
He  sailed  from  Belfast  to  New  York,  and 
from  the  latter  city  to  Philadelphia,  where 
he  spent  four  years.  His  parents,  Robert 
and  Catherine  (^Gibbons)  McRell,  crossed 
the  Atlantic  in  1849,  ^nd  also  took  up  their 
residence  in  Philadelphia.  Three  years 
later  the  family  removed  to  Logan  county, 
Ohio,  and  in  the  spring  of  1856  came  to 
Henry  county,  Illinois.  Here  the  mother 
died  in  1888,  and  the  mother  departed  this 
life  in  1886,  the  remains  of  both  being  in- 
terred in  Cosner  cemetery.  Political! v  he 
was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party. 

The  five  children  of  the  family  were  all 


434 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


born  in  Ireland,  and  in  order  of  birth  they 
are  as  follows :  Elizal)eth  is  a  resident  of 
Burns  lownship.  Robert  is  the  next  of  the 
family.  Esther,  who  n(3w  resides  with  our 
subject,  was  married  in  Philadelphia,  in 
1S50,  to  Ri>l)ert  Hawthorne,  who  died  there 
in  1863.  Of  the  seven  children  born  of  that 
union  only  two  are  now  living,  these  being 
Robert  J.,  who  married  Lucy  Watson,  of 
Galva;  and  Lizzie,  wife  of  Leroy  Snyder. 
James,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Burns  town- 
ship, is  represented  on  another  page  of  this 
\olume.     Thomas  lives  in  Arkansas. 

In  his  native  land  our  subject  engaged 
in  farming,  but  while  a  resident  of  Phila- 
delphia he  was  employed  as  a  weaver  of 
ingrain  carpets.  In  Logan  county,  Oliio, 
he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  four 
years,  and  continued  to  follow  the  same  oc- 
cupation after  coming  to  this  county,  in  the 
spring  of  1S56.  He  and  his  brother  James 
each  bought  a  quarter-section  of  land  in 
Burns  township,  a  part  of  which  had  been 
broken  and  a  part  covered  with  timber.  On 
this  farm  he  lived  a  number  of  years,  then 
sold  and  purchased  forty  acres  on  section 
10,  the  same  township,  and  there  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  He  subsequently 
added  eighty  acres  to  the  tract,  but  later 
sold  it  to  his  nephew,  and  for  the  last  few 
years  has  lived  retired,  but  remaining  in  the 
old  home.  He  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  and  during  his  long  residence  in 
this  county  he  has  made  a  host  of  warm 
friends,  who  esteem  him  highly  for  his  ster- 
ling worth. 


WILLIAM  McMEEKIX. 

Galva's  well-known  and  popular  post- 
master has  made  for  himself  an  honorable 
record.     Depending  upon  his  own  resources, 


looking  for  no  outside  aid  or  support,  he 
has  risen  to  a  place  of  prominence  in  the 
commercial  and  professional  world.  A  na- 
tive of  Henry  county,  he  was  liorn  in  West- 
ern township,  Xovember  13.  1854.  His  fa- 
ther, William  McMeekin,  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, and  about  1854  came  to  this  country, 
locating  in  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  ]\Iiss 
Agnes  Reed,  also  a  native  of  the  Emerald 
Isle.  Subsequently  they  came  to  Henry 
county  and  took  up  their  residence  on  a  farm 
in  Western  township,  which  has  been  their 
home  since  1858.  The  father  has  trans 
formed  the  wild  prairie  land  into  highly 
cultivated  fields,  and  has  made  excellent 
improvements  thereon.  He  is  now  seventy- 
nine  years  of  age,  while  his  wife  is  sixty- 
eight. 

The  children  born  to  this  worthy  couple 
are  as  follows:  James,  a  farmer  of  Western 
township:  Mary  J.,  wife  of  W.  T.  Mc- 
Whinney,  of  the  same  township:  William, 
our  subject;  Frank,  one  of  the  publishers 
of  the  Port  Byron  Globe,  uf  Port  Byron, 
Rock  Island  county;  John,  an  employe  of 
the  Moline  Plow  Company;  Robert,  who 
assists  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm; 
Hugh,  who  is  also  engaged  in  farming  upon 
the  home  place  and  is  employed  as  telegraph 
operator  by  the  Rock  Island  &  Peoria  Com- 
pany; Alexander  and  Alida,  Innh  at  home, 
and  the  latter  now  a  sc1kx.i1  teacher.  The 
children  were  all  provided  with  good  com- 
mon school  educations,  and  Frank  took  a 
course  of  stenography  and  bookkeeping  at 
a  business  college.  Politically  the  family 
is  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
the  father  and  seven  sons  have  twice  cast 
their  ballots  for  William  McKinley.  The 
parents  are  active  and  faithful  members  of 
the   United    I'resbvterian    Church,   and    Mr. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


435 


.McMeekiii  was  (Uie  of  tlie  i'duikIlts  of  the 
lliimestead  church  in  Rural  lnwushii).  Ruck 
Ij-laiul  count}-. 

During  his  Ijoyiiood  the  sul^ject  of  this 
re\  iew  attended  tlie  puhlic  scliools  of  Orion 
and  Coal  \'alley,  Illinois,  and  then  took  up 
the  classical  course  in  the  Iowa  City  Acad- 
emy. .\fter  graduating  from  that  institu- 
tion he  entered  the  University  of  Iowa, 
\>  here  he  also  jnirsued  the  classical  course, 
but  left  school  during  his  sophomore  year. 
h'or  four  years  he  successfully  engaged  in 
teaching  sclu)ol  at  Sunny  Hill,  this  county. 
Coming  to  Galva  in  188O  he  commenced 
the  study  of  law  with  T.  E.  Milchrist,  now 
state  senator  from  Chicago,  and  was  prin- 
cipal of  the  south  side  school  two  years.  In 
i8Sy  he  hecamc  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Ro_\(l  iS:  .McMeekiii,  puliH>hers  of  the  Stand- 
ard, which  Un>  al\\a_\s  heen  a  Reiiuhlican 
paper,  and  ten  years  later  purchased  lii.s 
partner's  interest  in  the  business,  becoming 
sole  proprietor.  During  all  these  years  he 
has  served  as  editor,  and  untler  his  efticient 
management  tiie  paper  has  steadily  m 
creased  in  circulation  and  importance  until 
it  is  to-day  one  of  tlie  leading  journals  of 
tlie  county. 

In  i88«;  -Mr.  .Mc.Meekin  marrietl  Miss 
Clara  C.  Bates,  who  was  l)orn  in  Galva, 
Septemljer  ,50,  i8<')i,  a  dauglner  of  Join; 
and  Julia  IJales.  Her  fatlier  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Galva,  having  located 
here  about  1854,  and  followed  cabinet  mak- 
ing for  a  time.  He  died  in  1870.  The 
mother  is  still  living  in  (ialva,  at  the  age  of 
e'ghty-two  years. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  .Mr.  Mc- 
Meekin  has  always  affiliated  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  has  been  an  active 
worker  in  its  ranks,  taking  especial  inter- 
est   in   towrt   and    county   politics.      ( )n    the 


Tst  of  -\pril.  1899,  he  was  appointed  post- 
master of  (ialva  under  President  McKinley, 
and  is  now  efficiently  tilling  that  office,  while 
his  wife  acts  as  his  assistant.  I'rior  to  her 
marriage  she  was  BookkeejK'r  for  Palmer, 
Walker  &  Johnson,  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness firms  of  Galva.  She  is  an  active 
worker  in  the  Methodist  Episco])al  Church ; 
for  three  years  served  as  president  of  the 
Young  Women's  Christion  Temperance 
Union,  of  Gaha,  and  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  the  woman's  suffrage  movement.  She 
is  a  most  estimable  lady,  and  is  highl\'  re- 
spected and  esteemed  liy  all  who  know  her. 
-Mr.  .McMeekin  is  also  a  leading  member 
of  the  Methotlist  Episcopal  Church,  and  has 
served  on  the  board  of  managers.  He  is  a 
leader  in  the  temperance  cause;  has  served 
as  chairman  of  the  local  committee  for  ti\e 
\ears :  and  is  a  memljer  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  Camp  of  Gaha,  Xo.  24 1.  On 
starting  out  in  life  for  himself  he  was  with- 
(Hit  capital  and  the  success  that  he  has 
achieved  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  well- 
directed  anil  energetic  efforts.  1  le  1k!.-> 
steadily  worked  his  way  upward  to  a  po- 
sition of  prominence  in  business  circles, 
and  well  merits  the  prosiieritx'  that  has  come 
Uj  him. 


TllO.M.\S  P.   PlHRCl-:. 

Thomas  I'.  Pierce,  jiresident  of  tlie 
Union  National  Bank,  of  Kewanee,  Illinois, 
(.ccupies  a  foremost  position  among  the 
prominent  financiers  of  this  .section  of  the 
state.  L'pon  the  commercial  activity  of  a 
conimunit}'  depends  its  jjrosperity  and  the 
men  who  are  now  recognized  as  leading 
citizens  are  those  who  are  at  the  head  of 
important  business  enter[)rises.      Mr.   Pierce 


43<5 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


is  a  man  of  broad  capabilities,  who  carries 
forward  to  successful  completion  whatever 
iie  undertakes. 

A  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  torn  in  Kane 
county,  October  3,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Ruth  (Powell)  Pierce.  The 
father  was  a  Welshman  by  birth,  and  when 
a  vouth  emigrated  to  America,  locating  in 
Xew  York  state,  where  he  made  his  home 
from  1817  to  1835,  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building,  having  learned  the  carpenter"^ 
trade  in  Wales.  In  the  Empire  state  he 
married  Ruth  Powell,  whose  family  was  also 
from  Wales,  although  she  was  born  in  New- 
York.  In  1835  Mr.  Pierce  came  to  Illinois 
by  wav  of  the  Great  Lakes,  and  settled  near 
Aurora.  Kane  county,  taking  up  a  tract  of 
government  land  near  Jericho  Corners. 
He  pre-empted  this  land,  and  for  many  years 
devoted  his  energies  to  the  improvement 
and  cultivation  of  his  place.  In  1854  he 
removed  to  Aurora,  where  he  lived  retired 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying 
there  m  1872.  His  wife  long  survived  him 
and  passed  awa}"  in  189J.  Unto  them  were 
born  four  children,  namely :  William  died 
several  vears  ago  in  Kewanee.  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  hardware  business.  Plis 
wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Fannie 
Lay,  has  since  married  again  and  now  li\es 
in  Chicago.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  H, 
IM.  Howard,  of  Aurora.  Thomas  P.  is 
next  in  order  of  birth.  John  H.  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Western  Tube  \\'orks,  of  Ke 
wanee. 

During  his  boyhood  Thomas  P.  Pierce 
pursued  his  studies  in  the  district  sciiool  of 
Sugar  Grove  township,  Kane  county,  whicli 
was  about  a  mile  from  his  home,  and  later 
attentled  the  high  school  of  Aurora.  After 
completing  his  education  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  tinner,   and  in  the   fall  of   1863 


embarked  in  the  hardware  business  in  Ke 
wanee.  Three  years  later  he  admitted  his 
lirother  John  H.  to  partnership  in  the  busi- 
ness, which  was  then  carried  on  under  the 
firm  style  of  Pierce  &  Brother  for  about 
fifteen  years.  Subsecjuently  O.  J.  Brown 
became  interested  in  the  business,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Pierce  &  Brown,  but  this  part 
nership  did  not  last  long  on  account  of  Mr. 
Brown's  health,  and  Mr.  Pierce  was  alone  in 
business  until  he  disposed  of  the  store.  In 
December,  1880,  the  L'nion  National  Bank 
secured  its  charter  and  began  business,  its 
original  directors  being  Stephen  Bull,  R. 
F.  Wiley.  M.  C.  Ouinn,  ^^".  H.  Lyman,  T. 
P.  Pierce.  W.  W.  Stevens  and  A.  F.  Bige- 
low.  Mr.  Pierce  has  served  as  president 
from  the  beginning,  while  H.  L.  Kellogg 
is  now  cashier,  and  \\  .  H.  Lxman.  \ice- 
president.  Under  the  able  management  ot 
its  officers  the  bank  has  steadily  prospered 
and  the  capital  stock  has  been  increased  from 
fifty  to  se\enty-five  thousand  dollars,  with 
a  surplus  now  equal  to  the  capital.  It  built 
and  occupies  a  fine  stone  building  with  latest 
impro\-ed  vaults  and  safes.  Mr.  Pierce  is 
also  a  memljer  of  the  board  of  directors  oi 
the  Kewanee  Boiler  Company. 

In  September,  1864,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Charlotte  L. 
Talcott.  a  native  of  Michigan.  Her  father, 
Joseph  Augustus  Talcott,  was  born  in 
Coventry,  Connecticut,  ^lay  12,  18 10,  and 
was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (  Loomis ) 
Talcott.  natives  of  the  same  state.  The 
l"akx)tt  family  came  originally  from  Eng- 
land, and  was  founded  in  Connecticut  in 
early  colonial  days.  Mrs.  Pierce's  father 
was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  three  children, 
the  others  being  Nathaniel  Ells  and  Mercy 
Rebecca,  both  now  deceased.  Joseph  A. 
Talcott  received  a  good  common-schi  1 '1  ed- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


437 


I'.catinii  and  fur  many  years  enfjatjed  in 
teacliin.i;-.  In  18,5')  lie  removed  to  White 
]'iiL;ei'n,  Michiij^an.  wliere  lie  fiill'iwed  that 
pui^uit  I'lir  sniiie  time,  three  nf  his  children 
heint;'  horn  there.  In  1S50  he  eame  to 
Wethersfield.  llhn.>is.  and  tanylit  the  old 
A\'ethersfield  school  lor  a  few  )-ears.  When 
Kewance  was  ])latted  lie  removed  to  the 
new  \illa';e.  and  in  the  midst  nf  a  corntield 
hnilt  his  residence  on  what  is  now  (."liestnnt 
street,  jnst  south  of  where  the  I'"]>iscoi)al 
Church  stands.  Here  he  enLja^ed  in  the  in- 
.--urance  hnsiness  for  man}'  ye.ars.  at  _  the 
-,ime  time  tillino-  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace,  lie  wedded  Miss  Mary  M.  Loomis. 
idso  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  they  he- 
came  the  ])arents  of  live  children:  Mary 
Eli/.ahelh.  horn  in  Coventrv-.  Connecticut. 
i>  now  the  widow  of  J.  D.  K.  Sleiiiiit,  and 
makes  her  home  in  Richmond,  \'ira;-inia. 
though  she  s])ends  the  greater  jiart  of  her 
time  in  traveling:  Harriet  Rebecca  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years;  Charlotte  Maria  is 
the  wife  of  our  subject;  Jose])h  died  in  in- 
fancy; and  .Mice  Louisa,  horn  in  Wethers- 
field. is  the  wife  of  John  Lllis.  of  Kewanee. 
Mr.  Talcott  died  January  i,\.  iS()i,  at  the 
age  of  eighty  \ears.  and  his  wife  passed 
away  April  _'".  i8c^5.  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-si.x  \'cars  and  eleven  months,  the 
remains  of  both  l)eing  interred  in  I'leasant 
\'iew  cemetery.  Tliev  were  active  and 
faithful  members  of  the  (."ongregational 
Church  for  o\-er  sixty  years,  and  .\lr.  Tal- 
cott served  a.s  trustee  of  the  church  and  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday-school  for  many 
years.  He  also  sang"  in  the  choir  in  early 
(lays.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  for  a  great  many  vears. 
and  was  a  stanch  su])porter  of  the  Republi- 
can ])arty,  though  he  would  accept  no  office 
besides   that   of  justice  of  the  peace.      He 


was  one  of  Kewanee's  most  honored  and  re- 
s])ected  citizens  during  the  long  years  fif  his 
residence  here. 

Cnlo  .Mr.  and  ?vlrs.  Pierce  were  born 
two  children,  Init  the  elder,  a  daughter, 
died  in  infancy.  William  T.,  who  is  with 
the  Western  Tube  Company,  of  Kewanee. 
married  Teressa  Cronau  and  they  have  one 
child.  Thomas  C.  ^Irs.  I'ierce  is  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  Church.  Fraternally 
our  su])ject  is  a  Kniglil  Templar  Mason, 
and  i)olitically  is  an  ardent  l\e])ublican. 
.Since  1SS4  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
state  board  of  equalization  and  is  to-day  the 
oldest  in  the  service.  He  has  served  on  all 
of  the  important  committees,  and  was  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  lands  for  several 
\cars,  lie  was  jiresident  of  the  village 
hoard  several  terms  was  also  a  member  of 
the  countv  board  of  sniiervisors  a  number 
of  years,  and  was  a  ])residential  elector  in 
the  fall  of  1900.  The  career  of  Mr.  Pierce 
has  ever  been  .such  as  to  warrant  the  trust 
and  confidence  of  th.e  business  world,  for  he 
has  ever  conducted  all  transactions  on  the 
strictest  ])rinci])les  of  honor  and  integrity. 
His  devotion  to  the  public  gjood  is  un(|ues- 
tioned.  and  he  has  ever  maintained  a  char- 
acter and  standing  that  has  impressed  all 
with  his  sincere  and  manly  purjiose  to  do 
b\  others  as  he  would  have  others  do  by 
liim. 


PETER  ().  XORLLXC. 

This  ])roniinent  druggist  of  (iaiva  has 
l)robablv  done  "is  much  to  promote  the  com- 
mercial activity,  advance  the  general  wel- 
fare and  secure  the  material  development 
of  the  town  and  surrounding  country  as 
anv   other   individual.      .\s   a   business   man 


438 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  is  enterprising,  energetic  and  always 
abreast  of  the  times,  and  lias  been  rewarded 
by  a  comfortable  com])etence. 

yir.  Xorling"  was  born  in  Sweden,  abont 
fifty  miles  from  Stockholm,  December  15. 
1852,  and  is  the  oldest  child  of  Andrew  O. 
and  Elizabeth  Xorling,  both  of  whom  were 
born  in  that  country  in  i8j6,  and  as  mem- 
bers of  the  Bishop  Hill  colony  came  to  Hen- 
ry county.  Illinois,  in  1H54.  Throughout 
his  active  business  life  the  lather  followed 
farming,  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life 
in  Galva,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  He 
became  owner  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  acres  of  land  in  Galva  township,  whicii 
was  his  portion  when  the  land  owned  by 
the  colony  was  divided  among  its  members. 
He  has  made  his  home  in  Galva  since  1893. 
Politically  he  has  always  been  a  strong  Re- 
publican, liut  has  never  aspired  for  any  polit- 
ical honors.  His  family  consists  of  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  reached  years  of  ma- 
turity, Peter  O.  being  the  oldest.  Antirew, 
\\  ho  was  formerly  engaged  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness with  our  subject,  now  owns  about 
eleven  hundred  acres  of  land  at  Litchfield. 
Nebraska,  in  company  witii  his  brother,  Tohn 
E.,  and  is  conducting  a  large  cattle  ranch. 
John  E.  is  treasurer  and  secretary  of  the 
Swedish  Tribune,  of  Chicago,  which  is  one 
of  the  oldest  Swedish  newspapers  in  tin- 
L'nited  States,  being  first  started  at  Galva 
under  the  name  of  the  Xew  World.  At  one, 
time  he  was  also  associated  witii  cjur  subject 
in  the  drug  business  tV)r  se\eral  vears. 
Amanda  di^d  on  her  fatner's  fanu  Decem- 
lier  23.  189J.  Matdda  lives  with  her  par 
ents  in  (jaha.  Lillie  is  the  wife  of  S.  P. 
Swan.son.  who  conducts  a  prosperous  tail- 
t)ring  establishment  in  Centerville.  Iowa. 
Alfred  W.  graduated  in  pharmacy  at  the 
L'nivers!tv  of  Illinois,  and  was  in  the  dru" 


business  with  our  subject  for  a  number  of 
years,  but  is  now  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business  at  Galva. 

Mr.  Xorling,  of  this  review,  was  only 
two  years  old  when  brought  by  his  parent.^, 
to  the  Lnited  States,  and  he  received  his 
early  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
this  county.  He  remained  on  the  home 
farm,  assisting  his  father  in  its  improve- 
ment unt'l  1876.  In  the  meantime  he  took 
a  trip  to  Sweden  and  remained  there  about 
a  year.  On  the  26th  of  March  1876,  he 
opened  a  drug  store  at  Bishop  Hill,  though 
he  had  but  little  capital  at  that  time.  He 
hired  competent  help,  and  by  his  unusual 
business  ability  built  up  an  e.xcellent  trade. 
In  1881  he  formed  a  partnership  with  hisi 
two  brothers,  and  opened  branch  stores  at 
Xekoma  and  Galva.  and  this  connection  wa:: 
dissolved  a  year  later,  and  our  subject  be- 
came owner  of  the  store  at  Galva,  where  he 
carried  a  complete  line  of  drugs,  druggists' 
sundries,  patent  medicines,  i)aints,  oils,  wall 
paper  and  fancy  goods,  valued  at  thirty- five 
hundred  dollars.  Selling  a  one-half  interest 
to  his  brother  in  1884.  this  partnershi].- 
continuetl  till  1S87.  when  they  sold  to  P. 
Hanson.  In  1884  he  purchased  a  grocery 
store  in  Peoria,  which  he  conducted  for 
fifteen  months,  and  then  sold  his  interest  in 
the  business  to  his  partner.  On  his  return 
to  Henry  county  he  located  at  Cambridge, 
where  he  purchased  a  store  buikling  and 
stocked  it  with  drugs,  etc.,  doing  a  thri\ing 
business  there  from  1886,  to  1893.  Seeing 
a  good  opening  at  his  old  home  in  Galva. 
iMr.  Xorling  re-purchased  the  drug  store  of 
the  widow  of  P.  Hanson,  and  has  since 
successfully  engaged  in  that  business  at  this 
place. 

Pre-eminently  public-spiriteil  and  pro- 
gressive,   iMr.    Xorling   has   done   much   ti- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


439 


advance  the  interests  of  the  t^wn.  especially 
along-  industrial  lines.  I  le  purchased  a 
large  amount  of  stock  in  tiie  Mnlford  Heater 
Company  formed  at  Streator  for  the  manu- 
facture of  (litterent  articles,  and  through  the 
ip.tluence  of  himself  and  brothers  the  plant 
was  removed  to  Galva.  The  company  is 
now  doing  business  on  a  thriving  basis, 
witii  a  capital  stock  of  forty-five  thousand 
dollars,  its  oflicers  being  E.  W.  Houghton, 
president:  l\  O.  Xorling,  secretary;  T.  II. 
John>ton.  treasurer;  O.  E.  Vocum.  vice- 
president:  and  l\andi)lph  Boyd,  manager. 
They  now  manufacture  the  Mulford  heaters 
and  the  Boyd  corn  planters.  In  1899  Mr. 
Xorling  became  interestetl  in  a  stock  com- 
pany made  up  entirely  of  Swedish  people, 
known  as  the  W'estrand  Manufacturing 
Company,  wiiich  was  organized  with  a  cap- 
ital stock  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  and  ia 
also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  corn 
planters  and  other  farm  implements.  They 
have  erected  a  large  building  for  the  conduct 
of  their  business  in  the  northeast  i)art  of 
Galva.  Our  subject  is  one  of  the  largest 
.stockholders  and  a  director  of  this  com- 
pany; is  also  a  director  and  stockholder  of 
the  Galva  Telephone  Comiiany;  and  a  stock- 
holder of  the  Wood  Mining  Company  of 
Boulder,  Colorado,  which  is  ilcveloping 
and  working  one  of  the  largest  gold  mines 
of  the  west.  He  has  been  manager  of  the 
Galva  opera  house  for  some  time,  and  en- 
deavors to  treat  the  people  of  Gaha  to  some 
interesting  and  enjoyable  entertainments. 
He  has  through  his  own  well-directed  efforts 
accumulated  considerable  property,  includ- 
ing real  estate  in  Chicago  and  Peoria.  He 
still  owns  a  store  building  at  Bishop  Hill; 
in  1897  erected  a  modern  brick  building  in 
Cambridge,  now  occupied  as  a  drug  and 
jewelry  store ;  and  has  a  good  farm  of  three 


•hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Nebraska.  Mr. 
Xorling  is  also  connected  with  news[)apcr 
work.  During  the  Civil  war  the  Xew 
World  was  started  at  Galva  by  Chaiscr  & 
Johnson  and  published  partly  in  Swedish 
and  partly  in  English.  Shortly  afterward  it 
was  removed  to  Chicago,  and  in  August, 
1900,  was  published  by  P.  O.  and  J.  E.  Xor- 
ling and  S.  E.  Carlson,  editor  of  the  Foster- 
landct.  a  Swedish  religious  paper.  They 
combined  the  two  and  now  publish  what  is 
known  as  ihc  Swedish  Tribune  or  Svenska 
Tnbuncn  and  Fosterlandet.  The  circula- 
tion is  rapidly  increasing,  and  it  is  proving 
a  ver\'  paying  investment. 

In  18S0  Mi:  Xorling  married  Miss 
.-\manda  Xordstedt,  who  was  born  in  Bish- 
op Hill,  January  1,  1S60,  a  daughter  of  Olof 
B.  and  Christine  Xordstedt,  who  came  to 
this  country  from  Sweden  in  185 J  and 
settled  in  the  colony  here.  Her  f;ithcr  was 
lx)rn  in  1822  and  died  in  189-'.  He  served 
through  the  Civil  war  as  a  member  of  the 
I'ifty-seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry. 
taking  with  him  his  eldest  son.  I'^red,  who 
was  but  fourteen  years  old  when  he  entered 
the  service.  The  father  was  taken  prisoner 
but  soon  exchanged  at  Fort  Donelson  and 
rejoined  his  regiment,  remaining  at  the 
fnjnt  until  hostilities  ceased.  His  wife  sur- 
vives him  and  continues  to  live  in  Bishop 
Hill.  Their  children  were  Christine,  wfe  of 
Peter  Johnson,  of  Bishop  Hill,  who  is  an  ex- 
sheriff  of  Henry  county;  Jane,  wife  of  An- 
drew Johnston,  a  manufacturer  of  pop  and 
soda  water  at  Galva;  Kate,  wife  of  H. 
Harmon,  a  grocer  of  Fitzgerald,  Georgia, 
Mary,  wife  of  Howard  Fuller,  of  Peoria; 
Ella,  a  dressmaker  of  Peoria;  Minnie,  wife 
of  Charles  Hedley.  telegraph  operator  for 
the  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad  Company 
at  Galva;  Amanda,  wife    of    our  subject; 


440 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD- 


and  Fred,  a  farmer  of  Sydney,  Iowa.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Xorling  liave  two  sons:  Milford 
P.,  who  was  l)orn  Deceml:)er  23.  1881,  and 
ib  now  attending  the  Young  Men's  Cln"is- 
tian  Association  College  at  Chicago;  and 
Le  Roy  A.,  who  was  horn  April  9.  1884.  and 
is  at  home. 

!Mr.  Xorling  is  quite  prominent  in  fra- 
ternal circles  and  is  now  serving  as  treas- 
user  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  of  Gaha. 
in  which  he  has  passed  through  all  the  chairs ; 
and  is  chief  of  the  Galva  lodge  of  Fraternal 
Trilnmes.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Modern 
\\'oodmen  of  America:  and  is  a  thirty-sec- 
ond-degree Ma.son.  a  member  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  and  the  Yeomen  of  America,  while 
both  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Eastern 
Star  Chapter,  of  which  she  is  worthy  matron. 
As  a  Republican  ^Ir.  Xorling  takes  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  political  affairs,  and  has  been 
a  dele.gate  to  county  conventions  several 
times,  but  has  ne\er  aspired  to  office.  He 
does  all  in  his  power  to  promote  the  interests 
of  his  town  and  aih'ance  the  welfare  of  its 
citizens.  He  is  widel_\-  and  favorably  known, 
and  his  extensive  circle  of  friends  esteem 
him  highlv  for  bis  genuine  worth. 


PHILIP  J.  WIXTZ. 

Among  the  honored  veterans  of  the  Ci\il 
war  who  claim  Henry  county  as  their  home 
none  fou.ght  more  valiantly  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  Union  than  the  gentleman  whose 
name  introduces  this  sketch.  He  has  been 
a  resident  of  Annawan  for  almost  half  a 
century  and  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  her  industrial  interests.  Mr.  NN'intz 
v,as  born  in  Rappahannock  county.  Virginia. 
November  4,  1826,  and  is  of  German  de- 
scent on  both  the  j^aternal  and  maternal 
sides. 


His  father,  Henry  W'intz,  was  born  at 
Culpeper,  ^'irg•inia,  April  17,  1788,  and 
was  married  in  Loudoun  county,  that  state, 
June  3,  1824,  by  Rev.  S.  G.  Roszell,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Frye,  whose  birth  occurred  February 
10,  1797.  Her  father,  Philip  J.  Frye,  was 
born  in  Germany,  August  13,  1775,  and 
came  to  .\merica  in  1793.  He  spent  his  life 
as  a  farmer  on  Goose  creek  in  Loudoun 
county,  Virginia,  where  he  died  Xovember 
20,  1841,  his  remains  being  interred  at  Mid- 
dleburg,  that  state.  He  was  drafted  during 
the  war  of  1812.  and  after  being  given  his 
accoutrements  went  to  }iliddleburg  only  to 
find  that  the  war  had  ended  and  his  services 
were  not  needed.  On  the  7th  of  April, 
1796,  he  married  Catherine  \'irtz,  and  of  the 
children  born  to  them  Mrs.  \\  intz  was  the 
oldest.  In  order  of  birth  the  others  were  as 
follows:  Elizabeth,  born  January  24,  1799, 
died  unmarried  September  7,  1866;  Mar- 
garet, born  December  12,  1800.  became  the 
wife  of  David  Daily,  of  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  and  died  about  1844:  Henry,  torn 
April  21,  1803,  married  a  Miss  Burnside 
and  died  in  Indiana  in  1848;  Joseph,  born 
]\Iay  14,  1809,  died  on  the  old  homestead 
unmarried  July  2,  1876;  George  P.,  born 
October  30,  1823,  died  in  Loudoun  county, 
\'irginia,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years;  Con- 
rad, born  May  14.  1809.  married  Susannah 
Thomas  and  died  in  Butler  county,  Ohio. 
September  29,  1882;  Ann  C,  born  .\pril  30, 
1814,  married  Townsend  Howell,  of  \'ir- 
ginia,  anil  died  in  Clark  comity,  Illinois, 
February  9,  1886;  Christina,  born  December 
27.  1816,  died  in  Loudoun  county.  \'irginia, 
unmarried.  April  8.  1877;  and  Eveline,  born 
^Jarch  12.  1820.  became  the  wife  of  James 
Lawson,  of  Fauquier  county.  \'irginia.  and 
died  in  Maryland.  ^larch  2t„  1899. 

After  bis  marriage   Henrv    W'intz     fol- 


liftRARY 

UNIVtRSin  Ue  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


p.  J.  WINTZ. 


"NfSfe 


MRS.   P    J.  WINTZ. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSIIY  Of  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


445 


lowed  farming  in  his  native  state  until  1828 
Avhen  lie  removed  to  Warren  county.  Oliio. 
our  subject  at  that  time  being  eighteen 
months  old.  Two  years  later  the  father  took 
up  his  residence  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  and 
operated  a  rented  farm  near  Xew  Hope  for 
five  years,  but  died  before  the  e.xpiration  of 
the  lease.  He  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits throughout  life  and  died  in  Preble 
county.  October  27.  1833.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  some  years,  ilying  September  18, 
1846.  in  the  same  locality.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children,  namely:  Peter,  born  Sep- 
tember 5.  1825.  married  Catherine  Frye. 
now  deceased,  and  lives  in  Carlock,  McLean 
county,  Illinois :  Philip  J.,  our  subject,  is 
next  in  order  of  birth;  Mary  Ann,  born  Au- 
gust 22,  1828.  became  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Frve,  and  died  in  Sedgwick  county,  Kansas, 
^lay  20.  1891;  Daniel,  born  June  36.  1831. 
married  Sabina  Truckcess  and  resides  near 
Converse,  Howard  county.  Indiana;  and 
Elizabeth,  born  March  2^.  1833,  is  the  wife 
■  f  George  Lowman,  of  Sedgwick  county. 
Kansas. 

The  early  educational  advantages  of 
Philip  J.  Wintz  were  limited,  as  he  was  only 
ai)le  to  attend  the  tlistrict  schools  one  month 
during  each  year  for  fourteen  years,  pur- 
suing his  studies  in  a  primitive  log  school 
house  in  Preble  county,  Ohio.  Even  the 
seats  and  desks  were  made  of  split  logs  set 
upon  pegs.  He  was  not  quite  seven  years  of 
age  when  his  father  died,  and  was  nineteen 
ac  the  time  of  his  mother's  death.  Five  years 
later  he  left  his  old  home  in  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  and  went  to  Warren  county,  tliat  state, 
working  on  a  farm  at  Springlwro  one  year 
at  ten  dollars  per  month,  after  wliich  he  toolc 
lip  the  carpenter's  trade.  While  there  he 
Avas  married.  Ajjril  3.  1852.  to  Miss  Mary 
Frve.    a   daughter   of   Solomon   and    Sara'; 


Frye.  She  died  Xovemlier  29,  1898.  They 
had  no  children. 

Mrs.  Pbilij)  J.  Wintz.  ;/.v  Mary  Frye. 
was  lx)rn  near  Springboro.  \\'arren  county, 
Ohio,  January  16,  1830.  and  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Solomon  and  Sarah.  (Hayiies)  Frye, 
the  former  a  native  of  Loudoun  county,  \'ir- 
ginia,  born  October  12,  1800.  He  was  a 
son  oi  Henry  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Wid- 
deman )  h'rye.  the  former  being  a  brother 
of  Philip  J.  Frye.  maternal  grandfather  of 
tiur  subject.  Henry  Joseph  Frye  was  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  as  was  his  brother  Philip. 
Solomon  Frye,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Wintz, 
was  born  in  Loudoun  county.  \'irginia.  and 
moved  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  in  1816. 
when  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter  and  also  owned  and 
operated  a  farm.  He  married  Sarah  Haynes. 
March  12,  1826.  She  was  a  native  of  Rock- 
ingham ccwnty,  Virginia,  born  October  12, 
1803,  and  belonged  to  an  old  American  fam- 
iivof  German  extracti<in.  Solomon  and  Sar- 
ah (Haynes)  Frye  reared  a  family  of  four 
children.  Cornelius  worked  at  the  carpenter 
tiade  and  died  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  when  about 
forty  years  old.  Mary  married  Philip  J. 
Wintz,  our  subject.  Martha  married  Abso- 
lom  Blinn,  and  moved  to  Albany.  Kansas. 
She  is  now  deceased.  Margaret  married 
George  Ray  and  now  resides  in  Mt.  Car- 
roll, Illinois.  She  is  the  only  surviving 
member  of  the  family. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Wintz  came  to  Illinois  and  located  at  Shef- 
field. Bureau  county.  .Vt  that  time  both  the 
Rock  Island  and  the  Chicago.  Burlington  & 
Ouincy  railroads  were  in  course  of  con- 
struction. He  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  for  which  he  paid  three  hundred  and 
sixty-nine  dollars  in  cash,  but  on  account  of 
a  defect  in  the  title  he  was  obliged  to  aban- 


446 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


(Ion  it  ami  lost  everything.  Although  he 
was  somewhat  discouraged  he  went  to  work 
to  retrieve  Iiis  fortune,  and  in  March.  1S54. 
came  to  Annawan,  taking  up  his  abode  in  his 
present  residence  the  following  year.  At 
that  time,  however,  what  is  nov>'  his  kitchen 
constituted  the  whole  house.  For  a  year 
he  worked  at  the  carpenters  trade,  and  in 
1S55  did  the  tirst  blacksmithing  done  in  the 
\illage.  Selling  out  a  \ear  later  he  follow- 
ed the  millwright's  and  carpenter's  trades 
until  1SS4.  He  constructed  the  majority  of 
tiie  buildings  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
township,  including  the  church  built  in  1858, 
and  also  assisted  in  building  the  first  and 
second  mills  erected  at  Annawan.  The  last 
house  built  by  him  was  the  residence  of 
James  MacChesney.  in  1877.  He  now  con- 
ducts a  general  machine  and  repair  shop. 

After  the  inauguration  of  the  Civil  war, 
!Mr.  \\'intz  enlisted  at  Princeton,  Bureau 
county,  Illinois,  as  a  musician  in  a  regi- 
mental band,  which  started  for  St.  Louis 
to  join  Burgess'  sharpshooters,  but  at  Alton 
they  were  arrested  for  the  reason  that  the 
colonel  of  the  regiment  that  they  were  going 
to  join  reported  that  they  had  broke  camp 
and  were  going  to  join  the  rebels.  Finding 
that  this  was  untrue  Governor  Yates  ordered 
them  to  Springfield,  and,  after  two  weeks 
spent  at  Camp  Butler,  they  were  sent  to 
Camp  Douglas.  Chicago,  where  the  band  was 
assigned  to  the  Fifty-seventh  Illinois  Wilun- 
teer  Infantry.  They  went  first  to  Cairo,  then 
t(i  Paducah.  Kentucky,  and  from  there  by 
boat  to  Fort  Henry,  where  they  arrived  just 
after  the  battle,  being  in  time  to  cook  their 
supper  on  the  fires  which  the  rebels  had  left. 
Returning  to  Paducah.  they  went  up  the  Ohio 
and  Cumberland  rivers  to  Fort  Donelson, 
and  took  part  in  the  engagement  at  that 
place.     They  then  marched   fourteen  miles 


across  the  country  to  Fort  Henry,  and  pro- 
ceeded u])  the  Tennessee  river  to  Krump's 
Landing.  According  to  orders  from  the 
war  department  the  regimental  bands  were 
mustered  out,  only  one  being  retained  for 
each  brigade.  I\Ir.  Wintz  was  discharged 
March  20,  1862,  and  returned  to  his  home 
in  Aanawan,  but  on  the  12th  of  the  following 
August  he  re-enlisted  as  a  private  in  Com- 
pany A,  One  Flundred  and  Twelfth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  being  mustered  in  at 
Peoria.  The  company  was  at  first  cum- 
n-.anded  by  Tristram  T.  Dow.  who  was  af- 
terward made  colonel  of  the  regiment,  while 
John  L.  Dow  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy 
of  the  company.  From  Peoria  the  regiment 
went  to  Cincinnati  and  later  to  Covington, 
Kentucky,  where  they  remained  about  two 
weeks  before  going  to  Lexington.  After  en- 
gaging in  some  skirmishes,  ilr.  W'intz  was 
detailed  to  Captain  Law's  howitzer  battery, 
v.  ith  which  he  was  connected  for  six  months. 
During  this  time  he  took  part  in  the  Mor- 
gan raid  through  Kentucky,  Indiana  and 
Ohio  to  Buflington's  Island,  where  they  cap- 
tured Morgan's  guns.  In  the  fall  of  1865 
he  rejoined  his  old  company,  and  with  them 
went  to  Kingston  and  Athens,  Tennessee, 
and  later  to  Lpwden  after  participating  in 
a  skirmish  on  the  Hiawasie  riv«r.  They  re- 
treated before  General  Longstreet's  com- 
mand, which  pursued  them  to  Knoxville, 
and  in  a  skirmish  November  18,  1863,  Cap- 
tain Asa  H.  Lee,  commander  of  Company 
A,  was  killed,  while  our  subject  received 
a  gunshot  wound  back  of  the  right  ear.  Four 
of  the  company  were  killed  and  two  wound- 
ed. When  ^Ir.  W'intz  regained  conscious- 
ness the  Confederate  line  had  advanced  past 
him,  cutting  him  off  from  his  command.  He 
made  his  way  through  the  lines  in  a  small 
\  inevard  but  over  twentv  shots  were  fired  at 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


447 


liiiii.  He  crawled  into  a  barn,  and  wlien  it 
was  struck  l)y  a  rehel  sliell  lie  made  his  way 
t'  a  corncrib,  which  siiortlv  afterwartl  was 
torn  to  pieces  by  anotlier  shell.  He  then 
staggered  on  through  the  timber  and  tinall\' 
reached  his  company,  but  on  the  way  to  the 
field  hospital  fell  exhausted  on  the  l)ank  of 
Second  creek.  He  was  then  taken  in  charge 
by  the  ambulance  corps,  and  was  confined 
to  the  hospital  until  the  i8th  of  the  following 
January,  when  he  was  granted  a  thirty  days' 
furlough.  In  March  ho  rejoined  his  regi- 
ment at  Mt.  Sterling.  Kentucky,  and  with 
them  went  to  Knoxville.  He  participateil 
in  a  skirmish  at  Rocky  Face,  Georgia,  and 
the  battle  of  Resaca,  where  he  received  a 
gunsluit  wound  in  tb.e  right  arm  and  was 
^LiU  to  Xa:h\ille.  .\  week  lat^r  be  was 
transferred  to  the  liospiial  ;it  Louis\ilL', 
where  he  remained  until  July.  Ha\ing 
taken  the  smallnox  be  was  then  sent  to  the 
pest  hos])ital  near  l^ouisville,  where  he  was 
confined  initil  October,  1864.  He  then 
started  to  rejoin  his  command  at  .Vtlanta 
but  on  reaching  Chattanooga  remained  there 
two  weeks  on  duty  in  the  convalescent  hos- 
pital. He  was  then  detailed  with  others  to 
dri\e  ten  thousand  head  of  cattle  to  .\tlanta 
for  General  Sherman's  army.  .\t  .Mtoor.a 
he  met  his  comijany  returning,  and  with 
them  w  L'nt  to  Nashville,  and  later  to  Decatur, 
Georgia,  where  they  were  stationed  to 
watch  the  movements  of  Hood.  When  that 
general  advanced  they  fell  back  to  Franklin, 
Tennessee,  and  particijjated  in  the  severe 
battle  at  that  place.  They  also  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Nashville  in  December,  1864, 
and  then  followed  Hood  to  Columbia,  Ten- 
nessee, w  here  they  remained  one  month.  At 
Clifton,  on  the  Tennessee  river,  they  board- 
ed a  steamer  and  went  to  Cincinnati,  am;  bv 
train    proceeded    to    Alexandria    \'irginia, 


by  way  of  Columbus  and  Belle  .\ir,  and  by 
steamer  to  I-'ort  Fisher.  In  a  storm  during 
this  vovage  the  vessels  were  l)lown  sixty 
miles  out  to  sea.  After  a  month  spent  at 
P'ort  Fisher  they  went  to  Smithville,  North 
Carolina,  taking  part  in  the  skirmish  at  that 
place  and  the  captin^e  of  Fort  Anderson. 
They  were  also  in  a  skirmish  at  Town  Creek, 
and  then  ad\anced  to  Wilmington  and 
Kingston,  North  Carolina.  .\t  the  latter 
i;!ace  Mr.  Wintz  sprained  his  ankle,  and  was 
confined  in  the  lios])ital  at  Newburn  one 
month,  and  in  the  hospital  at  Beaufort, 
North  Carolina,  until  honorably  discharged 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  June  14,  1863.  He 
cast  bis  first  iiresidential  vots  for  Zachar\' 
Taylor,  and  since  the  organization  oi  the 
Republican  party  has  been  one  of  its  stanch 
suppi)rters.  Religiouslv  he  is  a  iiienibL'r  ot 
the  I'nited   Brethren  in  Christ. 


C1I.\R1.FS  i'..\rbi-:r. 

.\miMig  the  leading  citizens  <if  Burns 
townsbi])  is  (."liarles  Barber,  residing  on 
section  15.  He  was  born  in  Luzerne  county, 
rennsylvania.  on  tjie  9th  of  May,  1834,  and 
is  a  son  of  Cabin  and  I'hebe  (  Hull)  Barber, 
natives  of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts, 
rtsjiectively.  .\bout  18J5  the  parents  re- 
moved to  the  Keystone  state  and  settled  in 
Luzerne  count}-,  in  what  was  tjien  called 
New  Connecticut.  \'>y  trade  the  father  was 
a  fuller  and  cloth  dresser,  and  followed  that 
trade  during  his  active  life  in  Pennsylvania. 
Ill  1860  be  came  to  Henry  county  an(',  maile 
his  home  with  our  subject  until  his  death, 
October  9,  1872.  His  wife  died  many  years 
liefore  in  Pennsylvania.  Our  subject  was 
one  of  a  familv  of  se\en  children,  the  otiiers^ 


448 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


l-eiiig  Calvin  D.,  wlm  married  Eiipliemia 
Ferris,  and  lives  near  Scranton,  Pennsyl- 
^■ania ;  Mary  Ann.  wIki  wedded  James  Mutt. 
;i  miller,  of  Blakelv,  Pensn\'l\\'inia.  and  bcth 
iire  now  deceased:  John,  deceased;  William, 
a  farmer  and  cari)enter,  who  married  Hulda 
lirown  and  li\'es  near  Carliondale.  Pennsyl- 
\ania:  .Miles,  who  married  ^lartha  Cald- 
Avell,  of  Kewanee,  Illinois;  and  Louisa,  wife 
of  Earlington  ^'osburgIl,  of  Luzerne  county, 
I'enn.sylvania. 

Charles  Barber  was  reared  and  educated 
in  the  county  of  his  nativit}'.  and  on  start- 
ip.g  out  in  life  for  himself  engaged  in  lum- 
bering until  his  marriage,  which  was  cele- 
brated in  Luzerne  comUy.  Aprd  13.  1S57, 
]\Iiss  Alarv  Broatlfoot  becoming  his  wife. 
She.  too,  as  born  in  that  county,  and  is  one 
of  a  family  of  four  children,  but  Elizabeth 
imd  Jane  are  now  deceased.  Her  brother 
Rol)ert  is  still  li\ing.  Her  parents,  James 
iind  Elizabeth  (JMitchell)  Broadfoot,  were 
natives  of  Scotland,  and  on  their  emigration 
to  America,  in  1834,  located  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, where  the  father  dieil  in  185S.  By  oc- 
cupation he  was  a  farmer.  The  death  of 
his  wife  occurred  in  Illinois  August  9,  1872. 

After  his  marriage  J\Ir.  Barber  engaged 
in  farming  in  Pennsylvania  until  the  fall  of 
i860,  when  he  came  to  Henr\-  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  purchased  a  partially  improved 
farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  2.  Bm^ns 
township,  on  which  he  built  and  made  other 
improvements.  On  selling  that  property  in 
1873.  he  bought  another  eighty-acre  tract 
on  section  15,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
liome.  This  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  and  in  connection  with  its 
operation  he  is  successfully  engaged  in  stock 
raising. 

Unto  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Barber  were  born 
eight  children  as  follows:     Marv  is  now  the 


wife  of  George  Snyder,  a  farmer  of  \\  hite- 
side  county,  Illinois,  and  they  have  two 
children.  George  and  Arthur;  James,  a  far- 
mer of  Burns  township,  this  county,  mar 
ried  Sarah  Martin  and  they  have  one  child. 
]\Iarv  lilizabeth :  Francinia  is  the  wife  of 
John  Wells,  a  farmer  of  Cornwall  town- 
sl'.ip.  and  the}-  ha\e  one  child,  Charles; 
Darius  and  Anna  are  both  at  home  with 
their  parents:  Clara  is  the  v.ife  of  Frank 
Wells,  a  farmer  of  Cornwall  township,  and 
thev  have  one  child,  IMildred  L. ;  and  John 
who  is  now  six  feet,  four  inches  m  height. 
is  engaged  in  farming  on  the  home  place. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barber  are  earnest 
and  consistent  memliers  of  the  Methodist 
lipiscopal  Church,  of  which  he  is  now  trus- 
tee, and  are  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who 
know  them.  B}-  his  ballot  he  supports  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  served  as  school  director  and  path- 
master  for  a  number  of  years.  \\  hen  he 
came  to  this  county  corn  was  onlv  worth 
se\-en  cents  per  bushel,  and  a  laborer  re- 
ceixed  but  fifty  cents  per  claw  Times  were 
\ery  hard,  and  wild  cat  mone_\'  was  in  cir- 
culation, but  all  this  has  since  changed  and 
to-day  Henry  county  is  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous  and    thri\ing  districts   in   the   state. 


F.  A.  MILLER. 

This  gentleman,  who  is  proprietor  of  a 
livery,  sale  and  feed  stable  in  Geneseo,  Illi- 
nois, was  born  near  that  city  on  the  8th  of 
June.  1859,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  Adam  and 
Varonica  (Rink)  Miller.  The  father  was 
liorn  in  Germany,  in  1828,  and  in  1831  emi- 
grated to  America  with  his  parents.  He 
followed    farming  in   this   county   for   some 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


449 


vears,  then  turned  his  attenlion  tci  tlie  hvery 
Inisiness,  and  still  later  engaged  in  teaming. 
His  death  occin-red  here  in  1895.  He  was 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  was  widely 
and  favorably  known  throughout  the  county, 
where  the  greater  part  of  his  life  was  passed. 
His  wife,  who  was  a  native  of  Henry  county, 
and  a  consistent  member  of  tirace  Evangel- 
ical Church  of  Geneseo.  died  in  1897,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-three  years.  Her  father,  Joseph 
Rink,  came  to  this  country  from  German.y 
many  years  ago. 

¥.  A.  Miller  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth 
iv  a  family  of  seven  children,  the  other  being 
Z\lary,  wife  of  J.  H.  Rickel,  of  Geneseo; 
George,  highway  commissii^mer  of  the  same 
place;  Catherine/  wife  of  William  Baker,  a 
farmer  of  Phenix  township,  this  cuiunty ; 
John  X.  and  \\  illiam  !..,  bulh  residents  of 
Hooppole  township;  and  L'lara,  wife  of  Le- 
ander  Brown,  ui  Nebraska. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  passed  u\K>n  a  farm  near  Geneseo  and 
in.  that  place,  and  he  attended  both  the  coun- 
try and  city  schools.  After  the  completion 
of  his  education  he  engaged  in  teaming  for 
a  time,  taking  contracts  on  the  turnpike  and 
for  other  work.  For  three  years  he  served 
as  highw^ay  commissioner  of  Geneseo  town- 
ship, and  for  five  years  followed  farming 
there.  He  then  embarked  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness, buying  out  Henry  Franks,  of  Geneseo. 
He  keeps  about  twenty  good  horses  and  a 
tine  line  of  buggies  and  carriages,  being 
well  prepared  to  accommodate  the  traveling 
public.  He  is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  bus- 
iness man,  and  very  courteous  to  his  cus- 
tomers. 

Mr.  Miller  was  married  on  the  19th  of 
February,  1885,  to  Miss  Minnie  Kicksey,  a 
native  of  this  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Caroline  (Leaflander)   Kick- 


sev,  who  were  from  ( iermany.  By  this  union 
ha\-e  been  born  four  children:  Leonard  A., 
Belva  A.,  Clarence  A.  and  Floyd.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  ]\iiller  hold  membership  in  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Gene- 
seo, and  he  is  also  connected  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  In  his  i)olitical  af- 
liliations  he  is  a  Republican. 


HUGH  W.  rRlTCHARD. 

As  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  ener- 
getic agriculturists  of  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, this  gentleman  is  now  successfully  fol- 
lowing his  chosen  calling  on  section  14, 
Geneseo  township,  where  he  owns  and  oper- 
ates a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres.  He  and  his  brother,  Robert  L.,  are 
also  proprietors  of  the  Sharon  Stock  farm,  a 
valuable  farnt  of  three  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  acres  in  Loraine  township.  Through- 
out his  active  business  career  he  has  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  is 
to-day  one  of  the  most  prosperous  citizens 
of  his  community. 

Mr.  Pritchard's  early  home  was  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  for  he  was  born 
in  county  Down,  Ireland,  October  6,  1852, 
and  was  a  little  over  twelve  years  of  age  in 
1865  when  brought  to  America  by  his  par- 
ents, Henry  and  Mary  (Boyd  )Pritchard, 
who  located  in  Alba  township,  this  county, 
where  the  father  purchased  a  farm.  Suc- 
cess attended  his  well-directed  efforts  in  se- 
curing a  home  for  himself  and  famil_\-,  and 
he  became  the  owner  of  nine  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  as  line  farming  land  as  is 
to  be  found  in  the  county.  Most  of  this  was 
wild  and  unimproved  when  it  came  into  his 
possession,  but  he  transformed    it    into    a 


450 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


liiglily  cultivated  tract.  He  was  also  born 
in  ciiunty  Down.  Ireland,  in  1816,  and  in 
that  country  was  married,  June  16,  1836,  to 
Miss  -Mary  Warnuck.  wliu  died  April  14, 
]S45,  lea\-ing'  four  sons,  namely:  William, 
horn  September  26,  1837,  died  in  Mitchell- 
ville,  Iowa,  December  29,  1899.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  very  successfully  for  many 
years,  and  was  also  engaged  in  the  banking 
]>usiness  for  some  years  before  his  death,  antl 
was  the  owner  of  nine  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  was  a  man 
of  prominence  in  his  community  and  held 
n-any  public  offices  of  trust.  James,  born 
^larch  5,  1839,  is  a  retired  farmer  of  Clar- 
inda,  Iowa.  Samuel,  born  February  18, 
1841,  is  a  wealthy  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of 
Alba  township,  this  county,  where  he  owns 
one  thousand  acres  of  land.  He  is  a  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war.  Henry,  born  March  21, 
1843,  '^  ''Iso  an  extensive  farmer  and  stock 
raiser,  his  specialty  being  cattle,  and  is  the 
owner  of  nine  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  in  Alba  township.  In  September, 
1843,  tli^  father  wedded  Miss  ^lary  Boyd, 
by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  as  follows : 
Alexander,  born  October  15,  1846,  is  a  very 
prominent  and  successful  farmer  and  stock 
dealer  of  Harlan,  Shelby  county,  Iowa,  own- 
ing a  number  of  highly  improved  farms  ag- 
gregating several  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
is  one  of  the  leading  Republicans  of  his 
community,  and  has  served  as  county  treas- 
urer two  terms.  Alice,  born  June  3,  1848, 
ever  came  to  this  country.  She  is  now  the 
widow  of  John  Pritchard  and  resides  on  a 
farm  in  county  Down,  Ireland.  Robert  L., 
born  December  11,  1849,  is  a  retired  farmer 
of  Geneseo,  who  owns  one  hundred  and  fif- 
teen acres  of  land  on  section  22,  Geneseo 
tc.wnship,  antl  a  half  interest  in  the  Sharon 
Stock  farm  with  our  subject.     Hugh  W.  is 


next  in  order  of  birth.  Mary  J.,  born  July 
I,  1853,  is  the  wife  of  Jesse  L.  Lamont,  a 
farmer  and  stuck  raiser  of  Prophetstown. 
\\"hiteside  county.  Illinois,  who  raises  a  high 
grade  of  hogs  and  cattle.  Sarah,  born  July 
7,  1856,  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  McCuUough, 
a  prosperous  farmer  and  stock  dealer  of 
^larne,  Iowa.  The  father  of  this  family  died 
IMarch  4,  1885,  the  mother,  April  14,  1881, 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  them. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Hugh  \\'. 
Pritchard  attended  the  district  schools  near 
his  home  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  labors 
of  the  farm.  He  remained  on  the  old  home- 
stead farm  until  his  father's  death  in  1892, 
when  he  purchased  the  farm  in  Geneseo 
township  which  he  now  occupies.  He  has 
since  remodeled  the  residence,  making  it  a 
pleasant  and  substantial  home,  has  built 
barns  and  other  outbuildings,  and  has  als'. 
tiled  the  land  and  jjlaced  it  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation. 

At  Thornburg,  Iowa,  February  7,  1883, 
^Ir.  Pritchard  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Augusta  McCracken.  a  native  of  Rock 
Island  county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Eliza  (AlcCormick)  McCracken, 
who  were  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland, 
and  were  married  there  in  183 1.  Her  father, 
who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  was  born 
in  1808.  and  died  in  1884,  but  her  mother 
is  still  living  at  the  old  home  near  Thorn- 
burg, at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  In  tlieir 
famil}-  were  h\-e  children,  one  son  and  fi.>ur 
daughters,  all  residents  of  Keokuk  county, 
Iowa,  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Pritchard. 
who  is  the  youngest  of  the  family.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  have  two  children :  ^laud 
I.,  who  is  now  attending  the  Geneseo  high 
school:  and  Paul  C,  who  is  a  student  in  the 
home  school. 

By  his  ballot  Mr.  Pritchard  supports  the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


451 


men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party 
and,  as  a  public-spirited  and  enterprising 
citizen,  he  gives  his  support  to  all  worthy 
measures  calculated  to  advance  the  moral 
educational  or  material  welfare  of  his  town- 
ship and  county.  For  some  years  he  has  been 
an  efficient  school  director,  and  at  present 
is  serving  his  fourth  year  as  a  member  of 
the  district  board.  For  some  years  he  has 
been  an  active  and  prominent  member  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Geneseo, 
and  now  holds  the  ofricc  of  deacon  in  tlie 
same. 


TOHX  C.\RSK. 


One  of  tiie  highly-esteemed  citizens  of 
Fhenix  township  is  this  well-known  farmer 
who  owns  and  operates  a  line  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  ^;^.  A 
r.ative  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  January  24.  1844,  and  was  seven 
years  of  age  when  brought  to  Henry  county. 
Illinois,  by  his  parents,  William  and  Mary 
(Finley)  Carse,  the  family  locating  on  the 
farm  where  our  subject  now  resides.  The 
father  was  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland, 
and  on  his  emigration  to  the  United  States 
ai  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Ohio,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  coming  to  this  state.  He  made  farm- 
ing his  life  occupation.  Fie  died  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighly-si.x.  having  survived  his 
wife  some  years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  arc  still 
living. 

Since  coming  to  this  county  John  Carse 
has  lived  on  the  old  homestead  in  Phenix 
township,  and  throughout  his  active  bus- 
iness life  has  successfully  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising.  As  he  has 
never  married  his  sisters.  Sarah  and  Marv, 


keep  house  for  him.  He  has  seen  the  won 
derful  changes  that  iiave  taken  place  in  this 
section  of  the  state  during  the  past  half  cen- 
tury, and  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  its  up- 
building and  progress.  He  is  widely  and 
favorably  known,  and  is  held  in  the  warmest 
regard  by  his  many  friends. 


JOHN  H.  WEXKE. 

This  well-to-do  and  highU'-respected  citi- 
zen of  Osco  townsliii),  residing  on  section 
3.  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  Rock  Island  county,  September 
22,  1S57.  Flis  father.  John  Wenkc  was 
born  in  Oldenburg.  Germany,  in  18.20,  and 
was  educated  in  that  country.  On  roacliing 
manhood  he  entered  tiie  German  army,  in 
v.hich  he  served  for  seven  years.  He  was  the 
youngest  son  of  a  large  family,  all  of  whom 
were  married  and  had  children  of  their  own 
wlien  he  left  the  army.  He  would  have  in- 
herited his  father's  estate,  but  being  single, 
he  made  a  settlement  with  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  whereby  he  received  about 
four  hundred  dollars.  He  then  made  prepa- 
rations to  come  to  the  United  States  and 
establish  a  home  of  his  own.  In  1850  he 
crossed  the  ocean  and  invested  his  capital  in 
land  in  Rock  Island  county.  Illinois,  then 
in  its  natural  state.  This  he  cleared  of 
the  timber  and  converted  it  into  a  high- 
ly cultivated  tract  after  several  years  of  hard 
labor,  during  which  he  entlured  many  hard- 
ships such  as  the  early  pioneers  encounter  in 
the  settlement  of  a  community.  His  was 
a  very  successful  career  until  okl  age  made 
it  necessary  for  him  to  retire  from  active 
labor,  which  he  did  in  i8go.  purchasing  a 
home  in  Geneseo,  this  county,  where  he  now 
resides.  He  acquired  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  which  was  fully  improved  by  liimself. 


45: 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  185 J  Jnliii  W'enke.  Sr..  returned  to 
(lerman\-  tor  liis  proniisetl  bride,  Miss 
Helena  Oltmanns.  who  was  liorn  there  in 
1829.  After  his  marriage  he  returned  at 
^)nce  to  the  home  he  had  prepared  for  her 
in  Illinois.  Although  now  well  advanced 
in  years  they  still  enjoy  the  best  of  health, 
and  are  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all 
Avho  know  them.  They  have  always  been 
active  members  and  supporters  of  the  Luther- 
an Church.  Mr.  \\'enke  has  never  mingled 
in  politics  but  votes  for  the  best  man  regard- 
less of  party  lines.  Of  a  generous  disix)si- 
tion  he  makes  many  friends,  and  has  the  con- 
fidence of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in 
contact  either  in  business  or  social  life.  He 
is  the  father  of  seven  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  early  childhood.  The  others  are 
Hannah,  wife  of  Claus  Suel,  of  Milwaukee; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Fred  Rested,  of  Geneseo; 
Fred,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Rock  Island  county;  John  H., 
a  twin  brother  of  Fred  and  the  subject  of 
this  sketch ;  and  Henry,  a  grocer  of  Gen- 
eseo. 

John  H.  \\'enke  is  indebted  to  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Rock  Island  county  for  his 
educational  advantages.  He  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  twenty-three  years 
of  age.  During  his  youth  he  assisted  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm, 
and  during  the  last  five  yeai's  he  remained 
tb.ereon  he  and  his  brother  operated  the 
place.  In  1881  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Helena  Oltmanns,  who  was  born 
in  Rock  Island  county,  in  1856,  a  daughter 
of  Diedrich  and  Katrina  Oltmanns,  who 
still  reside  there.  She  is  one  of  a  family 
of  nine  children  who  are  still  hving,  but  with 
the  exception  of  Mrs.  John  Buell,  of  Gene- 
seo, they  are  scattered  through  dififerent 
states.     !Mr.  anil  }\Irs.  John  H.  W'enke  have 


one  daughter,  Ruphina  H..  who  was  born 
November  22,  1882,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  this  county  and  the  col- 
lege at  Geneseo.  where  she  was  graduated 
in  1900.  She  is  now  at  home  with  her 
parents. 

For  two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
W'enke  remained  on  his  father's  farm.  He 
owned  a  tract  of  land  in  Rock  Island  county 
which  he  rented  until  1884,  and  then  sold 
on  the  purchase  of  his  present  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty-six  acres  on  section  3, 
Osco  township,  Henry  county.  It  has  since 
been  his  permanent  home.  At  the  time  of 
l^jurchase  the  improvements  upon  the  place 
were  all  old,  but  he  has  rebuilt  the  residence 
and  barns,  has  tiled  the  land  and  divided  it 
into  fields  of  convenient  size  by  well-kept 
fences,  making  the  farm  one  of  the  most  at- 
tractive country  homes  in  the  locality.  In 
connection  with  general  farming  he  is  en- 
gaged in  feeding  stock  for  market,  averaging 
one  car  load  of  cattle  and  two  of  hogs  each 
year. 

By  his  ballot  'Mr.  W'enke  supports  the 
men  and  measures  of  tlie  Democratic  party, 
but  aside  from  voting  he  takes  no  active  part 
in  politics,  though  he  has  been  ofilicially  con- 
nected with  the  schools  of  his  district.  He 
has  served  as  trustee,  treasurer  and  collector 
01  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  holds 
membership,  and  has  alwaj-s  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  church  and  its 
\\ork.  He  is  widely  and  favorabl}^  known 
and  universally  respected  on  account  ot  his 
sterling  worth. 


GEORGE  PEART. 

Among  the  successful  and  well-to-do 
agriculturists  who  are  carrying  on  t!:eir 
chosen  occupation  in  Kewanee  township  is 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


455 


this  well-known  farmer  of  section  5.  He 
was  horn  in  Cumberlandshire,  England,  Sei>- 
temljer  19.  1834.  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Hannah  (Bell)  Peart,  natives  of  the  same 
place.  The  father  was  engaged  in  lead  min- 
ing and  gave  our  subject  the  benclil  of  liis 
e-Kjierience  and  knowledge  in  that  industry. 
He  was  born  in  1893,  and  died  in  i8^8, 
v.hile  his  wife  was  born  in  1800,  and  died  in 
185 1.  They  never  left  England.  In  ihcir 
family  were  eleven  children,  namely:  John, 
;;  miner,  died  in  Australia,  in  1890,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years.  Jacob,  a  music 
leachfer,  died  in  the  same  country  in  1S85,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  Robert  is 
married  and  lives  with  his  family  in  Austra- 
lia, at  about  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 
He  has  been  interested  in  gold  mining  for 
about  forty-five  years,  and  has  made  and  lost 
three  fortunes.  Thomas,  a  resident  of  To- 
ronto, Canada,  first  married  Jane  Gibbons, 
and  second,  ^Irs.  Byruni  Levens,  and  has 
the  following  named  children ;  W'ilham, 
Fred,  George,  Charles,  Hannah  Belle  and 
Margaret.  Hannah  is  the  wife  of  Edward 
Milburn,  a  farmer  of  Burns  township,  this 
county,  and  they  have  two  children  living, 
Robert  and  John,  while  Anna  Belle  is  de- 
ceased. George,  our  subject,  is  the  next 
one  of  the  family.  Anna  is  the  widow  of 
William  Scott  and  a  resident  of  Kewanee. 
Her  children  are  Hannah,  Elizabeth,  Mary, 
Fannie,  Emilj'  and  William.  Tamer  is  the 
viife  of  John  Stabler,  a  farmer  of  Kewa- 
riee.  William,  deceased,  was  a  school  teacher 
by  occupation.  He  married  Ann  Ridley,  now 
a  resident  of  Toronto,  Canada,  and  to  them 
were  born  children :  Elizaljeth,  Clement, 
Et^e,  Florence,  Agnes,  Maud  and  ^lorley. 
Joseph,  a  farmer  of  ^Missouri,  married  a 
Miss  Powell  and  has  two  cliildren.  Joshua 
died  in  England  at  the  age  of  two  vears. 


On  coming  to  the  new  world  in  1857, 
George  Peart  first  located  in  Canada,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  eight  years, 
and  in  Oxbridge,  Canada,  he  was  married, 
November  7,  1865,  to  Miss  Mary  Jane 
Legge,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bee- 
ford,  Yorkshire,  England,  May  u.  1845, 
and  also  a  resident  of  Canada  in  1857.  Her 
father,  Robert  Legge,  was  born  in  Durham- 
shire,  England  in  1820,  and  brought  his 
family  to  America  in  1857.  He  made  farm- 
irig  his  life  occupation  and  died  ^lay  3, 
1899.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Anna  ilolson,  was  born  in  Yorkshire, 
England,  March  29,  1820,  and  is  still  living 
at  Oxbridge,  Canada,  a  hale  and  heart}'  old 
woman  of  eighty-one  years.  They,  too,  were 
(he  parents  of  eleven  children :  ( i )  Har- 
riet is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Archer,  a  farmer  of 
Rockwell,  Calhoun  county,  Iowa,  and  they 
have  seven  children,  John,  Joseph,  Elizabeth, 
Walter,  Albert,  Charles  and  Anna.  (2) 
Mrs.  Peart  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in 
this  family.  (3)  Ehzabeth  married  David 
Parkin,  and  both  are  now  deceased,  together 
with  three  of  tiieir  six  children.  Mr.  Par- 
kin was  a  farmer  of  ilanitoulin  Island.  (4) 
Charlotte  is  living  with  her  mother  in  Can- 
ada. (5)  William,  also  a  farmer  of  ^Nlani- 
toulin  Island,  married  Jane  Warren,  and 
they  have  tliree  children.  (6)  Sarah  is  the 
wife  of  Richard  Hoskins,  a  farmer  of  Pine- 
dale,  Canada.  (7)  George  D.  married  Sarah 
Madill  and  followed  farming  at  Oxbridge, 
Canada.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  now  de- 
ceased. (8)  Anna  L.,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Bagshaw,  a  farmer  of  Oril- 
lia,  Canada,  and  left  five  children,  Alice, 
Sarah,  Maud,  Hazel  and  Clara.  (9)  Mar- 
garet married  first  David  Hogg,  a  contrac- 
tor, by  whom  she  had  two  sons,  and  for  her 
second   husbantl   she   married    Samuel    Sly, 


454 


THE  BIOGR-\PHICAL  RECORD. 


by  whom  she  had  one  child.  They  reside 
at  \\"hite\vood,  Manitoba.  ( lo)  Robert,  a 
farmer  of  ilanitoba,  married  Annie  Xeu- 
5ome  and  has  five  daughters.  ( 1 1 )  Han- 
nah Maria  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Ball,  of 
Oxbridge,  Canada,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren. Burt,  George,  Charles,  Rolland  and 
:\lary. 

^Ir.  and  ^Irs.  Peart  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  as  follows :  Hannah  Maria, 
wife  of  Thomas  Dynes,  a  farmer  of  Kewa- 
nee  township,  this  county,  by  whom  she  had 
two  children,  George  C,  living,  and  Roy  P., 
deceased ;  Robert  ilolson,  a  farmer  of  Anna- 
wan  township,  who  married  Lizzie  ]McDer- 
mott,  and  has  one  child,  Lois  E. ;  George 
D.,  a  farmer  of  the  same  township,  who 
married  Blanche  Barton  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, ^lorley  P.  and  Thelma;  William  X.. 
John,  Jennie,  Charlotte  and  Frances,  all  at 
home. 

In  1865,  soon  after  his  marriage,  'Sir. 
Peart  came  to  the  United  States  and  located 
at  Fredericktown,  ^ladison  county,  ilis- 
50uri,  where  he  was  engaged  in  lead  mining 
for  a  year,  but  after  sinking  a  shaft  eighty 
feet  and  not  striking  ore,  he  abandoned  the 
project  and  removed  to  Kewanee,  Illinois, 
in  1866.  Here  he  was  engaged  in  coal  min- 
ing for  five  years,  vmder  the  firm  name  of 
Peart  &  Company,  his  partners  being  Isaac 
Archer  and  \\'illiam  Coast.  In  1871  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  in  Kewanee 
township,  for  which  he  paid  two  thousand 
dollars,  and  in  1880  bought  another  eight v- 
acre  tract.  Subsequently  he  added  by  pur- 
chase until  he  owned  four  hundred  acres, 
but  in  1898  sold  eighty  acres  to  his  son 
Robert.  He  has  placed  the  land  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  and  has  success- 
fully engaged  in  its  operation.  He  is  a 
.thorough  and  svstematic  farmer  and  a  good 


reliable  business  man.  In  his  .political  af- 
filiations he  is  a  Democrat.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  attend  the  L'nited  Brethren  Church, 
and  stand  high  in  the  community  wiiere  they 
reside. 


JOHX  CAL\1X   DEWEY. 

This  well-known  and  prominent  grain 
dealer  of  Annawan  Ijelongs  to  a  verj-  old  and 
distinguished  family.  The  Deweys  were  an 
old  feudal  family  of  French  Flanders,  from 
which  the  town  of  Douai,  France,  derived 
its  name.  Some  of  its  members  went  to 
England  with  William  the  Conqueror  and 
settled  in  Lincolnshire,  northeast  of  Lon- 
don. The  progenitor  of  the  family  in  Amer- 
ica was  Thomas  Dewey,  who  became  a  dis- 
senter and  emigrated  from  Sandwich,  Kent 
county,  England,  with  Governor  ^^'inthrop 
and  Rev.  John  Warham.  It  is  supposed  that 
he  was  a  passenger  on  the  Lyon,  which  ar- 
rived at  Salem,  Massachusetts,  from  Bris- 
tol, England,  in  1630.  He  was  the  com 
mon  ancestor  of  the  large  and  influential 
family  now  scattered  throughout  this  coun- 
try. He  settled  in  Windsor,  Connecticut, 
in  1630.  and  from  him  our  subject  is  de- 
scended in  direct  line  through  Josiah,  who 
was  born  in  Windsor,  Connecticut.  October 

10,  1641 ;  Josiah.  h:>m  in  Xorthampton, 
Massachusetts.  December  24,  1666:  Will- 
iam, born  in  the  same  place,  in  January, 
1692;  Simeon,  born  in  Lebanon.  Connecti- 
cut. May  I,  1718:  and  William,  who  was 
not  only  the  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, but  bore  the  same  relation  to  .\drairal 
George  Dewey,  the  hero  of  Manila  Bay.  He 
was  bom  in  Lebanon.  Connecticut.  January 

1 1 .  1 746,  and  died  in  Hanover,  Xew  Hamp- 
shire, January  10.  1813.  He  married  Re 
becca  Carrier,  and  tci  whom  were  born  four- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


455 


teen  chililren,  one  of  whom  was  Simon, 
wliole  son  Julius  Yemas  Dewey,  was  tlie 
father  of  tlie  Admiral.  Israel  Dewey 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  horn  in 
J  Iano\er.  New  Hampshire,  January  26, 
1777.  and  died  in  Lunenburg,  \"ermont,  July 
J 1 .    1 862. 

Ilarry  Hovey  Dewey,  our  subject's 
father,  was  born  in  Berlin,  Vermont,  De- 
cember 30,  1809,  and  was  one  of  a  family 
uf  ten  children.  In  early  life  he  follow'ed 
farming  in  Berlin  and  Lunenburg,  Ver- 
mont, removing  to  the  latter  place  in  1848. 
In  1863  he  came  to  Sheffield,  Illinois,  but 
after  residing  there  for  three  years  he  went 
to  Keosauqua,  Van  Buren  county,  Iowa. 
In  1877,  however,  he  returned  to  Sheffield, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in 
retirement  from  active  labor,  dying  there 
in  September,  1899.  He  married  2^Iiss  Mary 
Louisa  Cummings,  September  25,  1836,  who 
was  also  born  in  Berlin,  Vermont,  January 
19.  1 81 6,  a  daughter  of  Deacon  Fenno  and 
Reliecca  (Smart)  Cummings.  She  died  No 
vember  27,  1890.  By  this  union  were  born 
.seven  children  whose  names  and  dates  of 
birth  were  as  folows :  Lucia  Louisa.  Sep- 
tember 23,  1837;  Anna,  December  8,  1839; 
Henry  Harrison,  March  20,  1841  ;  John 
Calvin,  April  18,  1843;  Benjamin  Fenno, 
November  25,  1845;  Mary  I^valine,  Au- 
gust 12.  1848;  and  William  \\'hipple,  July 
14,  1851.  Anna  died  at  birth,  and  Evaline 
died   October   5,    1865. 

John  C.  Dewey,  of  this  review,  was  born 
in  Berlin.  \'ermont,  and  was  reared  and  edu  ■ 
cated  in  his  native  state.  In  1863,  at  the  age 
(if  twenty  years,  he  came  with  the  family  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Sheffield,  Bureau 
county,  and  there  he  enlisted.  May  14.  1864, 
in  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty 
ninth    Illinois  ^'olunteer    Infantrv.    under 


Ca|)tain  \\  illiam  Fairman.  He  was  h(,)nor- 
ably  discharged  October  28,  1864.  and  soon 
afterward  went  to  Keosauqua,  Van  Buren 
county.  Iowa,  where  he  spent  eight  years. 
During  the  following  two  years  he  was  again 
a  resident  of  Sheffield,  Illinois,  and  then 
came  to  Henry  county,  being  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  in  Atkinson  for  four 
}ears.  He  next  spent  two  yeairs  in  Centre- 
ville,  Iowa,  and  from  there  went  to  Alendon, 
Nebraska,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
1888.  Subsequently  he  was  a  resident  of 
Loomis,  that  state,  and  in  the  spring  of  1895 
located  in  Buda,  Illinois,  where  he  lived 
until  coming  to  Annawan  on  the  first  of  De- 
cember, 1897.  Since  1886  he  has  engaged 
in  the  grain  business,  and  now  handles  about 
four  hundred  thousand  bushels  of  grain  an- 
nually. The  capacity  of  his  elevator  is  about 
thirty-two  thousand  bushels.  He  is  a  man 
of  keen  perception,  sound  judgment  and  un- 
bounded enterprise,  and  to  the.se  character- 
i.-lics  may  be  attributed  his  success  in  life. 

On  the  30th  of  Septembei,  1880,  in  Au- 
rora, Illinois,  Mr.  Dewey  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Elizabeth  Mears,  who  was 
born  in  Chicago,  September  24,  1854,  and  is 
a  daugiiter  of  William  and  .'Xnn  Latham, 
natives  of  Ireland.  Five  children  blessed  this 
union :  Fenno  Cummings,  born  November 
8.  1881  :  Harry  Mars,  born  October  4,  1885  ; 
a  daughter,  who  was  born  and  died  January 
16.  1886;  Annie  Louise,  born  November  15, 
1891  ;  and  William  Joseph,  born  September 
5,  1893.  The  two  oldest  are  now  attending 
schocil  in  Davenport,  Iowa. 


ROSSFTER  F.  SC1100N0\'ER. 

Among  the  leading  citizens  and  represen- 
tative farmers  of  Burns  township  is  num- 
bered   Rosseter   F.    Schoonover,    of   section 


456 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


34.  will)  was  Ixirn  near  Marietta.  Washing- 
ton county,  Ohio.  April  ir.  1833.  and  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Eunice  (Hopkins) 
Schouno\er,  natives  of  tlie  same  county.  His 
paternal  grandfather.  Nicholas  Schoonover, 
was  horn  in  Connecticut  of  Holland  ances- 
try, and  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
Buckeye  state,  where  liis  death  occurred.  He 
was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  a  far- 
mer by  occupation.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Sarah  Blue,  was  also  a 
native  of  New  England.  The  remains  of 
both  were  interred  at  Belfire.  Ohio.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  killed  March  4, 
1S42.  by  being  thrown  from  a  horse,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-seven  years.  The  mother  long 
survived  him  and  married  again.  She  was 
eighty-two  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her 
death.  Ajjril  18,  1893.  She  was  born  in 
New  Jersey,  of  English  descent  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Freeman  and  Sarah  (Leach) 
Hopkins,  who  moved  to  Ohio  when  Eunice 
was  but  two  years  old. 

.  Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  six 
children.  His  sister  Emeline,  now  the 
V,  idow  of  John  F.  Finch,  is  represented  on 
another  page  of  this  volume.  Adolphus 
enlisted  in  Cambridge  in  Company  A,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois  ^'ol- 
unteer  Infantry  and  was  taken  prisoner 
while  on  duty  in  Louisiana  and  sent  to  Ty- 
ler. Texas.  He  died  at  Shreveport,  Louis- 
iana, from  the  effects  of  his  prison  life  ^larch 
4,  18C4,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years. 
Mary  wedded  Alonzo  Reardon.  a  native  of 
Ohio,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Look- 
out Mountain  during  the  Civil  war.  She 
died  in  Iowa,  in  i860,  leaving  two  children. 
Caroline  became  the  wife  of  Stephen  Xeed- 
ham.  a  farmer  of  Ohio.  Asa  enlisted  in  an 
Ohio  regiment  in  1864.  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war.     He  married  Maggie  Ro- 


rah.  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  lives  in 
Missouri.  For  her  second  husband  the 
mother  married  Aaron  Herrington,  a  native 
of  South  Carolina,  and  l)v  that  union  had 
five  children,  namely :  Dallas,  who  mar- 
ried Ella  Breckenridge  and  follows  farming 
at  Princeton,  Illinois;  Barbara,  who  mar- 
ried ^^'illiam  Harvey  and  died  in  Marion, 
Iowa;  Lillie,  wife  of  William  \\"heeler,  a 
mason  of  Parkersburg.  \\'est  Virginia;  Do- 
rinda,  wife  of  Jefferson  Potter,  a  farmer  of 
Kewanee  township,  this  county ;  and  Joseph 
who  married  Lizzie  Burford  and  lives  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Washington  county,  Ohio. 
Rosseter  F.  Schoonover  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county, 
and  assisted  his  step-father  in  the  work  ot 
the  home  farm  until  nineteen  years  of  age, 
v.hen  he  came  to  Peoria,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  on  the  farm  of  Lyman  Hitchcock 
for  three  years,  and  on  G.  Dickinson's  farm 
two  years.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1857. 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  iliss  Mar- 
gery Harlan,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
Peoria  county  and  is  a  daughter  of  Moses 
Harlan,  a  pioneer  of  that  county,  coming 
from  Indiana.  He  was  born  in  War- 
ren county,  Ohio,  July  5,  1787,  and  first 
married  Ann  Jennings,  of  Ohio,  January 
28,  1 81 3,  and  the  children  born  to  them  were 
as  follows :  George  B.,  deceased,  married 
Sarah  Cornelison  and  lived  in  Peoria  coun- 
ty, where  he  followed  farming:  Sarah  Hop- 
kins is  the  widow  of  Aaron  Wilkinson  and 
a  resident  of  Xewton,  Nebraska :  John,  a 
resident  of  Xewton,  Harvey  county.  Kan- 
sas, lost  his  wife  before  the  Civil  war,  and 
enlisted  at  Peoria,  Illinois,  in  1862,  remain- 
ing in  the  service  until  hostilities  ceased  : 
Phoebe,  a  resident  of  Princeville,  Illinois.  i> 
the  widow  of  Rice  McMillan,  who  took  his 
family  to  Oregon  about  1849;  Milton  mar- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


457 


lied  Susan  Gelkensoii  and  tiled  six  months 
after  tlieir  marriage,  wliile  slie  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Stuart,  Iowa :  and  Lewis,  deceased, 
married  Eveline  Chapin  in  1846  and  lived 
in  Iowa.  For  his  second  wife  the  father  of 
these  children  wedded  Mary  Butler,  who 
^vas  born  in  Shenandoah  county,  Virginia. 
August  9.  1797.  By  this  union  were  born 
four  children,  namely :  Joseph  married 
Arminda  Hadsall  and  is  at  Stuart,  Iowa, 
retired.  He  enlisted  in  the  I'orty-seventh 
Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry  during  the  war, 
in  1861.  and  later  re-enlisted,  serving  in  all 
four  years.  He  came  very  nearly  losing 
his  eyesight.  Thomas  married  Lizzie 
Sterns,  of  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  and  is 
now  a  lawyer,  editor  of  a  paper  and  over- 
seer of  government  timber  in  Oregon.  Mary 
died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  thirty  years, 
and  was  buried  in  W'ethersfield.  Margery, 
wife  of  our  subject,  completes  the  family. 
She  was  educated  in  the  country  schools 
and  remained  at  home  with  her  parents  in 
Peoria  county  until  her  marriage.  Moses 
Harlan  moved  to  Peoria  county,  Illinois, 
(bout  1833,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  Radner 
township.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
tliat  county  and  served  as  a  member  of  the 
legislature  about  1840.  In  politics  he  was 
a  \\  big.  and  in  religious  belief  a  L'niver- 
salist.  He  died  September  3,  1842,  and  his 
wife,  November  21,  1876.  His  father, 
George  Harlan,  died  ^lay  6.  1821,  aged 
eighty-two  years,  and  his  wife,  Margery,  in 
1 82 1,  in  her  seventy-eighth  year.  They  were 
of  the  same  family  as  Chief  Justice  Harlan. 
Immediately  after  their  marriage,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schoonover  came  to  Henry  county, 
and  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on  sec-- 
tion  27,  Burns  township,  to  which  he  has 
since  added  eighty  acres  on  section  34 ;  sixty 
acres  on  the  same  section :  eightv  acres  on 


section  21;  and  two  hundred  acres  on  sec- 
tion 26.  The  first  eighty  acres  were  un- 
broken when  they  came  into  his  possession, 
but  the  other  tracts  were  all  under  culti- 
vation. The  improvements  that  he  has 
placed  upon  his  land  amount  to  about  eight 
thousand  dollars,  and  he  now  has  one  of  the 
best  and  most  desirable  farms  in  Burns 
township.  Besides  this  valuable  property 
he  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Riley  township,  Ne- 
maha county,  Kansas.  In  connection  with 
general  farming  he  is  successfully  engaged 
in  stock  raising,  his  specialty  being  hogs. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schoonover  have  become 
the  parents  of  eleven  children  :  Mary  Eunice, 
born  November  7,  1857,  first  married  John 
W'ilhelm,  a  farmer  of  Burns  township,  and 
second,  William  Chadwick,  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war,  now  living  in  Nemaiia  county, 
Kansas;  Joseph  Ward,  born  July  8,  i860, 
was  married  in  1886  to  Elsie  Ronstrom  ancl 
io  a  resident  of  Kewanee;  Lee  B.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1862,  was  married  September  7, 
1888,  to  Ada  Daily,  and  is  a  farmer  of 
Corning,  Kansas;  Adolphus,  born  June  13, 
1864,  married  Lizzie  Earl  and  is  a  farmer 
of  Corning,  Kansas;  Etta,  born  November 
6.  1868,  died  at  the  age  of  nearly  four 
years;  Emeline,  born  February  14,  1871.  is 
the  wife  of  John  Anderson,  of  Nobles  coun- 
ty, Minnesota;  John  Rosseter,  born  Octo- 
ber 28,  1873,  wedded  Mary  Helchsell  and  is 
a  farmer  of  Galva  township,  this  county; 
Grace,  born  January  10,  1876,  is  the  wife 
of  Lyman  Snyder,  who  is  engaged  in  farm 
ing  on  the  home  place ;  Ruea,  born  .\ugust 
20,  1879,  is  the  wife  of  Orville  Snyder,  a 
farmer  of  Burns  township:  Olive,  born 
March  8,  1882,  is  at  home  with  her  parents; 
and  Bethula,  1x>rn  January  6,  1887,  died 
November  7,  1887. 


458 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Since  casting-  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  John  C.  Fremont,  in  1856,  Mr.  Schoon- 
o\er  lias  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  tlie  Re- 
])nhncan  party,  and  he  has  most  efficiently 
filled  the  office  of  school  director.  His  wife 
is  a  nieniher  of  the  [Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  hoth  are  held  in  high  regard 
bv  all  w  h(_)  know  theiu. 


LOUIS  OBERG. 

This  well-known  and  energetic  farmer 
residing-  on  section  20.  Galva  township,  was 
Ijorn  in  Sweden  on  the  jgth  of  September, 
i(S49.  His  ])arent&  died  in  that  country  and 
there  two  sisters  still  reside,  but  his  only 
brother,  John  Oberg,  is  also  engaged  in 
farming  in  Galva  township,  this  county.  By 
occupation  the  father  was  also  an  agri- 
culturist. 

Our  subject  was  reared  upon  a  farm, 
and  early  in  life  gained  a  good  practical 
knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits,  although 
his  literary  education  was  limited.  He 
cc^ntinued  to  engage  in  farming  in  the  land 
of  his  birth  until  1875,  when  he  determined 
t(.  try  his  fnrtune  in  the  United  States, 
Avliere  he  belie\ed  that  better  opportunities 
were  afforded  ambitious  young  men.  On 
crossing  the  ocean  that  year  he  came  direct 
to  Henry  county.  Illinois,  where  he  worked 
1)_\-  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  until  1879, 
artl  then  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  em 
])!oyed  in  a  furniture  factory  for  si.x  vears. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  returned 
to  Henry  county,  and  resunied  farming. 
After  renting  land  for  some  time  he  pur- 
cliased  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  jo,  Galva  township, 
which  is  well  tiled,  under  a  high  state  of 
culti\-ation   and  improved   with  good  build- 


ings. He  carries  on  mixed  farming  and  is 
meeting  with  well-deserved  success  in  his- 
labors.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Farm- 
ers Ele\-ator  of  Gal\-a.  and  is  also  iiUer- 
ested  in  the  \\'estrand  Manufacturing  Com- 
l)any  of  that  place. 

In  1879  Mr.  Oberg  married  ^liss  Kate- 
Peterson,  who  was  born  in  Sweden,  De- 
cember 9,  1844,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1869. 
Her  parents  both  died  in  Sweden,  but  she 
has  one  sister,  Annie,  wife  of  Emil  W'al 
gren,  who  resides  in  Chicago :  Peter,  who 
died  in  Chicago,  in  1898:  and  fi\e  others 
who  reside  in  the  old  country,-  namely; 
Elsie,  Christine,  Eric,  Andrew  ami  Betsy. 
Of  the  four  children  liorn  to  Mr.  and  ]\Irs. 
Oberg.  Jennie.  Ijorn  in  Chicago,  died  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  months ;  and  Alben  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years.  Esther,  born 
January  7.  1883,  and  Edward,  born  ^lay 
7.  1885,  have  been  educated  in  the  country 
school  near  their  home. 

Mr.  Oberg  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  antl  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  local 
offices.  He  is  now  serving  as  highway  com- 
missioner and  school  trustee,  and  is  justly 
regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
his  communit\-. 


HUGH  .\.  CALHOUX. 

This  gentleman,  who  is  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  and  successful  agriculturists  of 
Galva  township,  has  made  his  hon-ie  in 
Henry  county  since  1865.  A  native  of  Illi- 
nois, he  was  born  in  Stark  count}-,  I-'ebru- 
ary  20,  1861,  his  parents  being  Andrew  and 
Mary  ((lalbraith)  Calhoun,  Ixith  now  de- 
ceased. The  father  was  born  in  the  north 
of  Ireland  in  1824,  and  when  twenty-four 
\-ears    of    age  came  to  the   United   States. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


459 


si)eii(liiig"  alioiu  nine  years  in  Philadelphia. 
Pennsylvania.  In  1S56  he  hecanie  a  resi- 
dent of  Stark  county.  Illinois,  where  he 
lived  until  1865.  where  he  came  to  Henry 
ct)unty  and  rented  a  farm  until  the  spring 
of  1866,  where  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  what  is  now  the  old  home 
farm,  to  which  he  added  until  at  the  time 
<if  his  death  he  owned  four  hundred  acres, 
and  carried  on  an  extensive  business  as  a 
farmer  anil  stock  raiser.  He  continued  in 
acti\e  business  until  to  the  time  of  his  death 
ii>  1887,  and  two  years  ])revious  matle  a  trip 
to  the  land  of  his  birth,  .\ftcr  his  death 
his  widow  and  Fred  Callioim  carried  <in  the 
farm  until  her  death.  January  30.   1897. 

Hugh  A.  Calh<mn  is  the  sixth  in  order 
of  birth  in  a  family  of  ten  children  who 
reached  years  of  maturity,  while  one  died 
ill  infancy.  The  others  are  Mary,  wife  of 
Daniel  M.  Towner,  of  Chicago:  Margaret, 
wife  of  T.  W.  Patterson,  station  agent  at 
(iranger.  Illinois:  Andrew  (i.,  a  resident  of 
( ialva  township,  this  county :  Prudence, 
wife  of  Harry  Resseguie,  of  Galva  town- 
ship; Rebecca,  wife  of  James  A.  Ayres,  of 
Kansas:  Susan,  wife  of  Thomas  H. 
Johnson,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  work:  William  \\'..  assistant  cashier 
of  the  Kewanee  Union  Xational  Bank: 
Henry  C  an  attorney  of  Chicago;  and 
Fred  (.'..  who  lives  <in  the  old  home  farm. 
All  of  the  family  ha\e  received  good  com- 
mon-school educations,  while  some  are  grad- 
uates of  the  Galva  schools,  and  have  taught 
in  different  schools. 

The  subject  of  this  review  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  home  farm  in  Galva  township, 
and  assisted  in  its  operation  until  about 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  when  he  rented 
land  of  his  father  antl  commenced  farming  on 
his  own  account.     He  has  successfullv  en- 


gaged in  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing, and  is  now  owner  of  the  north  half  of 
section  9,  Galva  township,  which  he  has  con- 
verted into  a  well  improved  farm.  He  is 
also  a  stockholder  and  <lircctor  of  the 
First  Xational  Bank  of  Galva:  a  stockholder 
of  the  Farmers  Elevator  at  that  ])lace :  and 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  Farmers  Mu- 
tual Insurance  Com])any  of  Kewanee.  which 
is  one  of  the  strongest  insurance  companies 
in  this  section  of  the  state,  as  it  represents 
over  one  million  dollars  worth  of  property 
in  six  townships.  .\s  a  business  man  Mr. 
Calhoun  is  prom])t,  energetic  and  notably  re 
liable,  and  generally  carries  forward  to  suc- 
cessful completion  whatever  he  undertakes, 
takes. 

He  is  an  active  worker  for  the  Rcimljlic- 
:;n  party  and  its  principles,  and  has  been  a 
delegate  to  county  conventions.  He  has 
served  as  road  commissioner  seven  ^•ears , 
township  .school  trustee  one  term ;  and 
school  director  for  twehe  years.  Religious- 
ly, he  is  a  me:nber  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  socially  is  connected 
with  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  Xo.  408  of 
(ialva.  in  which  he  has  jjassed  through  all 
the  chairs,  and  which  he  has  represented  irt 
the  grand  lodge,  where  he  served  on  a 
committee.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Modern 
Woodmen  Camp  Xo.  241,  and  has  serxed  as 
venerable  consul.  In  social  affairs  he  is 
quite  popular,  and  is  justly  regarded  as  one 
of  the  leading  and  prominent  citizens  of 
Galva  township. 


JOUX   SELM.\X. 

Sweden  has  furnished  to  the  new  wurld 
no  more  worthy  citizen  than  John  Selman. 
a  prominent  and  influential  farmer  residing 
on   section    12.  Galva  township.       He    was 


460 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


born  in  Smoland.  on  llie  i^^tli  of  Septenilier, 
1850.  His  ])arents  l)otli  died  in  Sweden, 
but  five  of  tlie  family,  four  sons  and  one 
daughter,  came  to  tlie  United  States,  and 
three  of  the  numlier  are  still  living,  these 
being  John,  our  subject:  Charles  G.,  a 
miner  of  Montana:  and  J-  A.,  a  farmer  of 
Bureau  county,  Illinois. 

John  Selman  acquired  a  good  practical 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  land, 
but  his  knowledge  of  the  English  language 
has  been  obtained  through  his  own  unaided 
efTorts  since  coming  to  this  country.  It  was 
in  1872  that  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  and 
landed  in  New  York,  whence  he  went  to 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  for  a  rail- 
road company  and  also  in  a  sawmill  for  a 
time.  On  cuming  to  Illinois,  he  first  lo- 
cated in  Jersey  count}-,  and  later  came  to 
Knox  county,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  for  about  one-half  vear.  and  then  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  rented  land,  making 
his  home  in  Henry  countv  since  1879.  In 
1893  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  12, 
Galva  township,  and  has  since  added  to  it 
many  improvements,  so  that  it  is  now  one 
of  the  most  desirable  farms  of  its  size  in 
the  locality.  It  is  supplied  with  good  and 
substantial  buildings,  the  land  is  well  tiled 
and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
e\erything  about  the  place  indicates  the 
thrift  and  progressive  spirit  of  the  owner, 
who  is  accounted  one  of  the  most  thorough 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  in  the  community. 

In  1878  Mr.  Selman  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Selma  .\.  Brandin,  also 
a  nati\e  of  Sweden,  who  came  to  America 
v.ith  her  parents  at  the  age  of  nine  years. 
They  are  still  living  in  Jamestown.  Xew 
York.  One  sister.  Xannie.  wife  of  C.  M. 
Peterson,    is    a    resident    of    Knox    countv. 


Illinois.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Selman  have  seven 
children,  namely :  Carl  Julius,  an  employe 
of  the  Western  Tube  Company,  of  Kewa- 
nee:  Bertha  Alfreda.  Minnie,  Nannie,  \Y'\\\- 
iam,  Raymond  and  Vera,  all  at  home.  The 
children  have  attended  the  schools  at  Galva. 
In  politics  Mr.  Selman  has  always  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party.  For  one  term 
he  efficiently  served  as  school  director  in 
district  No.  5.  He  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  in  limited  circumstances,  but  through 
his  own  well-directed  eft'orts  has  prospered, 
and  has  not  only  won  a  comfortable  com- 
petence but  has  also  gained  the  warm  re- 
gard of  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. 


PIOX.    WILLIA^I   LORENZO    WILEY. 

Henry  county  has  been  the  home  and 
scene  of  labor  of  many  men  who  have  not 
only  led  lives  that  should  serve  as  an  exam- 
ple to  those  who  come  after  them  but  have 
also  been  of  important  service  to  their  city 
and  county  through  various  avenues  of  use- 
fulness. Among  them  must  be  numbered 
William  L.  ^^'iley,  who  passed  away  August 
2.  1900,  after  a  life  of  industry,  and  rich 
in  those  rare  possessions  which  only  a  high 
character  can  give. 

He  was  born  in  Rockingham,  \'ermont, 
November  10,  1820,  a  son  of  William 
Campbell  and  IMary  (Perry)  \\'iley.  The 
father  was  born  near  New  Boston,  New 
Hampshire,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  coming 
from  the  clan  of  Campbells.  The  mother  was 
of  English  extraction,  and  on  the  maternal 
side  belonged  to  the  Fletcher  family,  which 
was  an  old  and  prominent  one  in  New  Eng- 
land. Both  parents  died  in  \"ermont.  By 
occuiiation  the  father  was  a  farmer  and  stock 


W.   L.   WILEY. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSllY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


463 


raiser.  All  of  his  three  .sons  held  interests 
in  the  west.  G.  R.  came  to  Henry  county. 
Illinois,  soon  after  his  brother  William  L., 
located  here  and  died  in  Galva,  July  30, 
i8()8.  Henry  C.  died  at  Sa.xton's  River, 
\'ernK)nt.  March  2S,  1898. 

The  primary  education  of  William  L. 
A\'iley  was  ac(|uired  in  the  common  schools 
"f  the  (Jreen  ^lountain  state,  and  later  lie 
attended  the  academies  of  the  east,  becoming 
a  well-educated  man.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood upon  a  farm  and  later  engaged  in  ])-.irt 
nership  with  his  uncle.  Gates  Perry,  for  a 
t"me.  Selling  his  interest  in  the  business 
he  went  to  Waterville.  >raine,  where  he  was 
ir.tcrested  in  the  wool  trade. 

On  tirst  cnniing  to  Illinois,  in  1851.  Mr. 
Wiley  located  in  Brimfield,  Peoria  county, 
w  here  he  purchased  properly,  and  two  years 
later  took  ix)ssession  of  the  same,  making 
some  impro\'ements  thereon.  In  the  fail  of 
1853  he  bought  the  land  where  Gul\a  is  no\\ 
located,  and  in  partnership  with  his  cousin, 
laid  out  the  town  before  the  railroad  wa-i 
built.  He  purchased  many  farms  in  this 
county,  which  he  improved  ;md  then  sold  at 
a  profit,  and  as  a  business  man  had  a  very 
successful  career.  He  became  connected 
with  the  banking  interests  of  Galva,  and  was 
the  first  presitlent  of  the  National  Bank  of 
that  place.  Later  his  cousin,  D.  L.  Wiley, 
j)urchased  an  interest  in  the  business,  which 
tb.ey  carried  mi  together  until  their  charter- 
expired,  when  it  was  merged  into  the  bank 
belonging  to  the  firm  of  L.  'M.  Yocum  & 
Company,  who  still  conduct  it.  Our  subject 
served  as  cashier  for  a  time  after  this  change, 
but  on  account  of  ill  health  was  obliged  to 
resign  that  ix)sitioii  and  retire  from  active 
business  cares.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
owned  a  farm  in  Galva  township,  but  most 


of  his  landed  interests  were  in  Iowa  and  still 
l)elong  to  the  estate. 

In  April,  1842.  ]\Ir.  Wiley  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Louise  Bailey,  also 
a  native  of  Windham  county,  Vermont,  liy 
whom  he  had  one  son.  Walter  Lorenzo,  who 
was  born  at  Saxton's  Ri\er,  that  state,  Jan- 
uary 6,  1844,  and  dietl  in  Galva,  Illinois, 
May  22,  1862.  His  wife  dietl  on  the  nth  of 
July,  the  same  year,  at  which  time  ^Ir. 
\\'iley  was  very  ill  with  typhoid  fever,  and 
knew  nothing  of  his  loss.  He  was  again 
married,  February  11,  1864,  his  .second  union 
being  with  :Miss  Eunice  B.  Williams,  of 
Galva,  who  was  also  born  in  Oneida  county, 
New  ^'ork,  and  daughter  of  Edson  and  Cor- 
inthia  (Spencer)  Williams  and  who  came  to 
this  country  at  an  early  day.  They  became 
])arents  of  two  children.  Jessie  L.,  now  the 
wife  of  Alfred  Hare,  of  Galva;  and  Walter 
S.,  who  died  April  2,  1879,  at  the  age  of 
seven  vears.  The  wife  and  ninther  died 
April  25,  1883.  On  the  23111  of  July.  1895. 
Mr.  Wiley  was  united  in  r.iarriage  with  Miss 
Kate  Garev.  who  v,as  bi>rn  in  Tamaqua, 
Pennsylvania,  in  September,  1851,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Marsden) 
darev.    Her  father  died  in  that  state  in  1853. 

Public-spirited  and  progressive  Mr. 
Wiley  always  took  an  active  interest  in  ad- 
vancing the  welfare  of  his  town,  and  gave 
of  his  time  and  money  to  promote  various 
enterprises.  He  was  a  stockholder  of  the 
Hayes  Pump  &  Planter  Company,  and  also 
a  large  stockholder  of  the  Galva  State  Bank, 
of  which  he  was  a  director  for  a  number  oi 
years.  He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Henry  Clay,  the  Whig  candidate  and 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party 
joined  its  ranks,  always  taking  an  actix'e  in- 
terest in  political  affairs.    He  was  a  delegate 


464 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  the  national  convention  in  Chicag'o  of  liis 
party  that  nominated  Grant  in  1868,  and 
for  four  years  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  equalization.  He  secured  the  right  of 
way  for  the  Rock  Island  &  Peoria  railroad 
through  Galva.  and  was  one  of  the  directors 
and  vice-president  of  the  company  for  a 
number  of  years.  The  last  public  office 
which  he  held  was  that  of  president  of  the 
board  of  equalization.  For  sixty-four  years 
he  was  an  earnest  and  consistent  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  always  held  some  of- 
fice, serving  as  trustee  and  treasurer,  as  well 
a£  leader  of  the  choir  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  took  a  \ery  acti\x  and  influential  part  in 
church  wiirk.  and  in  his  younger  years 
served  as  sujierintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school.  He  was  of  a  poetic  turn  of  mind 
and  wrote  many  lieautiful  poems.  In  daily 
life  and  action  he  was  ever  genial  and  af- 
fable, and  his  friendship  was  highly  prized. 


J.  D.  DICKIXSOX,  M.  D. 

For  half  a  century  Dr.  Dickinson  has 
been  a  resident  of  Henry  countv,  and  has 
been  one  of  the  leading  practitioners  of 
Galva  since  September.  1877.  He  was 
born  in  Oberlin,  Ohio.  January  13,  1846, 
a  son  of  Richard  and  Edna  (Needham) 
Dickinson.  His  ancestors  were  originally 
from  England,  but  the  family  was  founded 
in  Xew  England  many  generations  ago.  In 
early  life  the  Doctor's  father  followed  the 
carpenter's  trade,  but  took  up  farming  aljout 
1848,  anrl  devoted  his  remaining  years  to 
that  pursuit.  He  brought  his  family  to 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  in  1850.  He  was 
born  in  Randolph.  Ohio,  in  181 8,  and  died 
in    \\'ethersheld    township     in   1897,    while 


bis  wife  was  Ijorn  in  Massachusetts  in  1814. 
and  died  in  1868.  Thej'  had  three  sons:  j. 
I).,  our  subject;  Oliver  W.,  a  carpenter  of 
W'illiamstown.  \'ermont;  and  George  A., 
agent  for  the  Prudential  Insurance  Com- 
pany at  Galva. 

Dr.  Dickinson  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Wetherstield  and  the  academy  at  Kewa- 
nee,  and  also  pursued  a  classical  course  at 
W'heaton,  Illinois,  which  C(.)urse.  lio\\e\er. 
he  was  unalile  to  complete  on  account  of 
sickness.  For  a  time  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school  in  this  state,  and  then  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
&  St.  Paul  Railroad  Company,  as  land  ex- 
aminer from  St.  Paul  to  Breckenridge.  Min- 
nesota, wliich  ]X)sition  he  tilled  for  si.x 
months.  He  studied  medicine  for  a  time 
with  Dr.  Parsons,  of  Kewanee,  and  then  at- 
tended lectures  at  Hahnemann  Medical  Col- 
lege, Chicago,  Illinois,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated March  19,  1874,  and  then  engaged  in 
practice  with  his  former  preceptor  at  Kewa- 
nee for  a  short  time.  He  followed  his  chosen 
profession  at  Wataga,  Knox  county,  from 
the  spring  of  1875  until  the  fall  of  1877. 
and  then  came  to  Galva,  where  he  has  since 
liad  his  office.  With  the  growth  of  the  town 
h.is  patronage  steadily  increased,  and  he  now 
enjovs  a  good  practice,  whicli  extends 
many  miles  into  the  surrounding  country. 
He  has  met  with  well  merited  success,  and 
owns  a  pleasant  home  in  Galva. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1875,  in  W'eth- 
ersfield,  Dr.  Dickinson  was  imited  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Eva  Ray,  whi>  was  born  in 
St.  Lawrence  county,  Xew  York,  in  1854. 
and  came  to  Henry  count_v  when  fourteen 
Aears  of  age.  As  her  mother  had  died  when 
she  was  but  five  years  old  she  made  her  home 
with  her  aunt,  Ishs.  Cornelia  Oliver,  who  is 
n.ow  livine  in  Kewanee  at  the  age  of  sev- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


465 


enty  years.  Mrs.  Dickinson's  father  was  a 
lawyer  and  school  teacher  hy  profession.  He 
resided  in  New  York  state  until  two  years 
after  his  marriage  when  lie  removed 
to  Michigan,  where  he  died.  While  residing 
in  ilie  latter  state  he  devoted  his  time  to 
law,  serving  at  one  time  as  county  judge. 
He  was  very  successful  in  the  practice  ot 
law. 

In  [jDJitical  sentiment  the  Doctor  is  a 
Kepuhlican.  He  was  mayor  of  Galva  in 
1899:  has  served  on  tlie  school  hoard,  during 
which  time  the  new  school  house  was  erected 
in  1894.  He  takes  (|uite  an  active  part  in 
religious  affairs  as  a  memher  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  and  is  now  .serving  as 
deacon  of  the  same.  He  is  a  member  and 
examining  physician  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men Camp.  Xo.  241  :  tlie  Fraternal  Tribunal 
Camp.  Xo,  10:  and  the  Bankers'  Life  Insur- 
ance Company  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  As  a 
physician  he  stands  deservedly  high  among 
his  professional  brethren,  and  as  a  citizen 
merits  and  receives  the  respect  of  all  wh(i 
know  him. 


HOX.  CH.VRLKS  C.  WILSOX. 

One  of  the  most  distinguisiied  members 
of  the  legal  profession  in  Henry  county, 
and  one  who  is  known  not  alone  within  its 
borders,  but  throughout  the  state  and  na- 
tion, is  the  Hon.  Charles  C.  Wilson,  of  Ke- 
wanee.  He  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
l)orn  September  18.  1829.  and  is  a  son  of 
Enoch  and  .\bigail  (Richardson  )  Wilson,  the 
former  a  native  of  Wrentham,  Massachu- 
setts, and  the  latter  of  Portland,  ^Nlaine, 
Thev  were  the  i)arents  of  fourteen  children, 
of  whom  the  judge  was  eighth  in  order  of 
birth. 

In  his  native  state   Judge  Wilson  grew 


to  manhood,  and  in  its  schools  he  received 
his  early  education.  In  liis  lunhood  and 
vouth  the  great  west  was  a  popular  theme 
11!  discussion,  and  Illinois  was  considered 
a  i)art  of  that  country,  and  to  this  state  he 
determined  to  come  at  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity. Accordingly,  about  the  time  he 
attained  his  majority,  he  came  to  Illinois. 
and  for  a  time  made  his  home  in  Stark 
ctiunty.  where  he  ])urcliased  a  ti^act  of  land 
and  began  farming.  In  1S54,  however,  he 
gave  up  the  farm  an<l  began  the  study  of 
law,  and  pursued  the  same  witli  diligence 
and  energv  until  1859,  at  which  time  he  was 
admitted  to  the  liar.  He  at  once  began  the 
])ractice  of  tiis  profession  in  Bureau  conn- 
tv,  hut  in  a  few  months  after  he  removed 
to  Kewanee.  then  a  small  village,  and  here 
he  has  since  continued  to  reside. 

It  was  not  long  after  his  .settlement  in 
Kewanee  before  his  ability  as  an  attorney  be- 
came known  and  acknowledgetl,  and  in 
1864  he  was  nominated  and  elected  district 
attorney  for  the  fifth  judicial  district,  and 
served  with  honm"  and  credit  for  four  years. 
He  was  then  ajipointed  by  President  Ji>hn- 
son.  chief  justice  of  the  supreme  court  of 
Utah,  a  position  he  filled  with  marked  credit 
until  he  resigned  in  the  latter  i)art  of  1870 
and  returned  to  Kewanee. 

In  1830.  just  prior  to  his  removal  to 
Illinois,  judge  Wilsi>n  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Maria  X.  Benham.  a  native 
of  X'ermont.  and  daughter  i)f  Judge  Ben- 
ham,  of  Chittenden  county,  that  state. 
They  were,  however,  married  in  Massachu- 
setts, By  this  union  seven  children  were 
born,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living — Jennie 
M..  .\bbie.  Laura  M..  Charles  E,,  Cora. 
George  and  Edward, 

In  jiolitics.  Judge  ^\■ilson  is  an  ardent 
Republican,  a  jiarty  with  which  he  has  been 


466 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


associated  ever  since  its  organization.  He 
has  ne\'er  sought  pohtical  preferment,  al- 
though he  consented  to  ser\e  one  term  as 
mayor  of  Kewanee.  He  has  repeatedly 
refused  nominations  to  office,  including  that 
■of  a  member  of  congress,  a  position  that 
he  would  have  filled  with  credit  and  to  the 
?;itisfaction  of  all.  He  has  ever  been  will- 
ing to  gi\-e  of  his  time  to  the  interests  of 
his  party  and  the  welfare  of  his  friends, 
responding  ti  >  anv  and  all  calls  when  his 
health  would  permit.  The  city  of  Kewanee 
has  ahva}-s  found  in  him  a  steadfast  friend, 
one  willing  to  make  any  sacrifice  consistent 
with  good  business  judgment  to  advance 
its  interests.  He  has  taken  an  active  inter- 
est in  fostering  local  manufacturing  in- 
dustries, and  has  been  a  large  stockholder 
ii!  such  enterprises. 

Modest  and  unassuming,  but  with  abili- 
ties that  would  have  made  him  a  name  and 
fame  in  larger  cities,  Judge  Wilson  has 
pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  content 
to  be  numbered  with  those  of  his  fellow 
citizens  who  cared  not  for  high  honors, 
but  who  will  be  rememl)cred  bv  future  gen- 
erations fi.>r  the  general  impress  of  their 
character  on  those  with  whom  they  were 
surrounded.  He  is  certainly  a  high  type 
of  the  American  citizen,  and  his  friends 
are  numerous  througout  county  and  state, 
and  those  who  know  him  have  for  him  the 
greatest    esteem. 


y.  L.  ANDERSON. 

One  of  the  l)usiest,  most  energetic  and 
most  enterprising  business  men  of  Annawan, 
Illinois,  is  \'.  L.  Anderson,    an    extensive 


grain  and  lumber  dealer.  He  was  born  near 
Eergen,  Norway,  on  the  2nd  of  February. 
1855,  and  is  a  son  of  Lars  and  Julia  (Hol- 
stensen)  Anderson,  both  natives  of  that  im- 
mediate locality.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  Andrew  Anderson,  a  millwright  by 
trade,  who  ran  a  sawmill  and  also  engaged 
in  farming.  He  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Norway  and  died  at  about  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  In  1866  the  parents  of  our  subject 
came  to  America  in  a  sailing  vessel,  landing 
in  Quebec,  Canada,  after  six  weeks  spent 
upon  the  water.  The}'  proceeded  at  once  to 
Norway,  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  where  the 
father  made  his  home  until  called  to  his 
final  rest  August  27,  1871,  at  the  age  of 
forty-nine  vears.  In  bis  native  land  he  had 
followed  the  stone  mason's  trade  and  im- 
mediately after  locating  here  he  resumed 
tl'.at  occupation,  to  which  he  devoted  his  en- 
ergies throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
His  widow  still  survives  him  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years,  and  now  makes  her  home 
in  Sheridan,  La  Salle  county.  Their  fam- 
ily consisted  of  nine  children,  as  follows : 
Gertrude,  deceased  wife  of  Dax'id  Cothren, 
of  Norway,  Illinois  Andrew,  who  spent  a 
sl'iort  time  in  this  country  and  then  returned 
to  his  native  land,  where  he  died  in  the 
winter  of  1900;  Julia,  wife  of  O.  Clement- 
son,  of  Oklahoma,  Illinois;  Johannes,  a 
sailor,  who  lost  his  life  in  the  North  Sea; 
LTalsten,  a  resident  of  Norway;  A'.  L.,  our 
subject:  John,  a  farmer  of  Sandwich,  Illi- 
nois :  and  Barney  and  Gunner,  both  farm- 
ers of  Sheridan,  Illinois. 

V.  L.  Anderson  acquired  his  primary 
education  in  the  schools  of  Norway,  and 
after  coming  with  his  parents  to  this  coun- 
try attended  the  jiublic  schools  of  La  Salle 
county,  Illinois,  for  a  time.     At  the  age  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


467 


nineteen  he  commenced  farming  on  liis  own 
account  at  Sheridan,  that  county,  and  was 
thus  einployeil  for  tliree  years,  at  the  end  of 
whicli  time  lie  accepted  a  position  with  the 
tirm  t)f  CViurtright  &  L'omiKUiy,  grain  deal- 
ers of  Millington,  Illinois,  in  whose  emi)loy 
lie  remained  until  iSS<S,  when  he  leasetl  theii 
elevator  at  that  place  and  emljarked  in  the 
grain  husiness  on  his  own  account.  He 
continued  husiness  at  that  place  until  1897, 
and  in  Fehruary,  1898,  removed  to  Lee. 
Lee  county,  Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  the  same  line  of  trade  until  coming  to 
Annawan,  in  Ma}-,  1899.  Here  he  pur- 
chased the  west  elexator  of  Marcelius 
Brothers,  and  has  since  enlarged  and  re- 
modeled it  extensively  luitil  its  capacity  has 
been  tripled.  It  is  now  a  modern  up-to- 
date  elevator.  -Mr.  Anderson  now  handles 
about  two  Inuidretl  thousand  l)ushels  of 
grain  per  year,  while  his  business  is  steadily 
ir.creasing,  and  he  also  owns  and  operates  a 
lumber  yard,  where  he  does  quite  an  exten- 
sive business.  He  is  a  man  of  keen  i>crcep- 
tion,  sound  judgment  and  unbounded  en- 
terprise and  to  these  characteristics  may  1)C 
attributed  his  wonderful  success  in  Inisines:^ 
affairs. 

On  the  2 1st  of  October,  1886,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Anderson  and 
TnIiss  Cora  W'atters,  of  Millington,  Illinois, 
a  daughter  of  I.  B.  S.  Walters,  and  by  this 
union  have  been  born  two  children,  Vera  and 
La  \'erne.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Ander- 
son is  decidedly  a  Prohibitionist,  and  in  his 
social  relations  he  is  connected  with  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  the  ^lodern  ^\'oodmen  of  America. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of 
the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  are 
people  of  the  highest  respectability. 


W  ILLIAM   RonKRTS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of 
the  i)roniinent  citizens  of  I'lurns  township. 
;;nd  is  successfully  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  .raising  in  Burns  township. 
He  was  born  in  Oswego,  Xew  York,  on  the 
5lh  of  November,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of 
Michael  and  ]Minerva  (Atchison)  Roberts, 
r.atives  of  Maine  and  Xew  York,  respect- 
ively. Coming  west  in  1833,  the  father  first 
located  in  Peoria  and  soon  after  moved  to 
Pulton  county,  Illinois,  hut  in  1S53  came 
to  Henr\-  county,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  By  occupation  he,  too, 
was  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  hauled 
llie  first  stone  used  in  the  construction  of 
the  Peoria  court  house,  and  was  promi- 
nently identified  with  public  affairs  in  early 
days.  He  died  December  25.  1881,  and  his 
wife  departed  this  life  April  2-,  1874,  the 
remains  of  Ixjth  being  interred  in  Cosners 
cemetery.  In  their  family  were  thirteen 
children  but  only  four  are  now  li\ing.  Their 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows : 
Diantha,  September  15,  i8_'3:  .\nn,  Au- 
gust 23,  1824;  John,  April  2,  182O;  Alme- 
da,  February  5,  1828;  Edwin.  December 
\2.  1829;  William,  November  5.  1831;  Ja- 
cob, November  5,  1833;  Stephen,  October 
I,  1835;  Plenry,  January  i,  1838;  Eances, 
June  10,  1839;  Martha,  February  10,  1844. 
Of  these  Stephen  served  three  years  as  a 
member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twelftn 
Illinois  \'olunteer  infantry  during-  the  Civil 
war,  and  took  part  in  several  important 
battles.  Henry  was  also  numbered  among 
the  boys  in  blue  of  that  regiment.  While  re- 
turning from  a  foraging  expedition  through 
Tennessee  he  and  others  entered  the  com- 
misarv's  store  at  Lebanon,  Kentucky,  antl 


468 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


one  of  tlie  numl)er  carelessly  discharged  an 
old  carbine,  which  was  1:)elieved  to  be  nn- 
loaded.  The  discharge  ignited  the  powder 
and  he  with  four  others  were  burned  to 
deatli,  dying  after  twelve  hours  of  the  most 
intense  suffering. 

William  Roberts  accompanied  the  family 
on  their  removal  to  Illinois.  On  the  30th 
of  December,  1852,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  !Miss  Esther  Green,  who  was 
also  born  in  New  York,  December  25,  1837, 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Esther  (Atchin- 
chinson,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  in  recognition  of  his  services  re- 
ceived a  pension  in  the  way  of  a  grant  of 
land.  He  died  in  this  count)'  and  was  buried 
in  Cosners  cemeter}-.  Airs.  Roberts  is  the 
second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  four 
children,  the  others  being  as  follows :  Horace 
enlisted  in  the  fall  of  1861,  in  the  Forty- 
second  Illinois  \'oIunteer  Infantry,  and  after 
serving  one  year  contracted  measles.  He  re- 
turned home  and  died  from  the  effects  of  the 
disease,  his  remains  being  interred  in  Cos- 
ners cemetery.  Lyman,  now  a  resident  of 
Atkinson,  this  county,  was  in  the  one-hun- 
dred day  service  as  a  member  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment,  ^^'alter  now  makes  his 
home  in  Nebraska. 

Mr.  and  Airs.  Roberts  are  the  parents  of 
six  children,  namely:  Ida,  born  March  4, 
1854.  died  September  10,  1855.  Emma, 
born  October  9,  1856,  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Alahony,  a  native  of  Wisconsin,  where 
lie  is  now  engaged  in  farming,  and  they 
have  three  sons,  William,  Clarence  and  El- 
mer. Frank  E.,  born  November  24,  1859. 
died  September  24,  i860.  Elmer  E.,  born 
October  23,  1861,  married  Addie  Long,  and 
is  engaged  in  farming  in  Burns  township. 
They  have  four  children.  Clyde,  Esther, 
Clara  and  Belva.     Laura  V.,  born  Time  16, 


1865.  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Pugh.  of  Ke- 
wanee,  and  they  have  one  child,  JNIorton. 
Roscoe  E.,  bom  January  23,  1871,  married 
Millicent  Gerkin  and  is  engaged  in  farming 
in   Burns  township. 

Throughout  his  active  business  life  Air. 
Roberts  has  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising,  making  a  specialty  of  short  horn 
cattle.  He  is  also  interested  in  the  dairy 
business,  and  manufacttu^es  butter  quite  ex- 
tensively. He  owns  and  successfully  oper- 
ates a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  which  he  has  ]3laced  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  improved  with  good 
buildings.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  first  bought  eighty  acres  of 
his  present  farm,  which  he  improved  and 
added  to  from  time  to  time  until  he  now 
owns  two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  keeps 
up  to  the  front.  In  1S82  he  built  a  fine 
home  that  is  still  one  of  the  best  in  the 
township.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  Farmers  Mutual  Insurance 
Company.  The  Republican  party  finds  in 
him  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  principles,  and 
he  takes  considerable  interest  in  political 
affairs,  though  he  has  never  been  a  politician 
in  the  sense  of  office  seeking.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  are  earnest  and  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  are  held  in  high  regard  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances  who  esteem 
them  highlv  for  their  sterling  worth. 


DONALD    CAMPBELL    AIURCHISON. 

Donald  C.  Alurchison,  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  prominently  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  Henry  county, 
owning  and  operating  a  good  farm  of  one 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


469 


linmlred  and  sixty  acres  (in  section  14.  (ialva 
ii'wnsliip,  where  his.  widow  now  resides. 
He  was  born  in  Rotlisiiire,  Scotland.  De- 
cember 25.  1839.  '^"''  ^^'1*  ^'1^  eiglitli  in  or- 
der of  birtli  in  a  family  of  twelve  children. 
Seven  of  the  nnniber  are  still  living,  three 
are  residents  of  this  county,  these  being 
Roilerick,  a  traveling  salesman,  residing  in 
Kewanee;  Kenneth,  a  retired  farmer  of  the 
>ame  place;  and  Duncan,  living  east  of  Ke- 
wanee on  a  farm.  The  parents,  I'indlay  and 
Catherine  (McLean)  ]\Iurchis<ni,  brought 
their  family  to  the  new  world  when  our  sub- 
ject was  only  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
settled  in  a  Scotch  settlement  near  Elmira, 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  both  died.  By 
occupation  the  father  was  a  farmer  and  de- 
voted his  entire  life  to  that  calling. 

Donald  C.  Murchison  completed  his 
literary  education  in  the  high  school  of  Ke- 
wanee, and  on  laying  aside  his  te.xt  books 
aided  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  until  he 
attained  his  majority,  thus  ac(|uiring-  an  ex- 
cellent knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  then  went  to  California,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  prospecting  and  mining  for  twelve 
years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  period  returned 
to  Illinois.  He  purchased  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Galva  township. 
Hem\v  ct)unty,  and  to  its  improvement  and 
cultivation  devoted  his  energies  imtil  called 
from  this  life  in  1889. 

In  1871  Mr.  Murchison  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  May  Mclver,  who  w'as 
born  in  Rossshire,  Scotland,  in  1844,  and 
came  to  this  country  in  1869,  settling  in 
Stark  county,  Illinois.  Her  parents  never 
came  to  this  country.  By  this  union  were 
lx)rn  eight  children,  namely:  Catherine  A., 
wife  of  Charles  J.  Burke,  of  Nebraska,  by 
whom  she  has  one  child,  Clara  May;  Frank 
D..  who  attended  Brown's  Business  College, 


and  now  assists  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm;  Charles  R.  R.  and  ]\iargaret  E.,  who 
were  both  educated  in  the  Galva  schools: 
^lary  L. ;  \\'illiam  F.,  who  also  attended 
the  Galva  schools;  Kenneth  R. ;  and  May 
Bessie.  The  children  were  all  students  of 
the  district  school  near  their  home.  Since 
the  death  of  their  father  the  .sons  have  car- 
ried on  the  farm,  and  in  its  operation  have 
met  with  most  gratifying  success,  display- 
ing excellent  business  ability  and  sound 
juilgment.  The  family  is  one  of  promi- 
nence in  the  community  where  they  reside. 
In  religious  belief  Mr.  Murchison  was 
a  Presbyterian,  and  in  his  social  relations 
was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Ke- 
wanee. By  his  ballot  he  always  supported 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Repul:)Iican 
party,  Vnit  was  never  an  aspirant  for  ofhce. 
J le  took  an  actixe  interest  in  maintaining 
good  schools,  and  for  man\  years  was  offi- 
cially connected  with  the  schools  of  his  dis- 
trict. He  led  an  honorable  and  useful  life, 
and  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  either 
in  business  or  social  circles. 


WILLI. \M  HAXBV. 

William  Llaxhy.  who  owns  and  operates 
a  well-improved  and  highly-culti\'ated  farm 
of' one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section 
22,  Annawan  township,  Hem-y  county,  is 
a  native  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Winchester,  Scott  county.  May 
22,  1S44.  His  parents,  George  and  Rachel 
(Hadson)  Ha.xby,  were  Iinrn.  reared  and 
married  in  Yorkshire.  England,  and  came 
to  this  country  prior  to  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  taking  up  their  residence  in  Scott  coun- 


470 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ty.  Illinois,  where  they  were  numbered 
among  the  very  earliest  settlers.  The  father 
had  two  brothers,  William  and  Jolm  Haxby. 
who  located  in  the  same  county  in  pioneer 
days,  and  the  latter  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  In  1855  George  Haxby 
brought  his  family  to  Henry  county,  and  took 
u]>  his  residence  on  the  farm  where  our  sub- 
ject now  lives,  ^^'hile  a  resident  of  Eng- 
land he  followed  the  wheelwright's  trade, 
but  after  coming  to  America  mostly  engaged 
in  farming.  He  died  in  1875.  at  the  age 
of  eighty-one  years,  and  his  wife  departed 
this  life  in  1870.  at  the  age  of  about  sixty- 
fi\'e.  They  were  well  known  and  held  in 
high  regard  in  the  community  where  they 
made  their  home.  Eight  children  were  born 
to  them,  namely:  Mary  married  John  War- 
ten,  of  Pike  county,  Illinois.  He  is  now 
deceased.  Elizabeth,  deceased  wife  of  WiW- 
iam  W'arten;  Jane,  wife  of  George  Otley, 
of  Kewanee ;  ilargaret,  who  married  George 
Patrick  and  died  in  Scott  county,  where  he 
still  lives;  Rachel,  wife  of  David  Hilman, 
of  Luverne,  Minnesota;  William,  our  sub- 
ject; and  John,  who  died  in  Henry  county, 
in  1884,  at  the  age  of  forty- four  years. 
One  boy  died  in  infancy. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  his  native  county, 
and  attended  its  public  schools.  In  1855 
he  came  with  the  family  to  Henry  county, 
and  has  since  resided  ujxjn  his  present  farm. 
He  is  a  skilled  agriculturist  and  in  its  op- 
eration is  meeting  with  good  success.  In 
politics  he  is  an  ardent  Republican  and  has 
efficiently  filled  the  office  of  school  director 
in  his  district. 

On  the  1 8th  of  March.  1872,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  !Mr.  Haxby  and  Miss 
Eveline  ^IcGee,  a  native  of  Peoria,  Peoria 
county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and 


]Mary  Ann  McGee,  Ixjth  of  whom  were  born 
in  Pennsylvania.  Her  father  died  during 
her  childhood,  and  her  mother  departed 
this  life  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years.  ^Ir.  and  ^Irs.  Haxby  have  become 
the  parents  of  six  children :  Rachel,  born 
June  7,  1873,  is  now  the  wife  of  Andrew 
Rassusson,  of  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  and 
they  have  one  child,  George;  Ella  H.,  born 
ilarch  8,  1874.  is  at  home;  Ljdia  Mar- 
garet, born  March  20,  1876,  is  the  wife  of 
Cornelius  Dingman,  of  Williams,  Iowa; 
Ethel  May,  born  July  18,  1878,  Lafford, 
lx)rn  April  17,  1881,  and  Robert  Lee,  born 
September  18,  1884,  are  all  at  home.  The 
family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the  com- 
munitv  where  thev  reside. 


ELMER  E.  FITCH. 

Elmer  E.  Fitch,  of  the  firm  of  Fitch  & 
Ouinn.  publishers  of  the  Galva  News,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Henry  county  since  1875. 
He  was  born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio, 
August  13,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  George 
and  Deborah  (Boleyn)  Fitch,  the  former  a 
native  of  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  the  latter 
of  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  On  the  paternal 
side  he  is  of  English  ancestry.  The  first 
of  the  Fitch  family  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica was  James  Fitch,  of  Boking,  Essex 
county,  England,  who  crossed  the  Atlantic 
in  1636,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Massa- 
chusetts. Our  subject  is  also  descended 
from  John  Haynes,  the  first  governor  of  the 
Hartford  colony.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  William  Haynes  Fitch. 

George  Fitch,  the  father,  was  a  school 
teacher  and  followed  that  occupation 
throughout  life.     He  died  in  Ohio,  in  De- 


E.  E.  FITCH. 


Ilfi9/1RY 

UNIVERSIlY  OF  ILLINOIS 
URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


473 


cember,  1847.  He  was  twice  married  and 
liy  his  first  wife  lirul  one  daiigliter.  Jane, 
who  married  Ira  Kitcli.  and  (hed  at  licr 
hi  line  in  i"rani<hn,  1 'cnnsvlvania.  in  A]>ril, 
1900.  Her  iiushand  was  killed  in  the  h.attlc 
of  Sixittsylvania,  in  18^14.  1  ler  children 
were  fieorjje,  Willard.  Nettie  and  Iretta. 
Tlie  second  wife  of  (ieorge  Fitch  was  the 
mother  of  onr  snhject.  After  his  death 
she  lived  for  two  years  in  Laporte,  Indiana, 

[  .  anil  in  183^1  renio\ed  to  Fayette  county, 
Iowa.  Still  later  she  made  her  home  in 
Beaconsfield,  RinggoKl  county.  Iowa,  where 
she  died  January  11.  1895.  in  tiie  seventy- 
first  year  of  her  age.  In  1S61  she  married 
\\'illiam  O.  Hageman.  who  siu"\ives  her  and 
continues  to  live  in  Beaconsheld.  By  that 
iniion  there  were  two  children,  hut  one  died 
in  infancy.  I'hilo  1"..  a  farmer  of  Beacons- 
Held,  is  mrirried  and  has  a  famih-. 

I'dmer  1'"..  hitch  is  the  youngest  of  the 
four  children  horn  of  his  father's  second 
n:arriage,  the  others  being  as  follows  :  (_  i ) 
Martin  Bentley,  a  physician  of  Decorah, 
Iowa,  entered  the  Union  army  during  the 
Civil  war  as  a  member  of  the  lughteenth 
Iowa  \'ohmteer  Infantry,  hut  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Si.xteenth  Regiment,  and  was 
with  Sherman  on  the  march  to  the  sea.  He 
married  .Miss  Helen  R.  Hayes,  and  five 
children  were  l.)orn  to  this  union,  two  of 
whom  survive.  He  married  for  his  second 
wife  Miss  Belle  Xelson.  of  Decorah,  and 
they    have    four  sons.      ( j)   Alice  married 

'  Thomas  Kennedy  and  both  died  in  Ohio. 
(3)  George  W.,  a  resident  of  West  Union. 
Iowa,  was  a  teacher  in  early  life  and  served 
as  county  superintendent  of  Fayette  county, 
Iowa,  for  five  terms,  but  is  now  engaged  in 
1)iographical  work  with  the  B.  F.  Bowen 
Publishing  Company.  In  May.  1861.  at  the 
age  of  si.xteen  years  he  enlisted  in  Company 


D,  Sixty-second  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  took  part  in  thirty-seven  battles. 
For  a  time  he  was  held  a  prisoner  in  Libby 
jirison  and  Belle  Isle,  and  was  twice  slight- 
ly wounded  but  not  disabled.  He  re-enlisted 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Penn- 
sylvania Regiment  and  remained  in  the 
service  imtil  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1866 
he  married  Roxie  A.  Moore,  and  to  them 
were  born  seven  children:  William  E. ; 
Mary  L.,  deceased;  Myrtle  E. ;  Densel  A.; 
(ieorge  Porter,  deceased;  Clara  E. :  and 
Maud  \V. 

Our  subject  was  also  among  the  l)oys  in 
blue  during  the  Rebellion,  enlisting  August 
14,  1862,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  in  Company 
.\.  Thirty-eighth  Iowa  \'olunteer  Infantry. 
Fie  was  then  li\ing  on  the  home  f;uMn  in 
Fayette  county,  Iowa,  h'or  a  time  the  regi- 
ment did  guartl  duty  at  St.  Louis  and  went 
on  several  raids  in  Arkansas  and  Missouri. 
They  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Union  City, 
Tennessee,  and  then  went  to  Xew  Madrid, 
Missouri,  and  from  there  to  Vicksburg  in 
1863.  taking  part  in  the  siege  and  capture  of 
that  stronghold.  They  went  on  the  expe- 
dition to  Vazoo  City,  from  wliich  i)oint 
they  made  a  forced  march  to  Black  Ri\er 
Bridge  for  the  purjxise  of  taking  part  in  the 
H.ttle  of  Jackson,  Ijut,  arri\ing  too  late,  re- 
turned to  Yazoo  City,  and  from  there  went 
t.i  Port  Hudson  and  New  Orleans,  Louisi- 
ana, and  to  Brownsville,  Te.xas,  which  thev 
assisted  in  capturing.  In  1864  they  went 
to  Mobile  Bav  and  participated  in  the  siege 
and  capture  of  Fort  ^lorgan,  after  which 
they  returned  to  Donaldsonville,  Louisiana. 
At  ]\Iorganza  Bend,  in  December,  1864,  the 
regiment  was  consolidated  with  the  Thirty- 
fourth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  from 
there  went  to  Pensacola,  Florida,  marching 
through  the  swamps  to  the  rear  of  ]\Iobile, 


474 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


They  took  part  in  tlie  siege  and  final  charge 
a:  Fort  Blakely,  which  surrendered  at  sun- 
down, April  9,  1865.  They  then  went  up 
the  Alabama  river  to  Selma.  where  they  d'ut 
garrison  duty  for  a  few  weeks.  They  next 
went  to  Houston.  Texas,  where  they  were 
mustered  out  August  15.  1865.  Mr.  Fitch 
received  his  final  discharge  at  Davenport, 
Iowa,  on  the  5th  of  the  following  September. 

After  lea\ing  the  service  he  entered  the 
Upper  Iowa  University,  at  Fayette,  and 
later  became  a  student  at  the  Iowa  State 
University,  of  Iowa  City,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1874.  taking  a  thorough 
classical  course.  For  a  year  he  was  princi- 
pal of  the  \\'est  Hill  school,  of  Burlington. 
Iowa,  and  in  1875,  came  to  Galva,  Illinois, 
as  superintendent  of  schools,  which  position 
he  acceptably  filled  for  eight  years.  In  188 J 
he  was  appointed  by  the  board  of  supervisors 
as  county  superintendent  of  schools.  The 
following  year  he  resigned  the  position  of 
superintendent  of  the  Galva  schools,  and 
purchased  the  plant  of  the  Galva  News, 
which  he  conducted  alone  until  1888,  when 
lie  admitted  H.  Ouinn  to  a  partnershiii  in 
the  business.  Together  they  have  since  car- 
ried on  the  paper  with  marked  success,  and 
have  made  it  one  of  the  most  popular  jour- 
nals in  this  section  of  the  state. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  1876.  in  Decorah, 
Iowa,  Mr.  Fitch  w-as  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Rachel  Helgesen,  who  was  born  near 
Madison,  Wisconsin,  April  23.  1850,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anna  Helgesen. 
natives  of  Norway.  The  mother  died  in 
.Wi.sconsin  in  1852,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
six,  and  the  father  died  in  Galva.  Illinois. 
in  1895,  ^t  the  age  of  eighty-one.  Mr.  Hel- 
gesen came  to  America  in  1848  to  seek  his 
fortune,  but  chiefly  to  escape  the  persecu- 
tions of  the  Ouakers  in  Xorwav,  of  which 


sect  he  was  a  zealous  member.  He  emigrat- 
ed to  Iowa  in  1856  and  \\as  a  successful 
farmer  for  thirty-nine  years.  ^Irs.  Fitch, 
was  the  only  child  born  of  that  union,  but 
by  a  later  marriage  the  father  had  a  large 
family  of  children,  four  of  whom  are  still 
living,  namely :  ^^Irs.  Mary  Passmore.  of 
Elsinore,  Utah :  Hon.  Henry  T..  of  Milton, 
North  Dakota :  [Mrs.  H.  T.  Hammer,  of 
Pullman,  Illinois :  and  Albert,  of  Milton, 
North  Dakota.  Mrs.  Fitch  was  also  edu- 
cated at  the  Upper  Iowa  and  the  Iowa  State 
Universities,  and  prior  "to  her  marriage  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  the  Iowa  City  schools. 
She  has  decided  literary  tastes,  is  pu'jlic 
spirited,  and  hopes  to  see  the  establishment 
in  Galva  of  a  free  kindergarten  and  manual 
training  school,  and  a  free  public  library. 
She  is  a  member  and  past  president  of  the 
\\".  C.  T.  U.  and  Equal  Sttffrage  Associa- 
tions. Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  three 
children:  George  H.,  born  June  5.  1877,  is 
a  graduate  of  Knox  College,  and  is  now 
editor  of  the  Galva  News:  Rachel  Louise, 
Ixjrn  September  27.  1878.  and  Ro])ert 
Haynes,  born  January  17,  1881.  are  both 
attending  Knox  College. 

By  his  ballot  and  through  the  columns 
of  his  paper  Mr.  Fitch  has  always  supported 
the  Republican  party  and  its  principles,  and 
has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in  political 
affairs.  Since  resigning  his  position  as  su- 
perintendent of  the  Galva  schools  he  has 
served  six  years  as  a  member  of  the  board 
of  education,  and  was  president  of  the  same 
for  five  years.  He  has  been  commander  of 
the  Grand  Army  Post,  No.  7,^.  and  is  one 
of  the  suprenie  directors  of  the  ^lystic 
Workers  of  the  World,  being  a  prominent 
member  of  both  societies.  He  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  Galva  in  1891  by  President 
Harrison  and  served  four  vears. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


475 


ROBERT  HAV. 

Tliis  gentlcnian.  wlio  spent  his  eaii_\- 
life  in  active  business  and  mainly  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  is  udw  living  a  retired  lite 
on  a  fine  farm  one-half  mile  east  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Annawan.  A  man  of  energy  and 
more  than  urdinary  business  capacity,  his 
success  in  life  has  been  largely  due  to  his 
own  efforts  and  the  sound  judgment  which 
has  enabled  him  to  make  the  most  of  his  o])- 
portimities. 

Mr.  I  lay  was  born  near  Hanover,  Saluda 
townsiiii).  Jefferson  county,  Indiana.  Sep- 
tember 30,  iSji.  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Sarah  (Maiden)  Hav.  The  father  was  born 
in  Kelso,  Scotlantl,  on  the  ri\er  Tweed, 
and  was  twelve  rears  of  age  when  he  came 
t')  this  countr}-.  in  1S13.  \\ith  his  pareiits, 
William  and  Jane  (Taylor)  Hay.  The  fam- 
ily located  in  Saluda  township.  Jefferson 
county.  Indiana,  being  numl^ered  among  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  that  locality,  and  there 
they  all  died.  The  children  were  Thomas. 
the  father  of  our  subject:  Isabel,  who  was 
married  in  Scotland  to  Andrew  Davidson, 
and  came  with  the  famil\-  to  the  new  world: 
IJetsy.  who  became  the  wife  of  .Samuel 
Wells:  and  Annie,  who  married  .\ndrew 
Getty,  who  was  born  near  Gettysburg. 
Pennsyhania.  \\  illiam  May  was  the  only 
child  of  Robert  and  .\nna  (Turnbull)  Hay, 
also  natives  of  Scotland,  where  his  mother 
died  about  1820.  Shortly  afterward  the 
father  went  to  Canada  to  visit  his  son  and 
died  while  there. 

Thomas  Hay,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
continued  his  residence  in  Jefferson  county. 
Indiana,  until  1856,  when  he  came  to  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  farm  two 
and  a  half  miles  east  of  Annawan,  mak- 
ing that   his   home   until   about    four   rears 


before  his  death,  when  he  mo\ed  to  the  vil- 
lage. There  he  died  July  3.  189J.  and  his 
wife  passed  away  three  days  later.  She 
was  born  in  Raleigh.  North  Carolina,  in 
1800,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary 
(Passwater)  Alaiden,  natives  of  the  same 
state,  who  as  early  as  1806  removed  to  In- 
diana and  settled  in  Jefferson  county.  Their 
otlier  children  were  John,  who  died  in  Wash- 
ington. Clark  countv.  Indiana:  .\bner.  who 
died  in  Lexington,  Scott  count}-.  Indiana; 
and  Mary,  who  wedded  Lawrence  Brooks 
anil  remained  a  resident  of  Indiana  until 
after  her  husband's  death  and  then  went 
west.  Mrs.  Hay's  ])aternal  grandfather. 
John  Maiden,  was  a  native  of  Wales  and 
came  to  the  new  world  ])rior  to  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  in  which  he  look  up  arms 
against  the  mother  country  and  served  un- 
der General  Washington. 

Our  subject  is  the  second  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  nine  children,  the  others 
being  as  follows;  .V.  Jackson  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years:  Mary  died  at  the  age  of  three; 
^\'iIliam  married  Samantha  Shaw  and  died 
af  Colorado  Springs.  Colorado,  where  he 
lived  for  five-'years  prior  to  his  death:  John 
married,  first,  Elizal)eth  Crawford  and,  sec- 
ond. Susan  Hardy,  and  resides  in  .Austin, 
Scott  county.  Indiana;  Jane  is  the  widow 
of  Henry  Giles  and  a  reside;it  of  Annawan> 
Illinois:  George  died  in  Clyde.  Kansas,  in 
1894:  Thomas  married  Columbia  Iierry, 
now  deceased,  and  lives  in  Oklahfima;  Law- 
rence B.  married  Jennie  Foster,  of  .\nna- 
v.an,  and  makes  his  home  in  (iuthrie.  ( )kla- 
homa :  and  Maggie,  who  married  Daniel 
Patterson :  he  died  in  Omaha,  Nebraska, 
and  she  now  resides  in   .\nnawan. 

Reared  in  the  comity  of  his  nativity, 
Robert  Hay  acquired  his  education  in  the 
pioneer  schools  of  that  localitv  and  remained 


476 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


at  liome  with  liis  parents  until  he  attained 
the  age  of  twenty-three  years.  He  was  then 
married.  March  12,  1845,  to  Miss  Margaret 
Crawford,  who  was  also  born  in  Jefferson 
county.  Indiana,  October  15,  1826,  a  daugh- 
ter of  David  and  Sarah  (McXelley)  Craw- 
ford, who  died  in  that  state.  By  this  union 
^vere  Ixirn  fourteen  children,  as  follows :  ( i  j 
Oliver  P..  now  entomologist  in  the  national 
museum  at  New  York  city,  married  Molly 
Housman,  of  Rutland,  Illinois,  and  they 
have  four  children,  William  P..  Mamie. 
Fannie  and  Robert.  (2)  ^Nlary  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Clarke,  of  ;Missouri.  and 
they  have  had  five  children.  (3)  Jwlia  is 
the  wife  of  Miles  Shimel,  of  Bradford. 
Stark  county,  Illinois,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Edward.  (4)  Sarah  Jane  (deceased). 
(5)  Thomas  married  Marrietta  Stever,  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  Schaller.  Sac 
county,  Iowa,  in  1881,  leaving  two  children. 
Belle  and  Ella.  (6)  Ann  married  George 
Reed  and  resides  at  Yuma,  South  Dakota. 
(7)  Francis'  M.  married  Xellie  Lombard. 
They  reside  at  Bradford.  Stark  county.  Illi- 
nois. (8)  Maria  married  Levi  D.  Rich. 
They  reside  at  Los  Angeles,  California.  (7) 
Bell  married  William  H.  Wilcox,  of  Adel, 
Iowa.  (10)  Lerov  married  Kate  Schriver, 
resides  at  Milo.  Illinois.  (11)  Clarence  mar- 
ried Mabel  Foster,  of  Bradford,  Stark  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  they  reside,  and  they  have 
five  children.  (12)  George  married  Mary 
Stoner,  of  ^\'hiting,  Indiana,  and  is  l>ook- 
keeper  for  the  Standard  Oil  Company  at  that 
place.  (13)  Robert,  also  a  resident  of  Brad- 
ford, married  Ruth  Suthpen,  of  that  place, 
and  they  have  one  child.  Ralph.  One  died  in 
infancy,  unnamed.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  at  Bradford,  Stark  county. 
January  7.  1887,  and  ^^Ir.  Hay  was  again 
married,  October  8,  1891,  his  second  union 


Ijeing  with  !Mary  Frances  Baker,  who  was 
born  in  Annawau  township,  Henry  county, 
October  16,  1853.  Her  parents,  John  and 
Isabel  (Crawford)  Baker,  came  to  this 
county  in  1850,  and  were  numbered  among 
its  honored  and  highly  respected  citizens. 
They  are  both  now  deceased. 

In  1850  ilr.'  Hay  came  to  Illinois,  and 
purchased  a  farm  in  Milo  township,  BureaiJ 
county.  Avhich  he  improved  and  continued 
to  successfully  operate  until  his  removal  to 
his  present  place,  one-half  mile  east  of  An- 
na wan,  in  1 89 1.  Here  he  has  a  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  ninety-six  acres,  and 
besides  this  valuable  property  still  owns  two 
hundred  and  a  half  acres  of  land  in  Milo 
township.  Bureau  county,  and  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Dawes  county,  Nebraska, 
all  of  which  he  now  rents,  while  he  lives  a  re- 
tired life,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  former  toil. 
He  was  a  thorough  and  systematic  farmer 
and  due  success  has  not  been  denied  him. 
His  first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  James 
K.  Polk,  and  since  1856  he  has  been  a  sup- 
ix)rter  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  wide- 
ly and  favorably  known  throughout  the 
community  in  which  he  resides,  and  wher- 
e\er  known  is  held  in  high  regard. 


GEORGE  FESLER. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  agri- 
culturists of  Burns  township  is  George  Fes- 
ler,  who  follows  his  chosen  calling  on  sec- 
tion 7.  A  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born 
in  Mason  county,  on  the  2nd  of  June,  1844, 
and  is  a  son  of  Adam  and  Susana  (Everitt) 
Fesler,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Penn- 
S}l\-ania  and  of  German  descent.  In  con- 
iiectii^n   with  his  father  Adam  Fesler  was 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


477 


engaged  in  the  milling  business  in  the  east, 
and  being  burned  out  he  came  to  Illinois 
in  1836  with  the  hope  of  regaining  his  lost 
fi^rtunc.  The  journey  was  made  by  lx)at  to 
I'eoria.  Soon  he  came  to  Henry  county 
and  entered  a  claim  of  forty  acres,  on  which 
he  erected  a  log  house,  and  to  which  he 
subsecjuently  added  eighty  acres.  After 
placing  this  land  under  cultivation  he  sold 
the  place  and  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  mibroken  prairie  land  in 
Burns  townshi]),  which  he  also  impro\ed  and 
cultivated,  making  a  good  farm.  He  died 
in  1S75.  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  189^, 
both  being  laid  to  rest  in  the  ( ieneseo  cem- 
etery. 

Tn  this  wi  irthy  couple  were  born  eight 
children  as  follows:  Mar}'  is  the  wife  of 
William  Tell,  a  native  of  (lermany  and  now 
a  resident  of  (ieneseo ;  the  second  child  died 
in  infancy:  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  J.  J.  Mur- 
l)hy,  a  farmer  of  Firth.  Nebraska:  Maria  is 
the  widow  of  John  A.  Rishel  and  a  resident 
of  Cambridge,  this  count}':  (ieorge.  our  sub- 
ject, is  next  in  order  of  birth:  Irene  is  the 
wife  of  L.  Cherry,  of  (ieneseo:  Hester  is 
the  widow  of  M.  ^\'inegar :  twins  died  in 
infancy. 

The  subject  of  this  .sketch  was  a  lad  of 
twelve  years  when  he  removed  with  his  par- 
ents to  Burns  township  and  there  he  has 
since  resided.  He  attended  the  district 
schools  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  his 
I'.onie.  and  for  a  time  pursued  his  studies 
in  the  (ieneseo  .schools.  When  not  in  school 
he  assisted  in  the  work  of  the  farm  and 
thus  gained  a  gtxjd  ])ractical  knowledge  of 
the  occupation  which  he  has  chosen  as  a 
life  work.  He  now  owns  a  well-improved 
iarm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  as 
a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  is  meeting  with 
■vvell-deserved  success. 


On  the  -th  of  October.  1867,  Mr.  Fesler 
married  Miss  I'^annie  Green,  a  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Sarah  (Whittenhall )  Green, 
both  natives  of  Xew  York.  Six  children 
bles.scd  this  imion.  namely:  .\lbert.  l)orn 
March  13.  1871.  is  at  home:  Sarah  Jane, 
born  X(i\enilier  8,  1873.  is  the  wife  of  Wal- 
ter Fell :  Susan,  born  March  24,  1876.  is  de- 
ceased:  Edith,  born  August  25,  1879,  is  the 
wife  of  J.  F.  Tohn.son;  Ray,  born  Novem- 
ber _'J.  1885,  is  deceased:  and  Rolland,  born 
August  II,  1888,  is  at  home. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Fesler  is 
a  Democrat,  and  he  has  been  called  uix)n  to 
till  the  office  of  school  director.  He  has  in 
his  possession  a  number  of  Rexolutionary 
war  relics,  which  he  inherited  from  his 
grandfather  I-'esler,  who  fought  for  .\mei-- 
ican  independence  in  that  .struggle,  and  alstj 
has  a  part  of  the  barrel  of  an  old  Hintlock 
musket.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  his  co:unuuiitv.  and  is  held  in  high  re- 
gard by  all  who  know  him.  .Mrs.  busier  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  Science  Church 
and  first  reader  of  the  church,  and  in  her 
limited  field  has  been  a  successful  healer. 


EUGEXE  G.   r. AKER. 

AnK)ng  the  young  and  enterprising 
farmers  of  Henry  county  must  be  numbered 
luigene  G.  Baker,  who  is  now  successfully 
pursuing  his  chosen  \'ocation  on  .-ectiou  3.1.. 
.\lba  townshi]).  He  was  born  on  tlic  5th 
of  January,  1S72.  in  Bureau  count},  Illi- 
nois, two  miles  north  of  Xejjonset,  and  is  a 
son  of  Wellington  P.  and  Hadasre  (Graves) 
Baker,  natives  of  Somerset  county,  Maine. 
The  father  had  two  brothers  and  two  sis- 
ters, namely:  l^dwin.  who  died  in  Somer.set 


4/8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


county,  Maine,  in  1899,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren, Guy,  Nellie  and  Edith:  Alfred  A.,  a 
resident  of  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  who  has 
fine  daughter  hy  his  first  wife,  Sallie;  Flor- 
ence, wife  of  Levi  Wilson.  li\-ing  near  Fort 
Scott,  Kansas,  hy  whom  she  has  six  children. 
Minnie,  Alice,  Clare,  Helen,  Grace  and 
Maud.  Julia,  a  resident  of  Somerset  coun- 
ty. Maine,  and  widow  of  Calvin  Colby,  by 
whom  she  had  one  child,  Georgia.  Olu 
subject's  mother  was  one  of  a  family  of  six 
children,  the  others  being  Helen,  wife  of 
Sewell  Dinsmore,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
liy  whom  she  has  three  children,  Amos, 
Agnes  and  Hattie:  Hattie,  wife  of  James 
Eklridge,  living  near  Kewanee,  Illinois,  by 
\vhom  she  has  two  children.  Lulu  and  Dor- 
cas ;  Addie.  a  school  teacher  of  Neponset, 
Illinois:  and  Moses  and  Frank,  who  both 
tl:ed  in  Somerset  county,  Maine,  the  former 
at  the  age  of  twenty-fi\-e  years,  the  latter 
ar  the  age  of  eight. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  third 
ir.  order  of  birth  in  a  familv  of  ten  children. 
nine  of  whom  are  lixing.  the  others  being  as 
follows:  Walter  died  in  infancy:  Emma, 
born  February  10,  1871,  is  with  her  parents: 
Melvin  W..  born  Xo\ember  15,  1874,  mar- 
ried Celia  Roos,  of  Geneseo,  Illinois,  and 
i;,  now  engaged  in  farming  near  Muscatine. 
Iowa:  Grace,  born  Octolier  18,  1877,  is  a 
school  teacher  of  Henry.  Illinois:  Martha, 
born  Januarv  22.  1879.  \\  ilHam,  born  Jan- 
uary I  J,  1 88 1,  Frank  and  I'red.  twins,  born 
July  21.  1883.  and  lulwin.  born  Januarv  5, 
1886.  are  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Baker,  of  this  review,  was  only  two 
years  old  when  the  family  removed  to  Alba 
township  this  county,  and  was  educated  prin- 
cipally in  its  district  school.  For  a  time  Ik; 
was  emploxed  as  clerk  in  a  hotel  at  Daven- 
port. Iowa,  and  while  there  attended  school 


for  a  time.  Since  his  return  to  Alba  town- 
shi]).  he  has  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
ar.d  now  o]ierates  one  of  his  father's  farms 
on  section  34,  Alba  township. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  1896,  Mr.  Baker 
was  married,  in  Da\enport,  to  Miss  Zora 
]\Iachesney,  who  was  born  in  Annawan,  this 
county,  April  16,  1871.  Her  father,  An- 
drew Taylor  Machesney,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1849.  and  had  one  brother  and 
one  sister,  namelv :  William,  who  married 
Blanch  Everett,  by  whom  she  has  one  child, 
Edna,  and  lives  in  Wellsville.  Ohio:  and 
Mary,  who  died  in  Penns\'lvania.  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years.  During  the  Cix'il  war 
he  served  three  years  as  a  member  of  the 
Fifty-seventh  Pennsylvania  \'olunteer  In- 
fantry, and  was  wounded  in  the  right  arm. 
In  1868  he  married  Clara  M.  Gochenouer, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio,  in-  1852,  and  is  the 
tenth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  eleverr 
children,  the  others  being  as  follows:  Henry, 
now  deceased  :  Xewton  and  Dora,  residents 
of  Nebraska:  William,  a  resident  of  Anna- 
wan,  this  countv,  married  Elmira  Carey, 
now  deceased,  and  had  five  children,  Lillian^ 
Ada,  01i\e,  Anna,  and  Clinton,  deceased; 
-\dam,  a  resilient  of  Blair.  Nebraska,  wedded 
}vlary  Burgess  and  has  six  children,  Joseph, 
Ella,  Alma,  Mary,  Frank  and  Annie :  John, 
of  Annawan,  Illinois,  had  four  children. 
Nettie.  Clarence.  Charles,  deceased,  and 
Otho :  Barbara  Ann  is  the  wife  of  Frank 
I'atton.  of  Lux'erne.  Iowa,  and  thev  ha\'e 
fi\e  children.  \\'illiam.  Tillie,  Christinai 
Maggie  and  Emma:  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
John  Eibert,  of  Belgrade,  Nebraska :  Re- 
becca is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Messmore,  of, 
Kewanee,  and  they  have  one  child,  Emma : 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  William  Frouk,  of  Lu- 
\erne.  Iowa,  and  they  have  four  children, 
Anna.    William.    Burton   and    Matilda:   and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


479 


Xancv.  deceased,  was  tlie  wife  of  Xelson 
Swagger,  of  Luverne.  Iowa,  and  they  liacl 
four  children,  Edith.  Charles.  Susan  and 
Clara,  .\fter  his  marriage  Mr.  ^lachesney 
came  west  and  took  ui)  his  residence  near 
Annawan,  Henry  county.  Illinois. 

Politically  Mr.  Baker  is  identified  with 
the  Re])uhlican  party,  and  is  now  most 
creditahly  serving  his  second  year  as  sujier- 
visor  of  .\lba  townshi]).  He  has  also  filled 
the  office  of  township  clerk  three  years,  and 
i.--  one  of  the  leading  and  influential  citizens 
of  his  community.  Religiously  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and 
socially  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Traternity.  in  which  he  has  filled  all 
the  chairs  and  is  n<)w  past  chancellor.  His 
V.  ife  belongs  to  the  I'nited  Brethren  Church, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Star  Circle  and 
Thimble  Societv. 


J.\MES  O.  THORP. 

.\mong  the  leatling  and  re])rescntati\e 
agriculturists  of  lUirns  townsliip  is  Jacob 
O.  Thorp,  who  owns  an<l  operates  a  good 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-si.x  acres 
on  section  24.  He  was  born  near  the  town 
of  Beli)re.  Washington  county.  Ohio.  Feb- 
ruary 17.  1840.  and  is  a  son  of  Moses  O. 
and  Sarah  ( Clark )  Thorp,  natives  of  Penn- 
.sylvania,  who  came  with  their  family  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Burns  township.  Henry 
county.  Here  the  father  purchased  forty 
acres  of  land,  to  whicli  he  added  from  time 
to  time  until  he  owned  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres.  By  trade  he  was  a  coo])er  and 
followed  tiiat  occupation  in  connection  with 
farming.  In  his  family  were  ten  children, 
namely:     Hannah,  now  Mrs.  Foster,  of  Al- 


toona,  Illinois;  Jonas,  deceased:  Isaac,  who 
married  Eliza  Adams  and  lives  in  Kewanee 
township,  this  county:  Sarah,  wife  of  E.  K. 
\'incent :  Mary,  who  died  in  this  county  and 
was  buried  in  Corners  cemetery:  Lydia, 
v.  ho  married  Josepii  Mooney  and  died  in  this 
county:  James,  who  died  in  childhood:  Ar- 
thur, deceased  :  hrank,  who  married  Sarah 
W'hitehouse  and  li\es  in  Iowa:  and  Mahala, 
w  ife  of  Robert  Garland,  of  Iowa. 

Jacob  O.  Thorp,  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth  in  this  family,  was  reared  upon  his 
father's  farm,  and  recei\ed  a  good  practical 
education,  pursuing  his  studies  in  what  is 
known  as  the  Carson  school  in  Burns  town- 
ship. I'or  about  eight  years  he  successfully 
engaged  in  teaching,  and  since  then  has  de- 
voted his  time  and  attention  exclusivelv  to 
farming.  In  1866  he  jnirchased  thirty-five 
acres  of  land  on  section  24.  and  has  since 
extended  the  boundaries  of  his  farm  until 
it  now  comprises  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  acres,  which  is  in  sjjlendid  condition  and 
improved  with  good  modern  buildings,  in- 
cluding a  pleasant  residence  erected  in  1897. 

On  the  Jnd  of  (Xnober,  1866.  Mr.  Thorp 
was  married  at  Kewanee.  by  Rev.  W.  f. 
Beck,  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Clark,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  echicated  in  Ohio,  and  was 
about  sixteen  years  of  age  when  she  came 
to  Kewanee  in  1865,  with  her  parents.  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (  Ray )  Clark,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio,  re.spectively.  l'>y 
trade  her  father  w  as  a  shoemaker.  1  Ic  had 
a  family  of  ten  children.  .Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thorp  have  one  son  and  one  daughter:  Eu- 
gene Ward,  born  Septemlier  20,  1869,  was 
married.  .August  11.  1893,  to  Nannie  E. 
M\ers  and  they  lia\c  two  children,  Wes!e>- 
and  Jesse:  I-'lorence.  born  .April  4,  1875,  is 
now  the  wife  of  James  McRell.  Jr.,  and  they 


48o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


]ia\e  line  cliild.   Minnie   H.,   born   Octcilier 
23.   1899. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincohi,  Mr.  Thorp  has  never 
wavered  in  his  allegience  to  the  Republican 
party,  and  he  has  most  efficiently  filled  the 
offices  of  tax  collector,  road  commissioner 
for  six  years  and  school  director,  serving  in 
the  latter  position  for  ten  years.  ^Mrs. 
Thorp  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  and  they  receive  and  merit 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  ki'ow 
them. 


OLOF  PETERSON. 

Many  of  the  most  enterprising  and  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  Henry  county  have  come 
from  the  land  beyond  the  sea,  and  in  the 
new  world  have  made  for  themsehes  and 
families  good  homes.  Prominent  among 
these  is  Olof  Peterson,  a  well-known  citizen 
of  Cialva  township,  his  home  being  on  sec- 
tion 12.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
county  since  1871. 

^Nlr.  Peterson  was  born  in  the  southeast- 
ern part  of  Sweden,  January  29,  1850.  a 
son  of  Peter  and  Annie  Johnson,  life-long 
residents  of  that  country.  In  early  life  the 
father  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer 
and  later  worked  as  a  laborer.  He  died  in 
1898,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  and  his 
wife  passed  awa)-  in  1900,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three.  Of  the  seven  children  born 
to  them  three  died  in  childhood,  the  other;i 
being  Olof,  our  subject ;  Peter,  a  farmer 
and  cattle  raiser  of  South  Dakota ;  and  Ella 
and  Buel  Peterson,  both  of  Sweden.  It 
\\as  se\"en  years  after  our  subject  came  to 
America  that  his  brother  crossed  the  ocean, 
and  for  three  rears  worked  as  a  farm  hand 


ir  Henry  count}-.  He  then  farmed  rented 
land  two  years,  after  which  he  went  to  'Slis- 
souri  where  he  farmed  for  two  years.  Dur- 
ing this  period  he  returned  to  Galva  and  iu 
January,  1884,  he  married  Miss  Lucy  Al- 
derman. In  1886  he  went  to  South  Dakota, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  near  Bonilla,  where  he  has 
since  resided. 

In  his  early  bo}hood  Olof  Peterson  at- 
tended the  common  schools  of  his  native 
land,  but  at  the  age  of  ten  years  he  was 
compelled  to  lay  aside  his  books  and  go  to 
work.  He  herded  stock  until  old  enough  to 
perform  more  arduous  labor,  and  then 
worked  in  a  mill  for  six  years,  the  last  yeas 
as  head-miller,  during  which  time  he  thor- 
oughly learned  the  miller's  trade.  On  at- 
taining his  majority  he  bade  good-bye  to 
home  and  family,  and  alone  came  to  Amer- 
ica. Ha\ing  only  half  enough  money  to  pay 
his  passage  he  was  obliged  to  borrow  the 
balance  with  which  he  purchased  his  ticket 
to  his  destination — Kewanee,  Illinois, — and 
was  entirely  unfamiliar  with  the  English  lan- 
guage. He  at  once  found  work  on  a  farm 
b}-  the  month  and  was  thus  employed  for  five 
years,  during  which  time  he  saved  enough 
money  to  buy  some  farm  implements  and 
stock,  and  during  the  following  years  he 
operated  rented  land.  In  1878  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  of  Jerry  Bickford,  in 
Wethersfield  township,  on  which  he  lived 
three  years  and  at  the  same  time  worked 
rented  land.  He  then  sold  to  A.  C.  Taylor, 
and  bought  eighty  acres  of  Peter  Levine  in 
Galva  townshij).  where  he  now  resdes.  and 
in  January,  1882,  he  bought  an  adjoining 
eighty  acres  of  the  Daniels  heirs. 

His  first  home  here  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  18S5,  but  he  has  erected  a  more  mod- 
ern residence,  and  has  also  erected  a  large 


MRS.  O.  PETERSON.    FRANK  PETERSON.    MR.  O.  PETERSON. 


UNIVERSlIt  [jt  ILLINOIS 
UKbANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


4S3 


liarn  and  slieds  tor  the  accommodation  ot 
his  stock.  As  a  stock  raiser  and  breeder  he 
has  been  remarkably  successfnl.  He  lias  a 
tine  drove  of  Poland  China  hogs  for  breeding 
piu'ix'ses.  and  finds  a  ready  market  for  the 
same.  He  also  makes  a  specialty  of  short 
liorn  cattle,  and  has  Ijeen  interested  in  rais- 
ing Clydesdale  and  Englishshire  hor.ses,  but 
is  now  giving  his  attention  to  Xormans.  Be- 
sides his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres  on  section  12,  Galva  township,  he  owns 
forty  acres  on  section  7.  W'ethersfield,  and 
has  also  improved  that  property  in  a  most 
creditable  manner.  He  also  owns  and  oper- 
ates a  corn  sheller  and  grinder  and  thresh- 
ing outfit,  his  son  acting  as  engineer. 

On  the  30th  of  January.  1879,  Mr.  Pe- 
terson was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Rosina  Adelia  Mallory.  who  was  torn  in 
Whiteside  county,  Illinois.  April  3,  1856, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  G.  W.  and  Susan 
(Smith)  Mallory,  the  former  a  native  of 
A'ermont,  the  latter  of  Essex  county,  New 
York.  The  mother  died  Xovember  4,  1898, 
but  the  father  is  still  living  in  Annawan, 
this  county,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  all 
of  whom  are  still  living,  namely:  Tamar 
C,  wife  of  Arthur  Wood,  of  Xew  Boston, 
Illinois ;  Josephine  A.,  wife  of  Henry  Buck- 
ley, of  Kewanee:  Rosina  A.,  wife  of  our 
subject;  Isabella  A.,  wife  of  R.  Eugene 
Cook,  of  Red  Oak,  Iowa;  Edith  A.,  wife  of 
George  Anderson,  of  Alba  township,  tiii^ 
county;  Herbert  E.  married  Cora  W'illitt. 
and  lives  in  .\nnawan ;  E\a  A.,  wife 
of  Henry  Seeley.  of  Xew  Boston,  Illi- 
nois; Wallace  E.,  George  A.  and  Susie 
E.,  all  three  living  at  home.  The  children 
were  educated  in  the  ])ublic  schools  of  Ke- 
wanee, where  the  family  resided  from  i860 
to  188;.     ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  have  one 


son,  Erank  E..  who  was  born  July  29,  1S80, 
in  W'ethersfield  township,  and  completed  his 
education  in  the  W'ethersfield  high  school. 
He  is  now  assisting  his  father  in  business. 
By  his  ballot  Mr.  Peterson  supports  tlie 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  pai  ty, 
and  has  held  minor  offices  in  his  townshi;j. 
For  nine  years  he  has  capably  served  as 
school  director,  and  has  always  taken  a  de- 
cided interest  in  maintaining  good  schools. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  and  are  highly  re- 
spected and  esteemed  by  all  who  know  them. 
Although  he  has  always  led  a  very  active 
and  industrious  life,  he  has  ever  enjoyed 
good  health,  and  his  career  has  ever  been 
such  as  to  command  the  confidence  and  warm 
regard  of  those  with  whom  he  has  been 
brought  in  contact.  As  a  business  man  he 
stands  among  the  ablest  in  his  communitv. 


F.    CHARLES    SPIEGEL. 

Among  the  citizens  of  (ialva  township 
who  are  of  foreign  birth  is  the  genclenian 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  his  home 
being  on  section  i.  He  was  born  in  Prussia. 
Germany,  April  13,  1844.  and  in  1861,  came 
to  the  United  States  with  his  parents.  Fred- 
erick and  Minnie  Spiegel,  it  recpiiring  about 
a  month  to  cross  the  ocean.  On  landing  in 
this  country  they  proceeded  at  once  to  Ke- 
wanee, Illinois,  two  sons,  .\ugust  and  Fred, 
having  previously  located  here  in  1837.  The 
parents  lived  on  a  farm  near  that  city  for 
some  years,  but  spent  their  last  days  in  the 
city.  Both  are  now  deceased,  the  mother 
having  died  first.  In  Germany  the  father 
followed  the  miller's  trade,  and  having 
saved  a  little  money  he  invested  it  in  a  trfict 
of  timber  land  on  coming  to  this  county  and 


484 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. His  i)lace  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  and  to  its  improvement  and 
cultivation  he  devoted  his  energies  until  liis 
removal  to  Kewanee.  wlien  he  sold  the  farm. 

Charles  Spiegel  is  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  twelve  children,  two  of 
^vhom  died  young,  the  others  being  .\ugust. 
a  resident  of  Burns  township:  Fred,  of 
Cambridge:  Albert,  who  died  al)out  1882 
upon  his  farm  in  W'ethersfield  townshi]): 
where  he  owned  a  half  section  of  land  :  Emi! 
a  retired  farmer  of  Kewanee:  Ernest,  who 
died  on  his  farm  in  Galva  township  in  1899: 
Louisa,  wife  of  William  Coover,  a  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war.  residing  in  Kewanee;  Au- 
gusta .wife  of  Fred  Schaffer  of  Cornwall 
township:  and  Pauline  wife  of  August  Wal- 
ter, of  Burns  township.  The  family  were  all 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Germany. 
After  coming  to  this  country  they  all  worked 
together  for  some  time,  and  bv  their  com- 
bined efforts  met  witli  excellent  success. 
They  have  made  for  themselves  good  homes 
and  farms,  and  all  that  they  have  acquired 
has  been  gained  by  hard  work  and  good 
management. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  Germany  and 
also  learned  the  traits  of  economy  and  fru- 
gality, which  ha\e  been  important  factors 
in  his  success,  enabling  him  to  acc|uire  a 
comfortable  comijetence.  .\t  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  came  to  the  new  world,  and 
at  first  worked  as  a  laborer  by  the  month 
until  he  secured  a  .start  in  life.  In  1866  he 
and  his  brother,  .\lbert.  purchased  a  farm 
for  which  they  went  in  debt  about  ten  thou- 
sand dollars.  It  consisted  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  Wethersfield  township, 
which  tlie\-  operated  top^ether  for  five  years, 
but  at  the  end  of  that  time   our  subject  sold 


a  part  of  his  interest  to  his  brother  and  the 
remainder  to  J.  .\rmstrong.  He  then  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Galva  township,  on 
which  he  lived  for  five  years,  and  on  selling 
that  property  in  1877.  he  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  section  i,  the  same  township.  At  that 
time  it  was  \'er\'  poorly  improved,  but  he 
has  since  made  it  one  of  the  best  farms  of 
the  community.  In  1883  he  erected  a  good 
barn  and  two  years  later  built  his  present 
residence,  which  is  supplied  with  modern 
improvements.  The  buildings  erected  by  him 
are  good  and  substantial  structures,  which 
have  cost  him  about  seven  th(5usand  dollars, 
and  he  has  also  spent  over  nine  hundred  dol- 
lars in  tiling  and  draining  his  land.  In  con- 
nection with  general  farming  he  raises 
horses,  cattle  and  hogs  for  market  purposes, 
making  a  specialty  of  Xorman  horses,  of 
which  he  has  some  very  fine  specimens.  Be- 
sides his  fine  farm  he  owns  residence  prop- 
erty in  Kewanee.  and  a  building  lot  in  W'eth- 
ersfield. 

In  1870  Mr.  Spiegel  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Herminia  Ouret.  who  was 
also  born  in  Germany  and  was  eight  years 
old  when  brought  to  this  country  by  her  par- 
ents, both  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  By 
occupation  her  father  was  a  farmer.  She 
is  one  of  a  family  of  four  children  the  others 
being  \\'illiam.  a  farmer  of  Nebraska:  .Au- 
gust, who  lives  north  of  Kewanee:  and 
Augusta,  wife  of  Charles  Campien.  now  a 
carpenter  of  Kewanee,  who  was  formerly 
engaged  in  farming  here  and  in  Kansas. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spiegel  are  the  parents  of  three 
children:  Emma,  wife  of  Isaac  Xelson.  of 
Kewanee,  by  whom  she  has  three  children, 
and  Clara  and  Bernard,  both  at  home.  .\lt 
h.ave  attended  the  district  school  near  home, 
ard  later  the  schools  i-)f  Kewanee. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


485. 


Mr.  Spiegel  is  a  stocklmkler  of  tlie  I'ar- 
niers"  Elevator  in  Clalva.  and  a.s  a  public- 
spirited  citizen  he  takes  a  deep  interest  in 
e\erytliing  calculated  to  prove  of  public  bene- 
fit. Since  attaining  his  majority  he  ha.s  been 
an  actixe  worker  for  the  success  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  with  which  he  has  always 
affiliated.  He  fa\-ors  good  schools  and  has 
been  an  efficient  scIkujI  officer.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  1-utheran  L'hurch  of 
Kewanee,  has  served  on  its  board  oi  trus- 
tees, and  in  his  younger  days  took  an  active 
part  in  church  work.  Possessing  the  esteem 
and  respect  of  the  entire  community,  he  may 
well  be  ranked  among  the  representative 
and  prominent  citizens  of  the  county.  His 
honor  and  integrity  are  unimpeachable,  his 
v.ord  being  considered  as  good  as  his  bond. 


D.WIT)  AXDERSOX. 

David  .\nderson.  deceased,  was  for  many 
years  a  prominent  and  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zen of  Burns  township.  Henry  county.  Illi- 
nois, where  his  family  still  reside,  lie  was 
biu'n  in  l.oiidonderrv.  Ireland.  Decemlier 
18.  1 81 8.  and  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  years 
when  he  came  to  .-\merica  with  his  parents. 
George  and  Jennie  .\ndcrson.  On  their  voy- 
age across  the  Atlantic  they  were  ship- 
wrecked, and  three  of  the  daughters,  one 
of  whom  was  only  five  months  old.  were  on 
one  small  island  all  night.  whiU"  their  par 
ents  and  the  remainder  of  the  famih-  were 
on  another.  For  a  short  time  the  family 
resided  in  Philailelphia  and  then  removed 
tn  Ohio,  locating  near  \\  est  Liberty,  where 
the  father  engaged  in  farming.  The  parents 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  that 
locality,  the   father  dying  March    15.    1879. 


aged  eighty-si.\  \ears.  the  mother  many  years 
before.  They  had  eight  children,  all  born 
in  Ireland  with  the  e.xception  of  Jennie.  In 
order  of  birth  they  were  as  follows:  Wil- 
son, now  a  resident  of  Huntsville,  (^hio; 
l)a\i(l,  our  suliject ;  Matthew,  of  Madison, 
Wisconsin:  Uelle,  wife  of  Roliert  Martin,  of 
Iowa  City,  Iowa:  Sarah,  wife  of  John  Eni- 
erv,  of  Bellefontainc,  Ohio;  Marv,  widow  of 
J'eter  Emery,  and  a  resident  of  I'ellefontaine, 
Ohio:  Xancy,  deceased:  and  Jennie,  de- 
ceased wife  of  William  McKlree. 

David  .Anderson  received  a  common 
school  education  and  was  reared  to  haljits 
of  industr\-  upon  the  home  farm.  Prior  to 
his  marriage  he  was  engaged  in  the  boot  and 
shoe  business  in  Bellefontaine.  but  after  that 
followed  farming  tliroughout  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.  On  the  8th  of  May.  i8f>_>.  he 
led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Sarah  J.  Hen- 
derson, who  was  born  near  Utica,  Licking 
ccninty,  Ohio,  .Ajiril  2/.  1840.  Her  parents, 
Robert  and  Margaret  (McDavitt)  Hender- 
son, were  both  natives  of  Jefferson  coimty. 
Ohio,  and  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  though 
their  ancestors  came  to  .\merica  at  a  verv 
early  day.  To  them  were  Ijorn  tluec  chil- 
dren of  whom  Mrs.  Anderson  is  the  oldest: 
Belle  is  the  wife  of  (iilhert  Walker,  of  Salis- 
bury, MissoiuM;  and  Caroline  C,  the  de- 
ceased wife  of  J.  B.  Whitney,  of  Burns 
townshi]).   this  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  .\nderson  became  the  i)ar- 
ents  of  sexen  children,  namely:  Margaret, 
wife  of  Samuel  Warner,  of  Burns  town- 
ship: ( ieorge,  also  a  resident  of  Burns  town- 
ship, who  married  Esther  Corckel.  of  Ke- 
wanee, and  has  two  children,  David  and 
Lola:  Sarah  Cornelia,  wife  of  David  .Mar- 
tin, of  Kewanee  township:  Eva  Lou,  wife  of 
I'rank  Simonton,  of  Burns  townshi]),  by 
whom     she    has     two    children,    h'thel    and 


486 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


IMyrtle:  Olive  Belle,  wife  df  Ernest  Cmive. 
I  if  liurns  ti>\vnshi|):  .Mary  Lizzie,  wife  of 
A\'illiani  Robson.  of  the  same  tuwnsliip.  by 
■whom  .she  has  one  child,  Wilbur  Lee:  and 
Albert  D.  at  home  with  his  mother. 

Shortly  after  his  marriage  in  iSv2.  Mr. 
Anderson  removed  to  Wisconsin  and  set- 
tled in  Pine  Bluff.  Dane  county,  but  in 
2ilarch.  1S64.  he  returned  to  Oiiio.  and  after 
spending  the  winter  there  he  came  to  Henry 
•county,  Illinois,  in  1S65.  He  purchased  a 
part  of  the  present  farm  im  section  9,  Burns 
tdwnshi]),  and  to  it  added  from  time  to  time 
until  be  owned  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
•of  well  improved  and  highly  productive  land 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  May 
26,  1895.  He  '3"ilt  <i  fine  home,  one  of  the 
good,  early  buildings  of  his  township.  In 
his  political  affiliations  he  was  a  Democrat, 
and  as  one  of  the  leading  and  influential 
■citizens  of  his  townshij)  he  was  called  upon 
Ic^  serve  as  supervisor  for  fourteen  years.  He 
always  took  a  commendable  interest  in  pub- 
lic affairs  and  gave  a  liberal  support  to  all 
enterprises  calculated  to  advance  the  welfare 
of  his  community.  Although  not  a  member 
of  any  religious  denomination  he  freely  con- 
triliuted  to  church  work,  and  in  his  death  his 
township  has  lost  a  \-alued  citizen.  Mrs. 
Anderson  is  a  menil)er  nf  the  Presbyterian 
('hurch  and  is  a  most  estimable  woman. 


JEREMIAH  H.  RfCKEL. 

Among  the  prominent  early  .settlers  of 
Henry  comity,  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
Geneseo,  on  East  Cemetery  street,  was  born 
on  the  19th  of  October.  1836.  in  West  Sa- 
lem. Wavne  countv.  (_)hio.  a  son  of  ]\Iichael 


S.  and  Catherine  (  Harbaugh )  Rickel.  His 
paternal  grandparents  were  John  B.  and 
IMargaret  (Swaisgood)  Rickel,  in  whose 
family  were  nine  children  that  grew  to  ma- 
turity. The  grandfather  was  a  native  of 
Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  from  which 
state  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  laid  out  the 
village  of  West  Salem,  which  was  partially 
upon  his  land.  He  ga\'e  the  land  for  the 
first  clun-ch  in  that  place  and  also  for  the 
cemetery.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  minister 
of  the  Evangelical  Association,  being  en- 
gaged in  preaching  for  many  years.  His 
death  occurred  at  his  home  in  West  Salem, 
when  he  was  seventy-one  years  of  age,  his 
wife  having  passed  away  some  fifteen  years 
pre\iousl\-.  Our  subject's  great-grandfather 
w  as  married  to  a  Miss  Blucher.  a  cousin  of 
Gen.  Blucher.  of  \\'aterloo  fame.  She  was 
one  of  the  first  to  unite  with  the  Evangelical 
Church  in  Pennsylvania.  Our  subject's  ma- 
ternal grandparents  were  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Rickel)  Harbaugh,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  the  latter  of  Bedford  county 
Pennsylvania.  Thev  emigrated  in  an  early 
day  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  as  pioneers. 

2\Iichael  S.  Rickel.  father  of  our  subject, 
as  also  born  in  the  Keystone  state,  and  in 
early  life  accompanied  b\'  his  parents  on 
their  removal  to  Wayne  county.  Ohio,  where 
be  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  later 
clerked  in  a  store  at  \\'est  Salem.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1852.  he  came  to  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  govern- 
ment land  in  Phenix  township.  He  convert- 
ed the  wild  tract  into  a  good  farm  ami  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  there  until  his  death 
uhich  Liccurred  in  188 1,  on  the  seventieth 
anniversary  of  his  birth.  He  most  credit- 
ably filled  a  number  of  township  offices  and 
for  about  twenty  years  served  as  postmaster 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


48/ 


of  Pink  Prairie.  He  and  liis  hmther.  Jo- 
siah  S..  started  the  tirst  Sabl)atli  school  in 
tlieir  community,  and  also  established  the 
hrst  Sabbath  school  in  the  Phenix  district. 
He  g^a\e  the  land  on  which  the  first  district 
sclidnl  house  was  built  in  his  part  of  the 
tc'wnship,  and  also  donated  the  land  for  the 
first  cemetery  in  that  locality.  His  political 
support  was  given  the  Republican  party,  and 
he  took  an  active  interest  in  all  the  important 
questions  of  the  day,  earnestly  advocating 
those  measures,  whose  object  was  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  commimity  in  which  hi 
lived.  During  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his 
life  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine, 
having  secured  his  medical  education  largely 
by  home  study,  and  obtaining  a  state  certifi- 
cate to  practice.  He  was  often  called  in  con- 
sultation with  the  leading  physicians  of  the 
county.  Religiously  he  was  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Evangelical  Association,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  and 
honored  citizens  of  his  community.  His 
estimable  wife  is  still  living  at  the  age  of 
eighty-eight  years,  is  quite  active  in  mind, 
and  makes  her  home  with  Jier  youngot 
daughter  at  Juanita,  Adams  county,  X^bras- 
ka.     She  was  also  a  great  church  worker. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  c.uuole  were 
eight  children,  namely :  ( i )  Susanna  H. 
married  Samuel  Strouse,  a  farmer  of  West 
Salem.  Ohio,  who  served  through  the  Civil 
war  as  a  member  of  Company  K.  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twelfth  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infan- 
try, and  died  in  1893,  while  his  wife  died  in 
I'ebruary.  1S99,  leaving  three  children. 
Anna,  William  and  Lottie.  (2)  Jeremiah 
H.,  our  subject,  is  next  in  order  of  birth. 
(3)  Adam  H.  was  also  a  Union  soldier,  be- 
ing first  a  member  of  Company  F,  Fifty- 
sixth  Regiment,  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry, 


and  later  of  the  Fifty-ninth  Regiment.  \'et- 
eran  Indiana  \  olunteer  Infantry.  He  died 
of  typhoid  fever  in  the  hospital  at  Memphis, 
Tennessee.  (4)  Rosanna  H.  died  in  John- 
son county,  Xel)raska,  in  1893.  '"^t  the  age  of 
torty-nine  years.  (5)  Margaret  H.  married 
S.  F.  Monger,  a  farmer  of  Nebraska,  and 
died  at  Lincoln,  that  state.  Their  children 
were  George  H.  and  Ehira,  still  living; 
and  Edna  and  Ma\-,  both  deceased.  (6) 
I.saiah  is  editor  of  the  Juniata  Herald  and 
also  i^ostmaster  of  Juniata,  Nebraska,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
]'ellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He 
married  Ella  Houston,  and  they  have  five 
children.  Earl.  Edna.  Nellie.  Lyle  and  Roe 
(7)  Sarah  E.  is  the  wife  of  John  D.  Schu- 
mann, a  farmer,  blacksmith  and  wagon- 
maker  of  (iraf.  Johnson  county,  Nebraska, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Oliver.  {S)  !Mary 
Jane  has  been  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  Illinois  and  Nebraska,  but  is  now  keep- 
ing house  for  her  mother  at  Juniata,  the  lat- 
ter state.  Our  subject.  Susanna,  .Vdam  and 
Margaret  were  also  teachers. 

The  first  sixteen  }ears  of  his  life  Jere- 
miah Rickel  passed  in  the  place  of  his  birth, 
and  then  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county.  His  education  was  begun  in  (Jhio. 
and  completed  in  the  district  schools  of  Phe- 
nix township.  For  some  years  he  success- 
fully engaged  in  teaching  school  during  the 
winter  months,  while  through  the  summer 
season  he  worked  on  the  home  farm  until 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  Prompted  by  a 
spirit  of  j)atriotism  he  enlisted  at  (ieneseo, 
in  1862,  in  Company  F,  Fifty-sixiii  lUi- 
r.ois  \'olunteer  Infantry,  and  was  dischargeil 
at  Chicago  about  four  months  later.  He 
then  re-enlisted  with  the  same  captain  in 
Company  H,  Fifty-ninth  Indiana  regiment, 


488 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  remained  in  the  service  until  tlie  cessa- 
tion of  hostilities,  being  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  on  the 
28th  of  April.  1865.  He  participated  in  the 
engagement  at  Corinth.  ^lississippi,  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  battles  of  Champion 
Hill  and  Missionary  Ridge :  the  march  to 
Savanah.  Georgia,  and  Raliegh.  North  Car- 
olina, and  all  of  the  engagements  en  route: 
and  also  the  battles  of  Jackson,  Mississippi, 
Grand  Gulf,  Forty  Hills  and  Farmington. 
Returning  to  his  home  after  being  dis- 
charged, Mr.  Rickel  resumed  farming  antl 
school  teaching  in  Phenix  township. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1870,  at  Gen- 
eseo,  was  celebrated  his  marriage  with  Mary 
P.  Miller,  a  daughter  of  John  Adam  and 
\'eronica  (Rinck)  Miller.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Loraine,  France,  but  was  only  two 
years  old  when  he  came  to  this  country  with 
his  parents  in  1820.  He  became  a  farmer  of 
Geneseo  township,  this  county,  and  died  in 
the  city  of  Geneseo,  Octoljer  27,  1895,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  lea\-ing  a  widow 
and  seven  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Rickel 
is  the  oldest.  Her  paternal  grandfather  was 
from  Loraine.  Germany.  He  was  the  first 
to  establish  the  German  INIethodist  Episco- 
pal Church  in  Geneseo,  Illinois.  Her  mother, 
a  native  of  Warren,  Warren  county,  Peim- 
sylvania,  died  at  the  home  of  our  subject  in 
Geneseo,  July  20,  1899.  She  belonged  to 
the  Rinck  family  that  was  founded  in  White- 
side county.  Illinois,  as  early  at  1827.  She 
had  three  sisters,  Mary  Ann,  Catherine  anl 
Mary ;  two  brothers.  Louis,  Frances.  Mary 
and  Louis  died  young.  Mrs.  Rickel's 
brothers  and  sisters  are  as  follows :  Georgp 
H.,  who  married  Dora  Beers,  and  is  a 
teamster  and  road  commissioner  at  Geneseo  t 
Francis  A.,  who  married  Minnie  Kicksev, 
and   is  a- Ii\er\-man  of  Geneseo;  Anna  C. 


wife  of  William  N.  Baker,  a  farmer  of  Phe- 
nix township,  this  county:  John  N.,  who 
married  Ella  Franks  and  lives  in  Yorktown, 
this  county:  William  L.,  who  married  Ame- 
lia Wolf,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Yorktown,  this 
county:  and  Clara  W.  wife  of  Lee  Brown, 
a  farmer  of  Helvey,  Jefferson  county,  Ne- 
braska. Her  brothers  are  all  Republicans. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rickel  are  the  parents  of 
six  children,  all  born  in  Henry  county,  with 
exception  of  Alice,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
\Miiteside  county,  Illinois.  They  are  as  fol- 
lows :  Mary  L.  is  the  wife  of  Albert  M. 
Young,  a  machinist,  who  is  now  employed 
on  government  works  at  Aloline,  Illinois; 
John  I.  is  a  traveling  salesman  for  the  King- 
man-Moore Agricultural  Implement  House, 
Kansas  City,  Missouri,  and  a  resident  of 
Geneseo;  Alartha  is  attending  school  in 
.\bingdon,  Illinois,  preparing  herself  for 
kindergarten  work ;  Alice  \'.  is  a  graduate  of 
the  Geneseo  high  school  and  now  a  teacher 
in  the  district  schools  of  Phenix  township; 
Estella  R.  is  attending  the  Geneseo  high 
school ;  and  Nettie  A.  is  also  a  student  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  place. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Rickel  is  an 
ardent  Republican,  and  he  has  ever  taken 
quite  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  pub- 
lic affairs,  serving  as  township  collector  of 
Phenix  township,  and  in  Loraine  township, 
where  he  afterwards  lived.  He  was  alsp 
t(.wnship  clerk  and  school  director  for  sev- 
eral }-ears,  and  filled  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace 'with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  the  public.  He  keeps 
up  his  relationship  with  his  old  army  com- 
rades by  his  connection  with  J.  E.  Jenkins 
Post,  No.  452,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Geneseo,  Illi- 
nois, and  religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Evangelical  Church  of  Geneseo.  As 
a  generous,  liberc-'l  minded  and  progressive 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


489 


citizen  lie  has  aided  in  the  development  of 
his  adopted  county,  and  is  to-day  one  of  her 
most   honored   citizens. 


PETER  A.  PETERSON. 

Among  the  well-to-do  and  highly  esteem- 
ed citizens  of  Western  township  is  Peter  A 
Peterson,  who  is  successfully  engaged  ir^ 
farming  and  stock-raising  on  section  jO, 
where  he  owns  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  tifty-seven  acres,  pleasantly  located 
\\ithin  two  miles  of  Orion.  He  was  horn 
in  Sweden,  on  the  30th  of  Decemher.  1844, 
and  in  1849  was  hrought  to  the  United  State? 
hy  his  parents.  C.  J.  and  .\nna  Louise  (Ro- 
senmiller )  Peterson.  The  father  was  born  in 
1815  and  prior  to  his  emigration  to  America 
followed  farming  in  his  native  land.  On 
their  arrival  in  this  country  the  family  first 
located  in  Warren  county.  Pennsylvania, 
but  in  1852  came  to  Illinois,  driving  across 
the  country  with  teams.  The  father  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  wild  land  on  section  35, 
^\'estern  township,  where  lie  opened  up  and 
impro\ed  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  making  it 
his  home  througiiont  the  remainder  of  Iiifi 
life.  He  died  in  1894,  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  seventy-nine  years,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  January  i,  1880.  both  being  laid  to  rest 
in  Andover  cemetery.  In  the  family  of  this 
worthy  couple  were  the  folowing  children, 
three  of  whom  were  born  in  Sweden,  the 
Dthers  in  this  country.  Peter  A.  is  third  in 
Drder  of  birth.  Mrs.  Christina  Stateen  is 
now  a  widow  residing  in  Missouri,  and  has 
one  daughter  married.  Anna  Matilda  is 
keeping  house  for  our  subject.  Lotta  is  the 
wife  of  A.  G.  Samuelson,  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  and  they  have  five  sons,  Ernest.  Wal- 


ter. Sherman,  Edwin  and  Elmer  G.  G.  H., 
who  owned  the  old  homestead  in  this  county, 
married  in  1883  and  died  in  1892.  He  had 
four  children:  Carl  Henry,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  two  years:  .\rtluir  A..  Cora  and 
Xellie,  who  are  still  living. 

Mr.  Peterson,  of  this  review,  is  indebted 
to  the  public  schools  of  this  county  for  his 
educational  privileges,  and  upon  the  home 
farm  he  early  became  familiar  with  all  the 
duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agricultur- 
ist. On  attaining  his  majority  he  left  the 
parental  roof,  and  commenced  farming  orv 
liis  own  account  on  a  tract  of  forty  acreri 
where  he  now  resides.  He  erected  thereon 
a  small  house  which  he  has  since  enlarged, 
and  to  his  land  he  has  added  from  time  to 
time  as  Jiis  financial  resources  have  merited 
until  he  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-seven  acres,  which  he  has 
placed  under  excellent  cultivation.  He  has 
built  a  large  basement  liarn  and  other  out- 
buildings, and  by  the  planting  of  both  fruit 
and  forest  trees  has  made  his  i)lace  one  of 
the  most  attractive  in  that  locality.  In  con- 
nection with  general  farming  he  is  engaged 
in  the  raising  and  feeding  of  stock  for  mar- 
ket, shipping  a  carload  of  cattle  and  a  large 
number  of  hogs  to  the  city  each  year.  Mr, 
Peterson  is  what  the  world  terms  a  self-mado 
man.  for  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself 
empty-handed,  and  his  success  is  due  entirely 
to  his  own  well-directed  and  energetic  ef- 
forts. 

On  attaining  man's  estate.  Mr.  Peterson 
supported  Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  presi- 
dency in  1864,  and  has  never  wavered  in  hi;! 
allegiance  to  the  Republican  party  since  that 
time,  but  he  has  never  cared  for  political 
honors.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
Ijoard  and  as  district  clerk  for  some  years, 
and  has  given  his  support  to  all  enterprises 


490 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


which  lie  IjeHeves  calculated  to  advance  the 
educational,  social  and  moral  welfare  of  his 
communitv.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Lu- 
theran and  holds  membership  with  the  church 
at  Orion. 


SW'AX  P.  STREED. 

Swan  P.  Streed.  deceased,  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  honored  and  highly  es- 
teemed citizens  of  Andover  township,  as  well 
a?  one  of  its  successful  agriculturists.  He 
was  born'April  26,  1815,  in  Horn  Socken, 
Ostergothland,  Sweden,  and  was  there  reared 
and  educated.  In  his  native  land  he  was 
twice  married,  his  second  wife  being  Clara 
Peterson.  In  1849,  accompanied  by  their 
four  children,  they  took  passage  on  a  sailing 
vessel  for  the  L'nited  States,  and  after  a 
rough  and  stormy  voyage  of  eleven  weeks 
landed  at  Castle  Garden,  Xew  York.  Short- 
ly after  their  arrival  in  this  country  several 
of  the  family  were  taken  ill  with  cholera,  and 
the  wife  and  two  children,  Emma  ilatilda 
and  Axel  Godfrey,  died  in  Albany,  of  that 
dread  disease.  The  remainder  of  the  family 
proceeded  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  by  way 
of  the  canal  to  Buffalo,  Xew  York ;  tlie  lakes 
to  Chicago:  the  canal  to  Peru,  Illinois;  and 
by  team  to  their  destination,  arriving  here 
on  the  15th  of  August,  1849.  The  two  chil- 
dren who  came  with  their  father  to  this 
country  were  Christine,  who  was  adopted 
by  H.  G.  Griffin  and  died  in  1855 ;  and  ilal- 
ker  F..  a  resident  of  Osco,  this  county,  a 
sketch  oi  whom  appears  on  another  page  of 
this  vohnne. 

In  September  following  his  arrival  in 
Henry  county,  Mr.  Streed  married  ^Miss 
Anna  S.  Xelson,  who  was  born  in  Hyck- 
linge.  Sweden.  August  15.  1825,  and  sailed 


frrim  Gottenburg  on  the  same  ^•essel  with 
her  husband.  By  the  union  were  born  ten 
children,  namely :  ^Mrs.  Anna  L.  Xelson,  a 
resident  of  Cambridge;  Frank  G.,  who  died 
in  Andover:  Frank  H.,  a  grain  dealer  of 
L'lah,  and  John  Y.,  an  attorney  of  Cam- 
bridge, both  of  whom  are  represented  else- 
where in  this  work;  Edmund  L.,  a  traveling 
salesman  in  the  employ  of  L.  E.  West,  and  a 
resident  of  Rock  Island,  Illinois:  Peter  A., 
v.ho  died  in  Andover;  Joseph  A.,  also  a 
traveling  salesman  for  L.  E.  \\'est  and  a 
resident  of  Orion;  Huldah  S.,  wife  of  Rev. 
W.  B.  Shirk}-,  of  Kent,  Iowa;  and  Myrtle 
Clara,  of  the  same  place. 

On  reaching  this  county  ^Ir.  Streed  lo- 
cated in  Andover,  becoming  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  that  village.  For  a  time  he  served 
as  agent  for  the  Xew  York  Bible  Society, 
but  throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
was  engaged  in  farming.  For  a  time  he  re- 
sided on  section  16,  Andover  township,  and 
then  removed  to  section  36,  where  he  lived 
in  a  house  with  Mr.  Graham  on  the  Scanlon 
farm.  Subsequently  he  bought  of  A.  W. 
Ayres  twenty  acres  on  section  34,  wliich 
place  he  improved,  but  later  removed  to  sec- 
tion 36,  where  in  1867  he  purchased  eighty 
acres.  To  the  improvement  and  cultivation 
of  that  farm  he  devoted  his  time  and  ener- 
gies throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
There  he  died  on  the  28th  of  December, 
1878,  and  his  wife  passed  away  Jul}-  6. 
1891. 

Before  his  emigration  to  America  ilr. 
Streed  served  ten  years  in  the  Swedish  army 
under  Charles  X\'.  As  a  Republican  he  took 
an  active  part  in  local  politics  in  this  coun- 
try, and  was  a  recognized  leader  in  publia 
affairs  in  his  communit}-.  In  early  days  he 
was  prominently  identified  with  the  affairs 
of  the  Swedish  colony  in  Andover,  and  be- 


SWAN   P.   STREED. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


493 


ing  able  to  sj^ak  ami  write  English,  he  did 
most  of  the  corresponding  for  his  neigh- 
bors, and  made  many  trips  to  the  land  office 
in  Dixon  in  their  l)eha]f.  He  took  a  deep 
and  commendable  interest  in  educational 
matters,  and  did  all  in  his  power  for  the  im- 
l)rovement  and  benefit  of  the  schools  of  his 
locality.  He  was  one  of  the  first  director; 
of  district  Xo.  8,  Andover  township,  and 
superintended  the  Iniilding  of  the  school 
house  in  iS66,  prior  to  which  time  school 
had  been  conducted  in  private  dwellings. 
Mr.  Streed  was  one  of  the  original  members 
of  the  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 
in  Andover:  always  took  an  active  part  in  its 
work;  and  for  a  time  served  as  one  of  its 
deacons.  He  was  a  man  of  e.xemplary 
liabits,  commendable  purpose  and  unbend- 
ing integrity,  and  in  all  life's  relations  merit- 
ed the  confidence  which  was  so  freely  ac- 
corded him.  He  was  widely  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  county,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  antl  influential  men  of 
his  community. 


M.\LKER  F.  STREED. 

The  history  of  this  esteemed  citizen  of 
Osco  township,  Henry  county,  Illinois,  is  of 
unusual  interest,  and  few  of  our  foreign- 
born  citizens  are  more  loyal  in  their  de\otion 
to  this,  the  land  of  their  adoption,  than  he 
has  been  for  the  period  of  his  residence  here, 
which  is  over  half  a  century.  He  was  boin 
in  Ostergothland,  Sweden,  July  5,  1843,  ''"'-' 
at  the  age  of  six  years  was  brought  to  Amer- 
ica by  his  parents.  Swan  P.  and  Clara  (Pe- 
terson) Streed.  The  voyage  was  a  rough 
and  stormy  one.  Shortly  after  their  arrival 
in  New  York  several  of  the  family  were 
taken    ill   with   cholera,   and   the   wife   and 


mother,  together  whh  two  of  the  children, 
Emma  Matlida  aiid  Axel  Godfrey,  died  in 
the  Empire  state  of  that  dread  disease.  The 
remainder  of  the  family  then  came  to  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  and  took  up  their  residence 
in  Andover  township.  There  were  two  other 
children,  Christine,  who  was  adopted  by  H. 
G.  Griffin,  of  Andover  township,  and  died 
in  1855;  and  Malker  F.,  our  subject.  A 
sketch  of  his  father  appears  on  another  page 
of  this  volume. 

During  his  boyhood  and  j'outh  M.  F. 
Streed  attended  the  district  schools  of  An- 
dover township,  and  he  early  became  famil- 
iar with  all  the  duties  which  fall  to  the  lot 
of  the  agriculturist.  That  vocation  he  has 
chosen  as  a  life  work,  and  for  the  past  twelve 
years  has  successfully  engaged  in  general 
farming  in  Osco  township. 

When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  Mr.  Streed 
offered  his  services  to  the  government  to 
help  put  down  the  rebellion,  enlisting  at 
Galesburg,  in  September,  1861,  in  Company 
C,  Forty-third  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry, 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  He  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at 
Camp  Butler,  Springfield,  where  the  regi- 
ment was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee, and  particijjated  in  the  battles  of 
Shiloh,  Corinth,  Salem  Center,  Summer- 
ville,  the  siege  of  \'icksburg  and  the  en- 
gagements at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  and 
Jackson,  Tennessee. 

He  was  in  the  Red  river  expedition  under 
General  Frederick  Steele,  and  although  they 
defeated  the  enemy,  General  Banks  waa 
driven  back.  During  their  return  to  Little 
Rock  the  troops  were  four  days  without 
rations.  Twice  Mr,  Streed  was  slightly 
wounded,  and  was  confined  in  the  camp  hos< 
pital  for  two  months.  For  a  l<jng  time  he  was 
stationed  at  Little  Rock  doing  guard  dutv, 


494 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  after  tliree  years  of  arduous  and  faith- 
ful service  was  honorably  discharged  at  that 
place  in   September,    1864. 

yir.  Streed  was  married  in  Andoxer 
township,  J\Iay  7,  1871,  the  lady  of  his  choic  > 
being  ]\Iiss  Christina  ^1.  X_\-e,  also  a  native 
of  Sweden,  and  a  daugiiter  of  John  and 
Eva  Elizabeth  Xye,  who  were  born,  reared 
and  married  in  that  country,  and  in  1867, 
emigrated  to  the  new  world,  locating  in  An- 
dover  township,  this  county,  where  the 
mother  died.  For  many  years  the  father  was 
a  prominent  and  well-known  farmer  of  that 
township,  but  is  now  living  in  Cambridge. 
Mrs.  Streed  died  September  19,  1896,  at  the 
age  of  forty-four  years,  leaving  eight  chil- 
dren, namely:  Clara  M.,  Bunyan  C.  O.,  Fer- 
dinand J.,  George  J.,  Fred  E.,  Ella  J.,  Mabel 
C.  and  Paul  H. 

Politically  Mr.  Streed  is  an  active  Re- 
publican and  has  filled  the  ofifices  of  collec- 
tor and  school  director  in  Andover  town- 
ship. Socially  he  is  an  honored  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  Post  at  Cambridge.  He 
holds  membership  in  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  his  life  has  ever  been  such  as  to  com- 
mand the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  with 
\\hom  he  has  come  in  contact  either  in  bus- 
iness or  social  circles. 


FRANK  H.  STREED. 

For  over  half  a  century  the  Streed  f;un- 
iiy  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
agricultural  and  business  interests  of  Henry 
countv,  and  its  various  members  have  won 
for  the  name  an  enviable  distinction  liy  their 
intelligence  and  worth.  This  high  reputa- 
tion is  in  no  way  diminished  in  the  present 
generation,  and  our  subject,  who  is  a  well- 


knoxvn  Inisiness  man  of  C'lah,  displays  in  a 
marked  degree  the  admirable  characteristics 
which  the  name  suggests. 

A  native  of  Henry  county.  ]\Ir.  Streed 
was  born  March  2.  1857,  on  section  34,  .\n- 
dox'er  township,  in  an  old  hrmse  which  was 
erected  in  1850.  and  is  the  only  cne  still 
standing  in  that  tnwriship.  His  parents  were 
Swan  P.  and  Anna  S.  (Nelson)  Streed, 
whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this 
^■olume.  The  boyhood  and  j'outh  of  our 
subject  were  passed  in  his  native  township, 
and  his  literary  education  was  acquired  in 
its  public  schools.  He  engaged  in  farming 
on  the  old  homestead  from  1878  to  1890. 
and  then  became  interested  in  the  grain  bus- 
iness at  Ulah,  as  manager  for  E.  S.  East- 
man &  Company  of  Peoria.  He  is  also  en-> 
gaged  in  the  coal  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count, and  for  some  time  carried  on  mer- 
cantile 'Pursuits  at  Ulah,  but  for  the  pasi 
four  years  has  rented  his  store  building. 
By  fair  and  honorable  dealing  he  has  se- 
cured an  excellent  trade,  and  is  meeting  with 
well   deserved   success. 

On  the  17th  of  :\Iay,  189-', -Mr.  Streed 
was  married  in  Andover  township,  to  ^liss 
Julia  A.  Griffin,  a  nati^■e  of  that  township, 
of  which  her  father,  H.  G.  Grifiin,  was  ons 
of  the  pioneers,  Init  is  now  a  resident  of 
Cambridge.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
two  children,  Henry  G.  and  Eugene  F. 

The  Republican  party  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  Streed  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  prin- 
ciples, and  he  is  now  a  member  of  the  town- 
ship central  committee.  He  served  as  as- 
sessor and  Collector  in  Andover  township 
in  1 888  and  1890.  respectively,  antl  is  now 
most  capably  filling  the  efiice  of  justice  of 
the  peace  in  Cambridge  township.  He  is  a 
pleasant,  genial  gentleman  who  has  a  host  of 
friends,  and  is  ^"crv  popular  in  the  commu- 


IIR9/IPY 

UNIVERSIlT  Of  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


JOHN  V.   STREED. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


497 


r.ity  where  lie  resides,  lie  attends  and  sup- 
]X)rts  the  Coi;gregational  Church  of  Cam- 
bridge,   of    wliich    his    wife  is    an    earnest 

nieniher. 


JOIIX  \'.  STREED. 

One  of  the  ablest  and  most  prominent 
members  of  the  legal  profession,  now  prac- 
ticing at  the  Henry  County  Bar,  is  the  sub- 
ject of  tliis  sketcli,  who  is  a  native  of  the 
cmnit}',  born  in  the  townsliip  of  Andover, 
March  13.  1859,  tlie  son  of  Swan  P.  and 
.\nna  S.  (Nelson)  Streed,  bntli  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Sweden.  The  former  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Hum  Socken. 
0>terg(_ithland,  Sweden,  and  there  he  was 
twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife  he  had 
one  son  Marker  F..  who  now  resides  in  Os- 
Co,  Henry  county,  Illinois.  In  1849  1'^  took 
passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  for  the  United 
States,  and  after  a  voyage  of  eleven  weeks 
landed  at  Castle  Garden,  New  York,  from 
v.hence  he  at  once  proceeded  \.o  Henry 
ciiunty.  Illinois,  arriving  here  on  the  15th 
cf  August  of  that  year,  locating  in  Andover 
township.  While  en  route  he  lost  his  second 
wife,  and  in  September  following  his  arrival, 
he  married  MissWnna  S.  Nelson,  who  was 
burn  ill  Hycklinge,  Sweden,  and  who  Come 
'  '\  cr  in  the  same  vessel  with  him.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  ten  children,  seven  of 
\\  hom  are  still  living,"  namely  :  Anna  L.  Nel- 
son, a  resident  of  Cambridge;  Frank  H.,-  of 
Ulah,  Henry  county;  John  \'.,  of  tliis 
sketch:  Edmund  L..  of  Rock  Island,  Illi- 
nois; Joseph  A.,  of  Orion,  Illinois;  Huldah 
S.  Shirley,  of  Kent,  Iowa;  and  Myrtle  C, 
of  the  same  place. 

On  locating  in  .Andover  township.  Swan 
P.   Streed  purchased  a  tract  of   wild   land. 


and  to  its  im]:)rovement  and  cultivation  he 
de\oted  his  energies  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  became  one  of  the 
most  uriiminent.and  iniUK-nlial  men  of  that 
locality,  and  was  widely  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  county.  As  a  Repub- 
lican, he  took  an  active  part  in  local  poli- 
tics, and  was  a  recognized  leader  in  public 
affairs  in  his  community.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  members  of  the  Swedish  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  Church  in  Andover  and  for  a 
time  served  as  one  of  its  deacons.  He  died 
on  his  farm,  December  28th,  1878,  and  his 
wife  passed  away  July  6,   1891. 

On  the  home  farm  in  Andoxer  township, 
John  \".  Streed  grew  to  manhood,  and  his 
early  education  was  obtained  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  For  a  time  he 
was  a  student  at  Abingdon  College,  and  later 
attended  the  Geneseo  Normal  school  and 
the  Chicago  University.  In  the  latter  school 
he  pursued  an  elective  course,  bu^:  which  was 
equal  to  the  standard  courses  of  the  leading 
universities.  In  1887  he  enterctl  the  Nortli- 
western  University  at  E\anston,  Illinois, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  be- 
came a  student  at  the  Union  College  of  Law, 
Chicago,  where,  he  was  graduated  with  the 
degree  of  LL.  B.  in  1890.  While  pursuing 
his  studies  in  the  various  institutions,  Mr. 
Streed  practically  earned  all  the  money  re- 
(juired  to  secure  his  education.  He  carried 
papers,  lit  and  extinguished  street  lamps, 
cared  for  the  lecture  room  and  some  of  the 
recitation  rooms  of  the  University,  and  took 
meter  statements  and  distributed  gas  bills 
fur  the  Gas  Compnay.  While  doing  these 
\arious  things  for  his  support,  he  did  not 
neglect  his  studies,  but  stood  at  the  head  of 
his  classes,  and  came  through  with  not  only 
a  liberal  education,  but  with  an  independence 
of  character  that  comes  onlv  to  those  who 


498 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


are  self-supporting  and  wlio  lia\'e  confidence 
ill  themselves. 

On  graduating  from  the  Law  School , 
Mr.  Streed  opened  an  office  in  Chicago,  Init 
in  the  fall  of  1890  he  removed  to  Cambridge, 
aiKl  has  since  been  successfully  engaged  in 
the  practice  at  that  place.  He  was  a  memljer 
of  the  well  known  firm  of  Turner  &  Streed 
from  the  time  of  locating  in  Cambridge  un- 
til 1899,  when  Mr.  Turner  was  elected  countx 
judge  of  Henrv  county,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  alone.  He  enjoys  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive practice  and  is  regarded  both  by  the  peo- 
ple and  his  associates  as  one  of  the  best  law- 
yers in  the  county.  He  speaks  not  only  Eng- 
lish, but  also  the  Swedish  and  German  lan- 
guages equall}-  as  well,  having  a  natural 
talent  in  that  direction,  and  is  reputed  to 
be  one  of  the  best  linguists  in  northwestern 
Llinois.  His  knowledge  of  these  languager. 
has  been  of  great  assistance  to  him  in  the 
jjractice  of  his  profession. 

At  Union  Pier,  Michigan,  December 
24th,  1887,  Mr.  Streed  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  ]\Iiss  Luna  Estella  Gowd}-.  a  na- 
tive of  McHenry  county.  Illinois,  of  which 
place  her  parents,  Franklin  and  Marv  (  Mil- 
lard )  Ciowcly  were  early  settlers,  but  who. 
for  some  years.  ha\'e  been  living  at  Union 
Pier.  Mrs.  Ciowdy  is  a  relative  of  Millard 
Fillmore  and  Mr.  Gowdy  is  a  cousin  of  the 
late  W.  C.  Ckiwdy,  of  the  Cook  County  Bar. 

Fraternally  !Mr.  Streed  is  a  member  of 
Cambridge  lodge,  Xo.  49.  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  the  In- 
ilependent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  of  Cam- 
l)ridge:  the  Encampment  of  Odd  Fellows  at 
(ialva;  of  the  Rebekah  lodge  at  Cambridge, 
He  also  Ijelongs  to  the  Knights  of  the  Globe, 
the  Home  Forum  Safety  Fund  Investment 
Company,  the  Xorth  Star  Benefit  Associa- 
tion r>f  Cambridge,  and  is  an  honorary  mem- 


l;er  of  Phi  Psi,  a  Greek  letter  society  of 
the  Chicago  University.  He  is  one  of  the 
leading  chess  pla\'ers  of  the  west  and  has- 
successfully  taken  part  in  several  chess  tour- 
naments :  also  several  matches  played  by 
teleph(jne  and  telegraph. 

Mr.  Streed  has  been  an  active  director  of 
the  Cambridge  Public  Library  for  several 
years  and  has  done  much  to  elevate  the  class 
of  literature  in  the  library.  For  three  years 
he  was  an  instructor  in  the  University  Ex- 
tension Course  on  the  subject  of  History, 
and  he  has  a  fine  reputation  as  a  historian. 

Air.  Streed  is  one  of  the  active  members 
of  the  Republican  party  and  is  a  well  known 
and  effective  campaign  speaker  in  both  the 
English  and  Swedish  languages.  At  present 
he  is  \ice  president  of  the  Swedish-American 
Republican  League  of  the  state  of  Illinois, 
and  is  secretary  of  the  Henry  county  organ- 
ization of  said  league.  In  1899  he  was  prom- 
iriently  mentioned  as  a  candidate  for  county 
jiidge  but  failing  to  get  the  nomination  oi> 
the  Republican  ticket  his  partner  was  nom- 
inated and  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 
Upright,  relialile  and  honorable,  his  strict  ad- 
lierence  to  principle  commands  the  respect  of 
all.  The  place  he  has  won  in  the  legal  pro- 
fession is  accorded  him  in  recognition  of 
his  skill  and  ability,  and  the  place  he  oc- 
cupies in  the  social  world  is  a  tribute  to  that 
genuine  worth  and  true  nobleness  of  char- 
acter which  are  universaly  recognized  and 
lionored. 


JUDSON  P.  PAIXE. 

For  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  Judson 
P.  Paine  has  been  a  prominent  resident  of 
Annawan  and  during  most  of  this  time  has 
efticiently  served  as  justice  of  the  peace.    He 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


499 


"was  Ijorn  i>n  tlie  present  site  of  Millerton,  in 
Xortheast  tnwiisliip.  DulcllL's^  county.  New 
York.  January  _>_'.  1834,  and  is  a  worthy 
I'epresentative  of  one  of  tlic  oldest  and  most 
liifjlily  respected  families  of  that  rej^ion.  His 
patern.il  great-grandfather  came  to  this 
Country  from  England  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tionar\-  war  and  from  the  government  en- 
tered the  land  on  which  our  subject's  birth 
cKCurred.  I'or  this  farm,  consisting  of 
two  hundred  and  forty-eigiit  acres,  it  is  said, 
that  he  paid  six  cents  ])er  acre.  There  lii:t 
son.  Jeremi.ah  I'aine.  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  1780.  and  made  it  his 
bonie  throughoul  life,  his  occupation  being 
that  of  a  farmer.  He  wedded  Mary  W'ood- 
ard.  and  t(_i  them  were  born  seven  children, 
namely:  Lorenda  became  the  wife  of  Tru- 
man Eggleston,  and  after  lix'ing  for  a  lime, 
near  the  old  homestead  removed  to  Toledo, 
Oiiio.  where  both  died:  Piatt  A.,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  second  in  order  of  birth  : 
Sarah  Ann  married  llailey  Bijwdisli  and 
l)()th  died  in  Cedar  Rapids.  Iowa,  where 
three  of  their  sons  now  reside:  (ieorge  died 
in  infancy;  Rachel  became  the  wife  of  Mor- 
timer 1'.  Worth,  of  Poughkeepsie,  Xew. 
^'ork.  where  their  deaths  occurred;  Jere- 
miah W.  spent  his  entire  life  on  the  old  home- 
stead ;  and  Mary  became  the  wife  of  Darius 
I'cnn\-.  of  Dutchess  count v,  Xew  ^'o^k. 
where  both  died. 

Piatt  A.  Paine,  father  of  om-  subject. 
was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Dutchess 
counl\'.  June  -'4.  180O.  and  continued  to  re- 
side there  until  called  to  bis  final  rest  Xo- 
vember  21,  1878.  He  made  farming  his  life 
work.  He  married  INIiss  Juliette  Russel, 
who  was  also  born  in  Dutchess  county,  in 
1813.  and  died  in  1876.  Her  parents.  Eli 
antl  Mary  (  Aldrich  )  Russell,  both  l)eIonged 
to  old  .\merican  families,  while  the  former 


was  of  England  and  the  latter  of  German 
descent.  Fi\e  children  were  born  to  Piatt 
.\.  Paine  and  wife,  namely;  James  R..  born 
June  19,  1830.  married  tirst  Julia  Eggles- 
ton. who  died  young,  and  second  Cynthia 
Tripj).  and  now  owns  and  operates  the  old 
homestead  farm  which  has  never  passed  ont 
of  the  family  since  entered  from  the  govern- 
ment by  the  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject ;  Judson  P.  is  the  next  of  tlie  family ; 
Theron  J.,  born  in  June.  1836.  married  Anna 
Culver  and  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Millard,  Paine  &  Brown,  wholesale  grocerji 
of  Xew  York  cit\-,  where  he  and  his  wife 
both  died  in  1895:  Martin  \\'.,  born  Jime 
21,  1841,  married  bjnily  E-ggleston,  and  re- 
sides in  Xortheast  township.  Dutchess  coun-> 
ty,  in  the  house  where  our  subject  was  bornj 
Julia  May,  born  March  25,  1852,  married 
George  Huston  and  removed  to  Roanoke, 
\'irginia,  where  she  died  in  October,   1890. 

Judson  P.  Paine  grew  to  manhood  upon 
the  home  farm,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  On  leav- 
ing the  parental  roof  in  1856  he  came  to 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  purchased  a  farm 
ii^.  Annawan  township,  consisting  of  the  west 
bald  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  13, 
where  he  followed  farming  epiite  successful- 
ly until  1874,  when  he  removed  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Annawan,  making  it  his  home  e\'er 
since.  Here  he  has  engaged  in  the  real-es- 
tate business  and  for  twenty-four  years  has 
tilled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  with 
credit  to  him.self  and  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  the  general  public. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  1852,  Mr. 
Paine  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Harriet  M.  Webster,  who  was  b.orn  in 
Xortheast  townshi]),  Dutchess  C(.nnity.  Xew 
York,  .\ugust  19,  1834.  and  is  the  only  child 
of  Edmunil  and  .\bigail  (  Molmes)  Webster. 


500 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


al^o  natives  of  that  county.  She  was  only 
two  years  old  when  her  father  died  at  the 
oge  of  thirty-one.  Several  years  later  her 
mother  came  to  Illinois,  and  died  in  Anna- 
wan.  February  ij,  1872,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
eight  years.  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Paine  became  the 
parents  of  two  children:  Josephine  A.,  born 
December  2^1.  1853,  is  the  wife  of  Lewis 
Daniels,  of  Adair,  Iowa;  and  Leroy  H.. 
born  October  22.  1858.  married  Carrie 
Gray,  of  Montana,  and  also  resides  in  Adair, 
lov.a. 

In  1867  ^Ir.  Paine  was  a  passenger  while 
on  his  way  to  visit  his  old  home  on  the  Har- 
lem railroad  train  which  was  struck  by  a 
cyclone  at  Boston  Corners,  Xew  York,  fif- 
teen people  being  instantly  killed  while  thir- 
ty-five died  later  from  the  effect  oi  their  in* 
juries.  The  car  in  which  he  was  seated  was 
turned  over  three  and  a  half  times  and  struck 
a  fence  along  the  railroad  track.  His  skull 
was  fractured,  and  his  breast  bone  and  one 
finger  were. broken.  Although  not  a  mem- 
ber of  any  religious  denomination  he  is  a 
liberal  contributor  to  church  work  and  gives 
his  support  to  any  enterprise  tending  to  ad- 
vance the  moral  or  social  welfare  of  his  com- 
munitv. 


J.  SAXFORD  BURXS. 

Among  the  leading  and  representative 
citizens  of  Orion.  Illinois,  is  J.  Sanford 
Burns,  who  occupies  a  prominent  position 
ill  ^Masonic  circles.  He  was  born  in  Clinton, 
Allegheny  count}-.  Pennsylvania,  Xovember 
25.  185 1,  and  is  the  son  of  John  M.  and 
Esther  (Meaner)  Burns,  both  of  whom  were 
born  in  the  same  town,  county  and  state  as 
our  subject,  where  they  were  married  Octo- 
ber 18,   1849.     The  latter  was  a  daughter 


of  Samuel  S.  Meanor,  also  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  state,  who  was  born  at  Clinton, 
and  in  early  life  learned  the  cabinet  maker's 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  some  time.  He 
never  left  his  native  state,  and  died  in  Clin- 
ton, in  1875,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Pres- 
byterian. The  family  were  of  Scotch-Irish 
ancestry,  and  strong  in  their  religious  views, 
which  were  of  the  Calvinistic  order. 

Robert  Burns,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
He  was  a  native  of  Allegheny  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  a  son  of  one  of  its  pio- 
neers. Religiously,  he  was  a  Presbyterian. 
John  ]M.  Burns,  the  father,  was  born  Sep* 
tember  9,  1826.  and  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  state.  After  reaching  mature  years- 
he  engaged  in  farming  in  Allegheny  county, 
at  which  occupation  he  continued  until  1852, 
when  he  went  to  California  by  the  Panama 
route,  and  spent  about  three  years  there  in 
prospecting  and  mining,  with  fair  success, 
returning  home  by  the  same  route.  In  the 
fall  of  1855  he  came  to  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  purchased  a  tract  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  ^^'estern  township,  orr 
which  the  family  located  in  the  following 
spring.  A  thorough  and  skillful  farmer,  he 
met  with  marked  success  in  his  chosen  voca- 
tion, and  became  the  owner  of  five  hundred 
and  sixty-six  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land, 
all  in  one  body.  He  continued  to  extensive- 
ly engage  in  general  fanning  and  stock- 
raising  imtil  1886,  when  he  laid  aside  busi- 
ness cares  and  removed  to  Orion,  where  his- 
last  years  were  spent  in  ease  and  quiet.  Al- 
though he  was  one  of  the  prominent  and 
influential  men  of  his  community,  he  never 
cared  for  official  honors,  preferring  to  give 
his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
interests.     He  died  in  Orion,  Xovember  19, 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


501 


1895,  whle  his  wife  passed  away  May  7, 
1894,  tlie  remains  of  both  being  interred  in 
AX'estern  cemetery,  where  a  substantial  mon- 
ument marks  their  last  resting  place.  In 
their  family  were  two  children,  J.  Sanford 
being  the  only  son.  Mary  J.,  the  daugh- 
ter, born  September  17.  1855.  married  Or. 
L.  L.  Long.  September  26,  1S83.  They  re- 
sided in  Toulon,  Illinois,  where  she  died 
April  29.  1894.  leaving  three  children.  Bes- 
sie E..  J.  Ft)rest  and  Lester  E..  while  one 
child,  Eva.  died  at  the  age  of  six  months. 

J.  Sandfnrd  Burns  was  only  four  yeafs 
of  age  when  the  family  came  to  Henry  coun- 
ty, and  here  he  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
home  farm,  and  received  his  primary  educa- 
t'um  in  the  district  schools  of  Western  town- 
ship. Later  he  attended  Prairie  Home  Aca- 
demy, a  private  school  at  Orion,  and  also 
took  a  course  at  a  Davenport  Commercial 
College.  During  his  youth  he  gave  his 
father  the  benefit  of  his  lalx.irs,  and  continued 
tf  aid  in  the  operation  of  the  farm  until  the 
removal  of  his  parents  to  Orion,  when  he 
took  complete  charge  of  the  place,  carrying 
on  farming  and  stock  raising  most  success- 
fully for  a  numljer  of  years.  He  made  a 
specialty  of  the  breeding  of  red  polled  cattle 
and  Shropshire  sheep,  and  has  some  fine 
specimens  of  these  animals  uixni  the  home 
farm.  In  the  fall  of  1894.  after  the  death  of 
his  mother,  he  .sold  his  farming  interests  and 
removed  to  Orion,  where  he  has  since  lived 
a   retired    life. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1884,  Mr. 
Burns  was  married  in  Rural  township.  Rock 
Island  county,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Belle  Cofifee, 
a  native  of  Hancock  county.  Illinois,  and  z\ 
daughter  of  Thomas  Elwood  and  Hannah 
(Wright)  Coffee,  who  were  born,  reared 
and  married  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  the 
latter  being  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Wright. 


Mrs.  Burns  was  reared  in  Rock  Island  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  her  family  located  in 
]\Iarch,  1853.  Her  education  was  obtained 
in  the  district  schools  of  Rock  Island  county, 
the  Prairie  Home  .\cademy  of  Orion,  and 
the  Jacksonville  Young  Ladies'  Atheneum, 
of  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Burns  two  children  have  been  bom — Clif- 
ford Coffee,  born  June  30,  1885,  and  Ken- 
neth Meanor.  .\ugust  28,  1889. 

Thomas  E.  Coffee,  the  father  i>f  Mrs. 
Burns,  was  born  January  14,  1823.  and  died 
September  5.  1898.  Hannah  (Wright) 
Coffee  was  born  December  10,  1825.  He 
was  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  Rural 
town.ship.  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  and 
one  of  its  most  e.xtensive  farmers.  He  wa.i 
a  strong  advocate  of  temperance,  even  in 
an  early  day  becoming  a  member  of  the 
Sons  of  Temperance  and  keeping  his  pledge 
until  his  death.  .\  broad,  liberal  and  strong 
man,  he  was  respected  by  all.  His  widow 
still  lives  on  the  farm,  and  is  a  worker  in 
the  temiierance  cause  and  eipial  suffrage. 
They  were  the  parents  of 'four  children,  of 
whom  two  sons  died  in  infancy.  The  twin 
sister  of  Mrs.  Burns,  Ella,  born  in  Hancock 
county,  Illinois.  January  17.  1853,  *'^'"  *"''■ 
vives.  She  had  the  same  educational  ad- 
vantages as  Mrs.  Burns,  and  was  married 
December  31,  1879.  to  H.  D.  Xutting.  They 
now  reside  in  Emporia,  Kansas. 

In  his  iKilitical  views,  Mr.  Burns  is  a 
stalwart  Republican,  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes.  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his 
l)arty.  and  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  its  prin 
ciples.  He  formerly  held  membership  in 
the  Presbyterian  (Inirch.  while  his  wife 
was  identified  with  the  Universalists,  but 
both  now  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church    of    Orion.      Fraternallv    he    is    a 


502 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Knight  Templar  Mason  and  is  very  promi- 
nent in  ^lasonic  circles.  He  is  a  memljer 
of  Sherman  Lodge.  Xo.  535.  A.  F.  &-  A.  M., 
of  Orion  ;  Barrett  Chapter.  Xo.  18.  R.  A.  M. : 
and  Everts  Commandery.  Xo.  i(S,  K.  T..  of 
Rock  Island,  Illinois.  He  is  now  serving 
as  deputy  grand  lecturer  and  district  deputy 
grand  master  of  the  state  .>f  Illinois.  He 
is  a  pleasant,  genial  gentleman  of  high  so- 
cial qualities,  and  is  held  in  high  regard  by 
a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances 
throughout  Henry  and  Rock  Island  counties, 
where  he  is  especiallv  widely  known. 


HUGH  \\'HITE. 

The  records  of  the  lives  of  dur  fore- 
fathers are  of  interest  to  the  modern  citizen, 
not  alone  for  the  historical  value  but  for 
the  inspiration  and  example  they  afford ;  vet 
we  need  not  look  to  the  past.  Although 
surroundings  may  dift'er,  the  essential  condi- 
tions of  human  life  are  ever  the  same,  and 
a  man  can  learn  much  from  the  success  of 
tliose  around  him.  The  career  of  Mr.  White 
seems  almost  jjhenomenal.  yet  his  success 
has  been  by  no  means  the  result  of  fortunate 
circumstances.  It  has  come  to  him  through 
erjcrgy,  labor  and  perseverance,  directed  liv 
an  evenly  balanced  mind  and  by  honorable 
business   princii)les. 

This  well-known  citizen  of  .Vnnawan 
was  born  in  W'cllsburg.  Rrooke  countv. 
\\'est  \'irginia.  Jtme  24,  1834.  a  son  of 
Thompson  and  Martha  (Curry)  \Miite.  On 
the  paternal  side  he  traces  his  ancestry  Ijack 
to  William  White,  who  was  of  Scotch  de- 
scent and  lived  in  the  n<M-th  <if  Ireland.  Ik- 
elojied  with  Miss  jane  Campbell,  who  be- 
longetl   to   the   Camplicll   clan   and    was   the 


daughter  of  a  nobleman  who  li\ed  in  Ire- 
land and  was  opposed  to  the  marriage.  Com- 
ing to  America  they  located  near  Foggs 
]\Ianor,  Chester  county.  Pennsylvania,  and 
after  living  there  for  a  number  of  years,  re- 
moved to  Chestnut  Level,  Lancaster  coimty, 
Pennsylvania,  where  ^Ir.  ^^'hite  purchased 
a  farm,  and  where  they  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  They  had  two  sons,  William 
antl  Jacob,  the  latter  being  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject.  For  a  number  of  years  Will- 
iam owned  and  conducted  a  lumber  yard  on 
the  opix)site  side  of  the  river  from  Columbia, 
Pennsylvania.  Jacob  White,  the  grandfather, 
was  born  at  Foggs  ^lanor  and  had  seven 
children,  namely :  James,  who  spent  most  of 
his  life  in  PennsA'lvania  and  A^irginia,  but 
died  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois:  John,  a  life- 
long resident  of  Pennsylvania ;  Hugh,  who 
lived  near  Wellsburg.  West  \'irginia: 
Thompson,  father  of  our  feubject:  and  Will- 
iam, who  spent  the  last  twenty-five  yearr< 
of  his  life  as  a  ranchman  in  Colorado,  where 
he  died  in  1898. 

Our  subject's  maternal  grandfather 
Curry  came  to  this  country  from  either 
County  Londonderry  or  cotmtv  Down.  Ire- 
land. His  father  died  on  the  Emerald 
Isle.  l)ut  his  mother  came  witli  him  to  Amer- 
ica. He  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  when, 
during  the  French  and  Indian  war.  he  sailed 
from  Belfast.  The  vessel  on  which  he  was  a 
passenger  was  captured  by  the  English  fleet, 
and  nearly  all  the  sailors,  the  cabin  boy,  and 
all  of  the  single  men  on  Ixiard,  except  those 
who  had  aged  parents  depending  on  them, 
were  pressed  into  the  British  service.  After 
a  voyage  of  thirteen  weeks  and  three  days, 
^Ir.  Curry  landed  in  Philadel])hia.  For 
many  years  he  made  his  home  at  Foggs 
Manor.  Chester  county,  where  his  mother 
and  sister  are  buried,  but  about  1800  he  re- 


IlUnil    WIIITK. 


IIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


moved  to  W'estinorelaiul  cduiity,  rcnnsyha 
nia.  where  he  died  at  the  extreme  old  age 
of  one  hundred  and  six  years. 

Thompson  White,  our  subject's  father, 
■was  born  near  Greensburg,  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  July  ii,  1807,  and 
Ijecame  one  of  the  pioneer  business  men  of 
\\  ellshurg.  West  X'irgiiiia,  where  he  ci  in- 
ducted a  gristmill,  lumberyard  and  planing 
mill,  lie  also  engaged  in  boating  on  the 
Ohio  and  Mississipiii  as  far  as  New  Or- 
leans. His  death  occurred  at  Wellsburg, 
July  j8.  I(S8o.  He  was  twice  married,  hav- 
ing on  the  JOth  of  June.  1833.  wedded  Mar- 
tha Curry,  also  a  native  of  Westmoreland 
count}'.  Penns_\l\ania.  who  died  February 
22,  1840,  leaving  three  children,  nf  whom 
our  subject  is  the  oldest.  Mary  Margaret. 
1)1  irn  September  2.  183^).  married  h'rank 
Oudenbaugh,  of  Cleveland.  Ohio.  Klizabelh 
Mitchell,  born  June  23.  1839,  died  January 
5.  1840.  For  his  second  wife  the  father 
married  Sarah  Fulton,  also  a  native  of  West- 
nii  Ireland  county.  Peimsylvania.  and  by  that 
miion  ti\e  children  were  born:  William  H.. 
born  May  28.  1842,  is  now  ser\ing  as  asso- 
ciate justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state  of  Washington,  to  wliich  position  he 
Vv'as  appointed  June  i.  1900.  During  the 
Ci\il  war  he  was  a  member  of  Cnmprmy  1'.. 
One  llundred  and  Second  Oiiio  X'oluliteer 
Infantrx,  and  was  severely  wounded  at 
Athens.  .Alabama,  but  remained  in  the  ser- 
vice until  after  the  capture  of  Jeff  Davis. 
He  then  returned  to  his  West  \'irginia  home, 
where  he  read  law  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1868.  There  he  held  several  county 
otitices  of  a  judicial  nature,  and  resigned  as 
recorder  of  Brooke  county  in  1870.  Two 
years  later  he  remoxed  to  Seattle.  Washing- 
ton, and  in  1876  was  elected  prosecuting 
attornev  (jf  the   third    judicial   district.      In 


1879  he  was  a  member  nf  the  territorial 
legislature,  and  in  1884  was  appointed  by 
President  Cleveland  as  I'nited  States  district 
attorney,  which  office  he  held  until  the  ter- 
ritory was  admitted  to  the  Union  in  1889. 
The  Seattle  Daily  Times  said  of  him:  "No 
man  in  the  state  of  Washington  stands 
Ingher  than  does  William  11.  While.  hCi 
thirtv  vears  he  has  been  a  leading  member  of 
the  bar  nf  this  stale,  lie  has  ever  been  a 
consistent  Democrat  and  stands  high  in  the 
councils  of  his  party."  Elizabeth.  1)orn  May 
20.  1844,  died  in  1850.  .\lbert  W..  burn 
Februarv  28.  184(1,  was  killed  in  the  battle 
of  I'iedniiini.  We-l  X'irginia.  "in  June.  1864. 
Martha  J.,  born  May  5,  1847.  married 
\\'iiliam  11.  Fnllnn,  and  now  resides  in 
Seattle,  Wa.shington,  her  son,  Walter  S.. 
being  the  junior  member  of  the  law  firm  of 
White,  Alonday  &  Fulton,  of  that  city.  Clara 
J.,  born  March  28,  1849,  died  March  4, 
1874.  Nannie  F.,  born  Xovember  18,  1851, 
died  .\ugust  2.  i860. 

Mr.  White,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  place 
of  his  birth,  and  in  early  life  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  stationary  engineer  and 
also  engaged  in  steamboating.  Going  to 
]'e<iria.  IlliiKiis,  in  1854.  he  was  thus  eni- 
pliived  fur  al.iout  three  years,  and  in  1857 
came  to  Kewanee,  acce])ting  the  position  of 
erigineer  in  the  Kewanee  mill  and  distillery, 
where  he  remained  until  1866.  Since  then 
he  has  made  his  home  in  Annawan,  and  re- 
cently erected  a  fine  residence  here.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  flouring  mill  business  until 
1882,  since  which  time  he  has  done  c|uite  an 
extensive  business  as  an  importer  of  fine 
bred  horses  from  France,  England  and  Scot- 
land. He  goes  to  Europe  to  personally 
sui)erintend  the  purchase  of  these  horses, 
and  has  crossed  the  Atlantic  ten  times.     He 


5o6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


is  now  the  owner  of  six  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  vaUiable  land  in  Henrj-  county, 
which  he  rents,  and  also  has  considerable 
property  in  Minesota  and  Dakota.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  energetic  and  enterprising 
business  men  of  his  community,  and  his  suc- 
cess is  due  entirely  to  his  own  well-directed 
efiforts.  He  has  never  taken  any  active  part 
in  politics  and  is  liberal  in  his  views  on  poli- 
tical questions.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  ilasonic  fraternity,  and  he  is  a  man 
who  commands  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
those  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact,  either 
in  social  or  business  life. 

On  the  ^nd  of  April.  1S54,  ilr.  \Miite 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Roberts,  of  A\'ells- 
burg,  West  \'irginia,  who  died  June  19, 
1855,  and  their  only  child  died  in  infancy. 
He  was  again  married,  ^lay  19,  1857,  his 
second  union  being  Avith  ^liss  Elizabeth 
Grape,  a  native  of  Germany  and  a  daughter 
of  Frederick  Grape.  By  this  marriage  were 
born  five  children,  namely :  Henry,  deceased ; 
Robert  I.,  a  veterinary  surgeon,  of  Ann?,- 
wan;  Clara  W,  wife  of  Lewis  Bowen,  of  Chi- 
cago ;  ^Mary  E.,  a  resident  of  Red  Oak,  Iowa ; 
and  widow  of  F.  C.  Tolman,  who  was  killed 
in  a  runaway;  and  Frances  G.,  wife  of 
George  Squires,  of  ^lineral.  Bureau  county, 
Illinois. 


CYRUS  F.  STOUGHTOX. 

This  well-known  and  popular  agricul- 
turist residing  on  section  21,  Osco  township, 
vas  born  in  that  township  on  the  loth  of 
July,  1869.  his  parents  Ijeing  Hardin  and 
Martha  J.  ( Foote )  Stoughton,  who  for 
many  years  were  numl^ered  among  the  hon- 
ored and  highly  respected  citizens  of  Henry 
countv.     Our  subiect  is  of  English  descent. 


though  the  family  was  founded  in  Connec- 
ticut many  generations  back.  His  father  was 
born  at  Windsor  Mills,  Ashtabula  county, 
Ohio,  in  1829,  the  mother  at  Chardon, 
Geauge  county,  Ohio,  in  January,  1833.  and 
in  that  state  their  marriage  was  celebrated. 
On  coming  to  Illinois  they  first  located  in 
Peoria  county,  but  before  the  Civil  war, 
about  i860,  they  took  up  their  residence  in 
Henry  county.  Mr.  Stoughton.  be^ng  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  erected  a  shop  and  car- 
ried on  business  along  that  line,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  operation  of  rented  land,  and 
thus  secured  a  start  in  life.  He  was  at  length 
able  to  purchase  forty  acres  of  land  to  which 
he  subsequently  added  from  time  to  time  un- 
til he  had  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  nearly 
all  of  which  was  improved  by  himself. 
He  placed  it  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  successfully  engaged  in  fanning 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
v.as  an  ordent  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
were  earnest  and  consistent  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  death 
occurred  .on  the  home  place  November  13, 
1890,  and  she  departed  this  life  December 
19,  1894.  They  were  quite  active  in  social 
circles,  and  no  couple  in  the  community  were 
irore  universally  respected  and  esteemed. 
To  them  were  born  five  children,  but  two  of 
the  number  died  in  childhood.  Those  living 
are  Emma,  wife  of  Xathan  W.  Derby,  of 
Avoca,  Pottawattamie  county,  Iowa;  Cyrus 
F.,  our  subject;  and  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Bert 
Martin,  also  of  Avoca,  Iowa. 

Cyrus  F.  Stoughton  has  always  resided 
on  the  old  homestead  on  section  21,  Osco 
township,  and  his  early  education,  acquired 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  neighlxirhood, 
was  supplemented  by  an  elective  course  at 
the  Geneseo  Collegiate  Institute,     He  con- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


507 


tinned  ti>  wdrk  with  liis  fatlier  until  the  hit- 
ter's death,  and  then  took  cliarge  of  tlie 
farm.  He  has  since  purchased  his  sister's 
interest  in  the  place,  and  in  its  operation  is 
meeting  with  marked  success.  He  follows 
both  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 
Since  the  farm  came  irito  his  possession  he 
has  added  to  its  buildings,  and  made  many 
otlier  imi)ro\-ements  which  enhance  the  x'alue 
and  attractive  a])])earance  nf  the  place. 

( )n  January  t,.  i<S<j4.  Mr.  Stoughton 
was  united  in  marriage  with  M^ss  I.uella 
J.  Welti  in.  who  was  born  in  Osco  township 
in  i(S7.^.  and  is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of 
three  children,  the  others  being  Earl  and 
Harry.  br)th  at  home  with  their  parents. 
Her  father.  James  W'elton.  is  now  living  re- 
tUTil  in  (jeneseii.  yiv.  and  .Mrs.  Stougliton 
lia\-e  a   little  daughter.    Myrtle  J.,   bnrn    in 

(h\v  subject  uses  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  Republican  principles,  and  ha:i 
ser\-ed  his  fellow  citizens  as  tax  collector  of 
Oscii  townshi])  in  i8(/)  and  constable  four 
years,  the  duties  of  which  offices  he  most 
capably  discharged.  In  religious  faith  he  is 
a  Presbyterian,  and  is  one  of  the  most  high- 
ly respected  and  x-alucd  citizens  of  his  com- 
munitv. 


K1).ML"X1)  BL'CK. 

As  a  representative  of  the  intelligent  and 
hardy  pioneer  who  opened  up  Henry  county 
for  settlement,  and  tmik  a  \ery  acti\e  and 
]jrominent  part  in  its  dexelnpmeiU,  we  take 
great  pleasure  in  presenting  to  our  readers 
a  brief  sketch  of  the  gentleman  whose  name 
introduces  this  article.  He  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Killingly.  Windham  county.  Con- 
necticut, on  Christmas  dav.  1825,  a  son  of 


Krastus  and  E>thcr  W.  (Convcr.se")  I'.uck, 
both  natives  of  the  .same  state.  In  18,^7  the 
father  brought  his  family  to  Illinois,  and 
took  U])  his  residence  in  .-\ndover  township, 
Henr)'  comity,  where  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  government  land.  He  broke  the 
virgin  soil  and  to  the  original  innxdiase  ;ulded 
from  time  to  time  until  he  had  two  hundred 
acres,  which  he  ])laced  under  a  high  state 
cif  cultixation.  In  connectinn  with  general 
f;'.rming  he  was  largely  interested  in  stuck 
raising,  and  was  also  engaged  in  the  dairy 
business,  manufactin"ing  cheese  quite  e.Kten- 
sively,  which  was  marketeil  in  Rock  Island. 
l'ri<ir  to  the  Civil  war  he  ['»>]<  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  slavery  (luestimi.  his  home  being 
a  station  on  the  nndergromid  railway,  and 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party 
became  one  of  its  st;nich  supporters,  lie  was 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  .\n(lo\er 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  took  a  prominent 
part  in  its  work.  He  died  at  the  home  of 
our  subject  October  2J,  1878,  honored  and 
respected  bv  all  who  knew  him.  His  esii- 
mable  wife  passed  away  on  the  12th  of  b'eb- 
ruar}-,  1887.  Of  their  seven  children  only 
two  are  now  living. 

The  first  ele\en  years  of  his  life  VaI- 
mund  Buck  passed  at  his  birth  place,  and 
then  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  this  county.  He  completed  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  Geneseo  and  Cales- 
luu-g,  and  after  la\-ing  aside  his  text  bociks 
tiirned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  met  with  well-deser\eid  success  in  hi?t- 
farnnng  operations  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  owned  two  lunidrcd  and  se\-enty-five 
acres  of  valualile  land,  it  being  one  of  the 
most  desirable  farms  of  its  size  in  .Vndover 
township.  His  first  purchase  of  land  was 
in  Munson  township,  which  he  sold  one 
year  later,  and  purchased  a  farm  tw(j  and 


■5o8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  halt  miles  west  of  Cambridge,  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  tn  which  he  added  and 
there  made  Iiis  home  until  his  retirement 
to  Cambridge  in  i88j. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1855,  'Sir.  Buck 
Avas  united  in  marriage'with  ]Miss  ]\Iariette 
W'oolsey,  a  nati\-e  of  Andover.  this  county, 
liorn  August  i.  1838.  and  the  first  white 
child  born  in  Andover  tnwnship.  a  tlaugh- 
ter  of  Jesse  and  Freeloxx  (  Rogers )  W'oolsey. 
both  nati\'es  of  Long  Island,  New  York. 
The  father  was  born  in  1786,  and  was  the 
oldest  of  a  family  of  twelve  sons.  In  1836 
lie  came  to  Richland  Grove.  Illinois,  but 
subsequently  returned  to  Xew  York,  where 
he  was  married.  Bringing  his  wife  to  this 
slate  he  settled  in  Andoxer  township,  Henrv 
county,  where  he  took  up  a  government 
claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land, 
keeping  a  public  Imuse  at  And(i\'er  village. 
He  died  on  the  uth  of  Xovember,  1871.  hir. 
^vife  on  the  20th  of  March,  1867,  and  the 
remains  of  both  were  interred  in  the  An- 
dover cemetery.  They  were  active  memliers 
■of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  were  highly 
respected  b}"  all  who  knew  them.  Thev  had 
fjnly  two  children,  of  whom  ]\Irs.  Buck  is 
the  older.  Gilbert  R.  is  now  a  prominent 
physician  of  Normal.  Illinois,  where  he  en- 
jo\'s  a  large  and  lucrati\"e  jaractice.  During 
the  war  of  the  Rel)ellion  he  was  adjutant 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Illinois 
A'olunteer  Infantry  and  was  slightly  wound- 
ed in  an  engagement. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Airs.  Buck  were  born  four 
children,  namely:  Lydia  R..  Ijorn  May  7, 
1856,  is  the  wife  of  John  A.  Schoettler,  of 
Cambridge,  and  has  four  children,  Arthur 
E.,  Laura  G.,  M}-rtle  AT.  and  Leroy  F.  Cal- 
vin M.,  born  .\pril  i,  1861,  is  a  resident  of 
California.  He  first  married  Leni  Leoti 
Howell,  and  after  iier  death  wedded  Aliss 


Florence  Hatch,  of  Haywards,  California. 
Edmund  W..  born  March  31.  1867,  mar- 
ried Selma  M.  Anderson  and  lives  in  Chi- 
cago. Illinois.  Jessie  E.,  born  June  29.  1874, 
is  the*  wife  of  John  S.  Miller,  foreman  of 
the  Saturday  Mail,  of  Aluscatine,  Iowa. 

Air.  Buck  died  February  13,  1886.  and 
was  laid  to  rest  in  Cambridge  cemetery.  In 
politics  he  was  an  ardent  Republican  and 
took  an  active  interest  in  all  public  ques- 
tions. He  served  several  terms  as  supervisor 
and  assessor  of  his  township,  and  his  official 
duties  were  always  conscientiously  and 
faithfully  performed.  He  was  a  prominent 
and  influential  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Cambridge,  .in  which  he 
ser\-ed  as  deaciMi.  took  an  acti\e  part  in  its 
work,  and  was  tleepl}'  interested  in  'all  relig- 
ious subjects.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
was  president  of  the  Henrv  County  Tem- 
perance Alliance  and  during  that  time  did 
effectixe  work  for  the  cause  of  temperance. 
He  was  also  for  a  time  president  of  the 
County  Sunday  School  Association. 

He  stood  high  in  the  community  where 
h.c  made  his  home,  and  enjoyed  the  confi- 
dence and  res]3ect  of  all  who  knew  him. 
His  widow  is  now  a  resident  of  Cambridge, 
where  she  is  surrounded  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acf|uaintances  who  have  foi 
her   the   highest    regard. 


F.  G.  WELTOX. 

This  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil  war 
and  well-known  county  clerk  of  Hc.iry 
county,  Illinois,  who  makes  his  home  m 
Cambridge,  was  Ixirn  near  A\'aterbury,  Xew 
Haven  county,  Connecticut,  on  the  14th  i^r 
April.  1843.  and  is  a  son  of  Alliert  and  Su- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


509. 


san  A.  (Biilwell)  \\'elton.  natives  of  Coii-# 
necticut  and  Oliio,  respectively.  They  mar- 
ried in  tlie  former  state,  where  the  mother 
removed  (hiring  lier  childhood.  In  earh 
life  the  father  was  a  wood  turner,  hut  after 
coming  to  lUinios.  in  1831,  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  agTicultural  ])nrsuits,  and  owned 
twd  iir  three  farms  in  Henry  cmuitw  Dis- 
posing of  his  property  here,  he  moved  to 
Xehraska  in  1869,  and  continued  to  engage 
in  farming  there  until  his  death,  which  oc  ■ 
curred  June  6,  1899,  when  he  was  over 
seventy-nine  years  of  age.  He  served  aj 
justice  of  the-  peace  many  years  and  lield 
other  offices  during  the  war.  In  religituis  he- 
lief  he  was  an  Episcopalian,  to  which  church 
iiis  widow  also  belongs.  She  is  uuw  an  ' 
honored-' resident  of  Camhridgc.  Of  ilieir 
loin-  children  only  twn  are  now  h\ing. 
namely:  F.  G.,  our  subject;  and  George 
\\'.,  a  farmer  of  W'averly,  Nebraska.  Mary 
E.  dietl  at  the  age  of  fcjurteen  years;  and 
Clarence  \\'.,  at  the  age  of  one  year. 

1'.  G.  W'elton  began  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  state,  and  later 
attended  the  public  schools  of  this  county, 
being  eight  years  of  age  when  the  family 
came  to  Illinois.  He  also  attended  commer- 
cial college  at  W'heaton,  Illinois  after  his 
return  from  the  Civil  war.  On  the  28th  of 
July,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Forty- 
second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
muler  command  of  General  Fremont  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Spring-field,  Missouri. 
With  his  command  he  was  then  sent  to  Co- 
lumbus, Kentucky,  on  the  river  below 
Cairo,  and  they  were  later  attached  to  the 
fleet  at  Island  Xo.  10.  Joining  General 
Pope's  army,  they  went  to  I^irt  Pillow,  and 
from  there  to  Hamburg  Landing,  Tennes- 
see. They  particicpated  in  the  siege  of  Cor- 
inth, the  battle  of  Farmington,  Mississippi; 


Columbia,  Tennessee;  and  Stone  River: 
were  through  the  Tullahoma  campaign  and 
in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga.  Missi<inary 
Ridge,  Danbridge.  Tennessee;  and  the  At- 
lanta campaign,  including  the  battles  of 
Resaca,  Adairsville*and  Xew  llojje  Church. 
.\t  the  last  named  engagement,  Mr.  W'el- 
ton was  seriously  injured,  three  shots  enter- 
ing one  leg,  while  the  other  leg  was  shot 
off,  and  he  was  als(^  shot  through  the  right 
hand.  While  convalescing  flrom  wounds 
in  a  hospital  in  Chicago,  in  Xovember, 
1864,  he  was  taken  with  the  smallpox,  and 
later  returned  home,  but  was  not  discharged 
until    March   9,    1865. 

.After  receiving  his  discharge  Mr.  W'el- 
ton was  engaged  in  the  drug  business"  at 
lierlin.  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  for  nine 
months,  but  as  his  wounds  broke  out  anew, 
he  sold  out  and  returned  to  his  father's 
home,  remaining  there  a  year  before  he  had 
entirely  recovered.  During  the  following 
year  he  worked  in  the  office  of  the  circuit 
clerk,  and  in  1869  was  elected  to  his  present 
office,  that  of  county  clerk,  which  he  has 
since  filled  so  satisfactorily.  This  office  he 
has  now  held  -for  a  longer  period  than  any 
other  living  in  the  state,  though  the  clerk 
of  Putnani  count}',  now  deceased,  held  the 
office  forty-one  years.  Mr.  W'elton  has 
also  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board 
of  Cambridge  and  as  treasurer  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  his  official  duties  have  always  Iieen 
most  faithfullly  and  acceptably  performed. 
In  the  spring  of  1866,  Mr.  W'elton  mar- 
ried Miss  Ella  M.  Clark,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Dexter  Clark,  of  Rockford,  Illinois,  and 
to  them  were  born  eight  children,  namely : 
Albert  D..  the  eldest,  is  cashier  in  the  First 
Xational  Bank  of  Greenwood,  Nebraska ; 
Clarence  W.,  clerking  in  his  father's  office, 
married   Annabel     Holmes,    of    Columbus. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Georgia,  and  they  have  one  child,  Alliert : 
Kate  C.  is  the  wife  of  Ben  M.  Smith,  of 
Rogers  Park,  Ilhnois,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Frances  and  Mabel ;  Mabel  E.  is 
also  a  clerk  in  her  father's  olifice;  Susan  B. 
is  the  wife  of  Robert  L.  .Sheppard,  an  attor- 
ney of  Evanston,  Illinois,  and  a  son  of  Pro- 
fessor Robert  D.  Sheppard,  of  the  North- 
vestern  University,  and  they  have  one  child. 
Robert  L. ;  Tom  is  a  student  at  the  Nautical 
Academy  at  Easton,  Maryland;  one  daugh- 
ter died  in  infancy  unnamed  and  Frank  G. 
died  at  the  age  of  six  months. 

At  present  Mr.  ^\'elton  is  serving  as 
commander  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at 
Cambridge,  and  is  also  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  that  place,  in  which 
he  has  held  office.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
chapter,  commandery  and  consistory,  and 
for  the  long  period  of  nineteen  years  served 
as  district  deputy  grand  master.  His  wife 
helds  membership  in  the  Congregational 
Church. 


JAMES  CROMIEN. 

Since  1857  James  Cromien  has  been  one 
■of  the  honored  residents  of  Galva  township 
his  home  being  on  section  14.  For  many 
years  he  was  prominent!}'  identified  with  its 
agricultural  interests,  but  is  now  practically 
living  a  retired  life,  though  he  manages 
his  farm  which  is  now  operated  by  his  sons 
He  was  born  in  the  county  We.xford,  Ire- 
land, June  22,  1837,  a  son  of  John  and  Miss 
Ellen  (Cavanaugh)  Cromien.  He  was  only 
fourteen  weeks  old  when  his  mother  died, 
leaving  two  children,  the  others  being  Phil- 
ip, who  died  in  Stark  county,  Illinois.  Feb- 
ruarv  29,  1879.  He  received  a  very  limited 
education    in   the    schools  of    Ireland,    and 


?er\ed  through  the  Civil  war  in  this  coun- 
try as  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twelfth  Illinois  \'i)lunteer  Infantry.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  a  well  educated 
man.  but  was  in  limited  circumstances 
on  his  emigration  to  America.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  he  married  Miss 
.\nn  Dunn,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren, but  one  died  in  infancy.  Mary  is 
now  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Harrison,  a  farmer 
of  Creston,  Iowa.  In  1851  John  Cromien 
brought  his  family  to  the  United  States, 
and  after  farming  for  some  time  in  Knox 
coimty,  Illinois,  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
Henry  county,  where  he  followed  the  same 
occupation.  His  last  days,  however,  were 
spent  in  Union  county,  Iowa,  whither  he 
removed  in  1876.  He  had  previously  pur- 
chased and  fully  improved  a  farm  in  this 
county.  He  was  a  supporter  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  never  took  an  active  part 
in  politics.  He  was  born  in  1803,  and  died 
in  1894,  while  his  second  wife  was  born  iit 
1799,  and  also  died  in  Union  county,  Iowa, 
in  1878. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  fourteen 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  America  with 
his  father,  and  was  principally  engaged  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  land.  He 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  he 
was  married  in  1867  to  Miss  Nora  Lancas- 
ter, who  was  born  in  Lake  county,  Illinois, 
in  1846.  They  became  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  of  whom  three  are  now  deceased, 
namely :  ]\Iary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one 
rear;  Ellen,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten; 
and  Edward,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-two. Those  livinp-  are  John  J.,  who  is 
married  and  engaged  in  farming  near  Min~ 
eral.  Bureau  county,  Illinois;  Henry  E.,  a 
resident  of  California;  and  Elizabeth  L., 
T.  ^^"i^iam,  Frank  D..  ]\Iarie  T.  and  Albert 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


511 


L..  all  at  home.  All  iia\e  been  educated  in 
the  public  schools,  and  some  have  also  at 
tended   business  college. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Cromien  located 
on  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Galva 
township,  to  which  he  added  from  time  to 
time  as  his  financial  resources  increased  un- 
til he  now  has  five  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  valuable  land  in  that  township,  and  also 
owns  a  residence  in  Peoria,  where  he  made 
liis  home  for  three  years.  Before  going  to 
Peoria  he  lived  in  the  city  of  Galva  for  three 
years,  and  on  leaving  the  former  place  re- 
turned to  his  farm.  His  residence  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  July  9,  1900,  but  lias  since 
been  replaced  by  a  more  modern  and  pleas- 
ant home.  Throughout  his  active  business 
life  Mr.  Cromien  followed  general  farm- 
ing, never  devoting  his  time  to  any  specialty, 
but  since  1891  he  has  practically  lived  a  re- 
tired life,  leaving  his  sons  to  conduct  tb.e 
farm  under  his  supervision. 

Mr.  Cromien  has  been  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  why 
died  November  10,  1891,  on  the  home  farm. 
Religiously  he  and  his  family  are  communi- 
cants of  the  Catholic  Church  of  Galva.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  but  has 
never  cared  for  jxjlitical  honors.  He  is 
accounted  one  of  the  leading  and  promi- 
nent citizens  of  his  communitv. 


CHARLES  A.  JOHXSOX. 

Galva  township  has  no  more  honored  or 
highly  respected  citizen  than  Charles  A. 
Johnson,  whose  home  is  on  section  10.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  Henry  county  since 
1870,  and  has  done  much  to  advance  the 
moral,  social  and  material  welfare  of  the 
communitv  in  which  he  lives.     He  was  born 


in  Smoland.  Sweden,  on  the  3d  nf  January. 
1847,  ^  son  of  Johan  and  Katrine  (Carl- 
son) Johnson,  both  now  deceased.  In  188  + 
the  father  came  to  this  country  to  visit  our 
subject,  and  returned  to  Sweden  in  1887. 
Throughout  his  active  business  life  he  fol- 
lowed farming,  and  always  enjoyed  good 
health.  He  was  seventy-three  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  In  his  family  were 
only  two  children,  the  younger  .being  Chris- 
tine Johnson,  a  resident  of  Sweden. 

Mr.  Johnson  received  but  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  pul)lic  schools  of  his  native 
land.  He  served  two  years  in  the  National 
Home  Guards,  and  remained  with  his  father 
on  the  farm  until  his  emigratimi  to  Amer- 
ica in  1870.  He  was  twenty  days  in  cross- 
ing the  ocean  and  landed  in  the  United 
States  with  no  capital  with  which  to  begin 
life  in  a  strange  land  and  among  a  strange 
people.  Before  coming  to  this  county  he 
spent  some  time  near  ^'ictoria,  Illinois. 
1  aking  an  active  interest  in  church  work,  he 
was  given  i:)ermission  to  attend  the  theo- 
logical seminary  at  Evanston  and  prepare 
for  the  ministry.  He  found  employment  on 
a  farm,  and  aided  other  boys  in  securing 
their  educations,  and  also  devoted  consider- 
able time  to  procuring  supplies  for  his 
countrymen  who  were  attending  schonl.  He 
always  made  his  home  in  families  where 
they  had  family  worship,  and  his  first  read- 
ing was  in  the  Bible. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  1878.  Mr. 
Johnson  married  Miss  Clara  C.  Bengston, 
who  was  born  in  Sweden  in  1849,  'i"d  '^ 
the  only  survivor  in  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren. Her  parent^  both  died  in  Sweden. 
Of  the  six  children  born  to  our  subject  and 
his  wife  two  died  in  infancy.  The  others 
are  Gus  \\'ill)ur,  who  is  attending  business 
college  in  Galesburg:   Eskil   E.   and   Osier, 


512 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


v.lio  are  attending  the  district  school  near 
tlieir  home;  and  Cora  L.,  at  home. 

After  operating  rented  land  for  some 
^•ears,  Mr.  Johnson  purchased  a  tract  of 
eighty  acres  on  section  9,  Galva  township, 
and  a  few  years  later  added  to  it  anotheE 
eighty  acres,  making  a  good  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  has  placed 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  raises 
both  hogs  and  horses  for  market,  and  owns 
and  operates  a  sorghum  mill  quite  success- 
fully. He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  new  ele- 
vator at  Galva,  and  was  a  promoter  of  the 
same,  gi^•ing  both  time  and  money  to  the 
enterprise.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the 
W'estrand  ^Manufacturing  Company  of 
Galva, 

]Mr.  Johnson  takes  an  active  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  the  community  in  Avhich  he 
resides,  and  is  now  serving  as  chaplain  of 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  He  has  always 
been  an  acti\e  worker  in  the  ilethodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  has  served  as  one  of 
its  trustees  and  as  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school.  In  the  earlier  part  of  his 
career  he  often  preached  the  gospel  in  the 
Swedish  language,  and  has  done  much  to 
promote  the  moral  interests  of  the  commu- 
nity. Politically  he  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party,  but  has  ne\"er  been  pre- 
vailed upon  to  accept  any  office  save  that  of 
road  commissioner.  Although  he  is  prac- 
tically self-educated,  he  is  a  man  of  literary 
taste,  and  owns  a  good  librar}-. 


JOHN  KEW'ISH. 

Since  1873  John  Kewish  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Henrj-  county  and  his  name  is  insep- 
arablv    connected  with    its  agricultural  and 


financial  interests.  He  was  born  on  the  Isle 
of  ^Nlan,  February  2,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of 
Patrick  and  Ann  (Craine)  Kewish,  who 
spent  their  lives  there.  The  father  engaged  in 
farming  on  quite  an  extensive  scale.  He  was 
born  !March  17,  1817,  and  died  November 
28,  1880,  while  his  wife  was  born  April 
2^.  1819,  and  died  Xovember  3,  1874. 
Of  their  eleven  children  one  died  in 
infancy  and  two  at  the  age  of  six  and 
eight  years,  respectively.  Those  who  reached 
adult  age  were  Thomas,  who  still  lives  on 
the  Isle  of  Man;  Eleanor,  who  died  on  the 
home  place;  John,  our  subject;  Ann,  who 
also  died  on  the  home  place;  William,  who 
came  to  Galva,  Illinois,  and  died  here  Jan- 
uary 4,  1886;  Robert,  who  also  died  here 
January  28,  1887,  leaving  a  wife  and  two 
children,  residents  of  Weller  township;  and 
Isabella  and  Sarah,  who  both  died  on  the 
home  place. 

During  his  boyhood  John  Kewish  at- 
tended the  private  schools  of  his  native  land 
and  remained  at  home  until  sixteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  \\ent  to  sea  and  followed  the 
life  of  a  sailor  for  five  years.  For  two  years 
he  was  in  the  regular  service  and  two  years 
in  the  British  Xaval  Reserves.  In  1873  '^^ 
came  to  the  United  States  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  Galva,  Illinois,  where  for  two 
and  a  half  years  he  followed  the  occupation 
of  an  engineer,  holding  a  certificate  as  a 
third  engineer  with  the  \A'est  India  and 
I'acific  Steamship  Company.  In  this  way 
he  secured  a  start  in  the  new  world,  and  in 
1876  commenced  farming.  In  1882  he  pur- 
cliased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  par- 
tially improved  land  on  section  24,  Galva 
township,  which  has  since  been  his  home. 
He  has  remodeled  the  residence,  erected  out- 
buildings and  made  manj-  other  improve- 
ments, so  that  it  is  now  one  of  the  most  de- 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSIIY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


JOHN   KEWISH. 


MRS.  JOHN   KEW^ISH. 


LIBRARY 

UNlVtRSIlT  UF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


517 


sirable  farms  in  the  locality.  In  1893  he 
lK]Ui;;iit  an  eightN'-acre  tract,  and  six  j'ears 
later  purchased  another  eighty  acres,  making 
three  iiundred  and  twent}^  acres  which  he 
now  owns  on  sections  24  and  25,  Galva  town- 
ship. With  the  assistance  of  his  sons,  ^Ir. 
Kewish  is  successfully  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising.  He  also  buys 
and  feeds  stock  for  shipment,  and  was  one  of 
the  original  directors  and  stockholders  of 
the  Galva  State  Bank,  with  which  he  is  still 
connected. 

In  1873  Air.  Kewish  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Anna  Kewish,  who  was 
also  born  on  the  Isle  of  Man,  September  29, 
1S49,  'i"^  came  to  America  in  1869,  locating 
in  Galva,  Illinois.  She  is  the  only  survivor 
of  a  family  of  seven  children,  three  of  whom 
settled  here.  Eight  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  2klrs.  Kewish,  all  of  whom  are  still 
li\ing  with  the  exception  of  Ralph,  who 
died  in  1890.  The  others  are  as  follows: 
John  T.,  Ixjrn  in  1875;  Annie,  1877;  Eva 
J.,  1878;  Bertie  W.,  1880;  William,  1886; 
irvie,  1889;  and  Ella,  1891.  All  have  attend 
td  the  district  schools,  while  John  T.  is  a 
graduate  of  Steinman  Business  College,  anrl 
is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Galva  town- 
ship; Annie  is  a  graduate  of  the  Galva  high 
school  and  the  Geneseo  Normal,  and  is  now 
folowing  teaching;  and  Bertie  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Kewanee  Business  College.  With  the 
cxcejJtion  of  Jtjhn  T.,  all  are  still  under  the 
parental  roof. 

In  his  political  views  ^Ir.  Kewish  is  an 
ardent  Repulilican,  and  has  been  a  delegate 
to  the  county  and  congressional  conventions 
of  his  party.  He  has  always  taken  an  active 
and  influential  part  in  local  politics;  has 
served  as  assistant  assessor  of  his  township, 
has  been  road  commissioner  twelve  years : 
school  ilirector  many  years,  and  school  trus- 


tee at  the  present  time.  Religiously  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  socially  is  a  member  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  lodge.  No.  408,  and  Encamp- 
ment, No.  174,  in  which  he  has  filled  all 
the  chairs,  and  is  alsu  a  member  of  the  Ke- 
wanee Canton.  Mr.  Kewish  is  pre-emi- 
nently public-spirited  and  progressive  and 
gives  his  support  to  all  enterprises  for  the 
public  good.  He  was  one  of  the  men  who 
assisted  in  raising  funds  for  the  farmers'  ele- 
vators at  Galva  and  was  one  of  its  most  lib- 
eral supporters  financially.  He  has  been  as- 
sociated with  the  leading  business  men  of 
that  place,  particularh-  in  connection  with 
its  banking  interests.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Sons  of  Alona,  a  society  of 
Man.xmen  in  Chicago,  and  has  taken  an  ac- 
tive part  in  their  meetings.  He  owns  a  large 
and  valuable  library  of  over  fifteen  hun- 
dred volumes,  containing  a  most  complete 
list  of  poets.  He  is  practically  a  self-edu- 
cated man  and  is  a  great  reader  whose  liter- 
ary taste  is  principally  along  the  line  of  his- 
tory and  statistics.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
honored  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  his 
community  and  exerts  a  great  influence  for 
good. 


TAYLOR  LINN. 

This  well-known  lumber  dealer  of  Alpha 
has  been  prominently  identilied  with  the  bus- 
iness interests  of  that  town  for  the  past  eleven 
\ears.  and  is  accounted  one  of  its  most  re- 
liable and  prominent  citizens.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Morrow  county,  April  i,  1849,  ^"d  's  a  son 
iif  John  TJnn.  who  was  born  in  Maryland, 
and  when  (juite  y<iuno"  removed  with  his 
father,  William  Linn,  also  a  nati\-e  of  Mary- 


5i8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


land,  to  the  Buckeye  state,  the  family  he- 
coniiiig  pioneers  of  Morrow  county.  There 
John  Linn  g-rew  to  manliood  and  married 
Marv  A.  Camplaell,  wlio  was  horn  in  I'enn- 
syl\ania  and  was  a  daughter  of  W'ilh'am  T. 
Campbell,  also  an  early  settler  of  ]\Iorro\\ 
county,  where  he  cleared  and  improved  a 
farm.  For  some  years  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Linn  was  engaged  in  business  in  that 
coiuity  and  was  also  interested  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  lumber.  Coming  west  in  1856 
he  located  on  a  farm  in  Mercer  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  Subsequently  he  purchased  a  farm 
in  North  Henderson  township,  the  same 
county,  wdiere  he  made  his  home  for  some 
years,  but  his  last  days  were  spent  in  retire- 
ment from  active  labor  in  Alpha,  where  he 
died  January  3,  1888.  His  wife  sur\i\ed 
him  a  number  of  years,  passing  away  Decem- 
ber 8,  1898.  The  were  consistent  and  faith- 
ful members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  Mrs. 
Linn  was  a  leader  in  all  church  work  during 
here  residence  there.  She  also  gave  lil)erall\' 
to  its  support. 

Taylor  Linn  was  only  seven  years  of  age 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  this  state, 
and  on  the  home  farm  in  Mercer  county  he 
passed  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth, 
his'  education  being  accjuired  in  the  local 
school.  He  received  an  excellent  training  in 
farm  work,  and  after  arriving  at  man's  es 
tate  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Knox  countv. 
where  he  owned  two  hundred  acres  of  well 
improved  and  highly  producti\-e  land.  In 
■  connection  with  its  operation  he  successful- 
ly engaged  in  raising  and  shipping  stock  for 
.a  number  of  years.  In  1889  he  removed  to 
Alpha  and  embarked  in  business  as  a  dealer 
in  shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  of  which  he 
■carried  a  large  and  complete  stock.  He  also 
JDpened  a  lumljer  yard,  which  he  ^till  carries 


on,  but  he  discontinued  the  hardware  busi- 
ness at  the  end  of  tive  years,  selling  his  store 
in  1895.  He  also  handles  grain,  conducting 
the  Farmers'  Elevator  at  Alpha,  and  still 
continues  to  o\'ersee  the  operation  of  his 
farm.  He  has  gained  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion as  a  reliable  business  man,  and  receives 
a  liberal  share  of  the  public  patronage. 

]\Ir.  Linn  has  been  twice  married.  In 
fiercer  county,  September  26,  1871  he  wed- 
ded Miss  Elizabeth  Henderson,  a  native  of 
Knox  county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Henderson.  She  died  in  her  native 
county,  January  I,  1882.  By  that  union 
were  born  twii  children :  Almon  H.  attend- 
ed first  the  home  schools,  later  took  a  busi- 
ness coure  at  Knox  College  and  in  1899  was 
graduated  from  the  law  department  of  the 
Michigan  L^niversity  at  Ann  Arbor.  He  is 
now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Henry  county.  IMary  A.  died  in  infancy. 
In  February,  1883.  in  Knox  countv.  Mr. 
Linn  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Liz- 
zie H.  Junk,  who  was  liorn  and  reared  in 
that  count}-.  Her  father,  Samuel  Junk,  was 
a  native  of  Pennsyhania  and  an  early  settler 
of  Knox  county.  There  is  one  son  liv  the  sec- 
ond union,  Harrison  J. 

In  political  sentiment  Mr.  Linn  has  been 
a  life-long  Republican  and  cast  his  first  pres- 
idential ballot  for  General  U.  S.  Grant  in 
1872.  He  has  never  sought  political  honors 
preferring"  to  gi\'e  his  undi\-idetl  attention  to 
his  extensive  business  interests.  For  some 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  school  board, 
and  has  always  taken  an  acti\e  and  com- 
mendable interest  in  educational  affairs. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
\\'oodmen  of  America.  He  has  made  an  un- 
tarnished record  and  unspotted  reputation  as 
a  business  man.  In  all  places  and  under  all 
circumstances  he  is  loval  to  truth.  luMKir  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


519 


right,  and  justly  \alucs  his  own  self-i"esi)ect 
as  infinitely  nmre  prcfcralilc  than  wealth. 
lame  and  positinn. 


ALBERT   S.   MUXSOX. 

.Xmong  those  men  who  have  added  to 
the  wealth  and  prosperity  of  Henry  count}-. 
and  who  by  their  progressive  spirit,  en- 
ergy, thorough  business  ability,  practical 
knowledge  of  their  special  branch  of  busi- 
ness, upright  and  honorable  dealings,  none 
are  more  worthy  of  honorable  mention  in  a 
work  of  this  character  than  .\ll)ert  S.  Mun- 
son,  and  although  he  has  gone  to  join  those 
of  his  comrades,  friend  and  old  settlers  who 
have  crossed  the  river  of  death  and  are  now. 
free  from  the  labors,  trials  and  troubles  of 
this  world,  his  memory  still  lingers  and.  as 
the  result  of  his  labors,  will  live  on  and  on 
in  the  minds  of  future  generations. 

Mr.  Alunson  was  born  in  Oneida  county, 
Xew  York,  on  the  Jjnd  of  December,  1833, 
a  son  of  Seldon  and  Amanda  Minison,  also 
natives  of  the  Empire  state.  In  the  family 
were  fi\'e  children,  namely;  .\manda,  who 
married  Lewis  Smith  and  died  in  Oneida 
county,  X'ew  York:  .\li)crt  S.,  our  subect ; 
^lary  A.,  widow  of  Wesley  Gamble  and  a 
resident  of  Watertown,  Xew  York;  Elmira, 
wife  of  Lee  Andrew  McKee  of  Frankfort. 
Xew  York;  and  Merritt,  who  died  in  Kno.x- 
ville.  Illinois. 

Albert  Munson  spent  the  first  twenty- 
two  years  of  his  life  in  hi-s  native  state,  and 
was  indebted  to  its  schools  for  his  educa- 
tional prixileges.  1  le  then  came  to  Geneseo, 
Illinois,  at  which  lime  the  village  contained 
onlv  a  few  houses,  no  railroad  had  yet  been 
built,  and  wild  game  was  found  in  abun- 
dance. He  commenced  work  at  his  trade- 


that  of  a  carpenter — and  assisted  in  the  erec- 
tion of  nearly  e\cr\-  public  building  in  Gen- 
eseo. He  also  built  school  houses,  churches, 
business  blocks  and  private  residences  in 
the  same  place,  and  ercctefl  many  buildings 
in  Atkinson,  Annawan  and  Cambridge,  in 
fact  all  over  the  county.  He  was  industrious, 
l)ainstaking  and  conscientious,  as  well  as 
thrifty  and  conservative  in  business,  and  as 
a  man  was  kind  hearted  and  generous,  al- 
ways willing  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  those 
in  need  or  distress.  He  also  gave  liberally 
to  all  public  enterprises  which  he  believed 
calculated  to  advance  the  general  welfare. 
.\  man  of  good  business  ability,  he  accumu- 
lated considerable  property  in  the  city  as  well 
as  some  farm  land. 

On  the  22nd  of  December,  1858,  Mr. 
Munson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
I'.lizalietli  McW'hirter,  of  Geneseo,  who  w'as 
born  in  Culmonarch,  Scotland,  July  4,  1835, 
and  came  with  her  brother  James  to  Amer- 
ic;i  at  the  age  of  ten  years.  Her  parents, 
James  and  Jeannette  (McSkimming)  Mc- 
W'hirter, were  nati\es  of  the  same  coun- 
try and  came  to  America  alxnit  1850.  After 
spending  three  years  in  Athens,  Ohio,  they 
came  to  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  where  the 
mother  died.  The  father  spent  only  a  short 
time  at  that  place  and  then  removed  to  Iowa 
l-"alls.  Iowa,  and  located  on  a  farm,  where 
bis  death  occurred.  Of  the  ten  childreii 
born  to  them  five  died  in  Scotland,  the  others 
being  Jennette,  who  married  William  Hold- 
ing and  died  in  Iowa;  James,  who  married 
a  lady  from  Scotland  and  both  are  now  de- 
ceased :  Mary,  who  died  at  Iowa  Falls,  Iowa ; 
Elizal)cth,  now  Mrs.  Munson;  and  John, 
who  is  married  and  lives  in  Iowa  Falls.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  bad  one  child,  Seldon 
Albert,  who  was  born  March  2-j,  1873,  and 
died  July  29,  the  same  year. 


520 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  ]\Iunson  died  September  27,  1900, 
from  the  effects  of  a  sunstroke  received  two 
years  previously.  Like  his  father  he  was 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party, 
but  would  never  consent  to  become  a  candi- 
date for  office,  preferring  that  otliers  should 
have  the  political  honors  while  he  devoted 
his  time  and  energies  to  business  affairs. 
He  \vas  a  good  citizen,  a  kind  and  devoted 
husband,  and  a  friend  to  all  who  knew  him. 
Religiously  he  was  a  consistent  and  faithful 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church  and 
he  merited  and  received  the  respect  of  the 
entire  communitv  in  which  he  lived. 


HERBERT  ROOT  EDWARDS. 

Throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
Herbert  R.  Edwards  was  a  resident  of  this 
section  of  the  st-ate.  and  during  his  last 
years  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Western 
township,  Henry  county.  He  was  born  in 
\"erniont,  December  3,  1826,  but  was  a 
small  boy  when  he  came  west  with  his  par- 
erits,  William  and  Huldah  (Bangs)  Ed- 
wards, who  were  also  natives  of  the  Green 
Alountain  state.  By  occupation  the  father 
was  a  farmer  and  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  that  pursuit  throughout  life.  On 
first  coming  to  Illinois  the  family  spent  a 
short  time  at  Greenfield,  Green  county,  and 
then  removed  to  INIoline,  where  the  parents 
both  died,  the  father  at  about  the  age  of 
fifty  years,  and  the  mother  at  the  age  of 
eighty-six.  They  had  five  children,  and 
with  one  exception  all  grew  to  manhood, 
nameh' :  William  H.  followed  the  wagon 
maker's  trade  for  many  years,  and  later  was 
forenian  of  the  plow  factory  at  Moline.  He 
married  Caroline  Fleming,  of  Davenport, 
Iowa,,  who  died  twelve  vears  ago,  leaving 


four  children,  while  two  died  previously. 
He  departed  this  life  in  the  spring  of  1899, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  Herbert 
R.  was  next  in  order  of  birth.  George  H., 
i~  said  to  be  the  oldest  pioneer  resident  of 
!Moline.  During  his  active  business  life  he 
engaged  in  farming  and  is  now  trustee  of 
the  Second  National  Bank  of  IMoline.  He 
has  one  son,  ]\Iilton.  Charles  was  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business  in  early  life,  bat  is 
now  living  retired   in  Galesburg. 

^Ir.  Edwards  of  this  sketch  was  rearecJ 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Harriet 
and  educated  in  !Moline.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  turned  his  attention  to  the 
mason's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  sor.ie 
years,  but  in  1866  located  in  Western  town- 
ship, Henry  county,  and  devoted  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  was  the  owner  of  four  eighty-acre  farms 
in  that  township,  all  under  cultivation. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1852,  ^Ir.  Edwards 
AI.  Gordon,  a  native  of  Wayne  county, 
[Michigan,  and  a  daughter  of  Amos  and 
Amy  (Bucklin)  Gordon.  The  father  wns 
born  in  [Maine,  in  1792,  and  when  a  yoimg 
man  removed  with  his  parents  to  Wa3ae 
county,  Michigan,  where  he  enlisted  in  the 
war  of  1812.  In  1836  he  came  to  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  and  settled  near  Geneseo, 
where  he  li\xd  for  seven  or  eight  )-ears,  and 
then  removed  to  [Moline,  where  he  died  at 
the  extreme  old  age  of  ninety-eight  years. 
He  made  farming  his  principal  occupation 
throughout  life.  His  wife  survived  him. 
about  five  years  and  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
ty-three. Their  Oldest  son,  Daniel  Gordon, 
is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Moline.  He, 
too,  was  an  agriculturist,  and  for  about 
twenty  years  served  as  county  surveyor  of 
Rock  Island  county.  He  also  filled  the  office 
of   supervisor. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


521 


Unto  Mr.  and  ^Frs.  Edward  were  liorn 
seven  children,  namely:  Carrie  M..  wife  of 
Frank  Stewart,  of  Colorado:  ]-"rank  H.,  a 
resident  of  Western  township:  Clarence  A. 
of  Ciottcnhnrg-.  Nebraska:  Charles  H.,  who 
died  at  the  ag'e  of  two  and  a  half  _vear> : 
Flora  B..  wife  of  William  Tnlly.  ui  Colora- 
do; Cirace  F..  wife  of  Clarence  Ward,  of 
Atkinson  township,  this  county ;  and  Helen, 
wife  of  Abel  Ward,  of  Munson  township, 
this  county. 

After  a  well-spent  and  busy  life  Mr.  Ed- 
v.ards  passed  awa\-  in  Western  township  on 
the  2 1st  of  Xoxember,  1S74.  He  efficiently 
filled  the  f)ffice  of  school  director  for  a  time, 
and  was  serving;  as  assessor  of  his  township 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  While  a  resident 
of  Moline  he  was  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  but  after  his  removal  to 
Western  township  he  joined  the  English 
Lutheran  Church,  which  his  family  al&o  at- 
tended. On  the  3!  St  of  July.  1890,  Mrs. 
Edwards  became  the  wife  of  David  L.  I'ur- 
\iance,  who  is  represented  on  another  page 
of  this  \oluiue.  and  they  now  reside  on 
South   OakwMod   a\euue.   (ieneseo. 


JOHX   FRi':.M()XT   (.".\LK1XS. 

Among  the  nati\e  suns  of  llenr_\-  county 
\\ho  are  now  ])rominently  connected  with  its 
agricultural  interests  is  John  I'.  Calkins,  wlio 
is  successfully  engaged  in  farming  on  section 
22,  Oxford  township.  11  is  tine  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  se\'enty-t\\()  acres  adjoins  the 
corporate  limits  of  .\lpha,  and  its  neat  and 
thrifty  appearance  plainly  indicates  the  care- 
ful supervision  and  gi-od  business  abilit\-  of 
the  owner. 

Mr.  Calkins  w.as  born  at  the  homestead 


in  Alpha,  December  i,  1856,  a  son  of  An- 
son and  Hulda  G.  Calkins,  whose  sketch  ap- 
])ears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  He  was  reared 
in  nuich  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys  of 
his  tiiue  and  received  a  good  practical  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  near  his  home. 
He  remained  under  the  i)arental  roof  until 
Ids  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  at  .\lpha, 
January  28.  1879,  Miss  Elvir;i  J.  Elliott  lie- 
coming  his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Henry 
county,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Willard 
Elliott,  who  met  death  by  accident  in  Henry 
county,  Ohio.  Her  mother  afterward  came 
to  Illinois  and  here  married  Charles  hdlit.itt, 
a  brother  of  her  first  husliand.  Mrs.  Cal- 
kins was  principall}-  reared  and  educated  at 
Alpha.  ]'>\-  her  luarriage  she  has  become 
the  mother  of  five  children,  namely:  Etfie 
A.,  Edna  P.,  Mary  H.,  Stella  E.  and  Frances 
W.  The  three  younger  children  are  still  in 
school. 

.\fter  his  marriage  ]\Ir.  Calkins  located 
upon  his  present  farm  and  to  its  further  im- 
provement and  cultivation  he  has  since  de- 
voted his  energies.  He  has  enlarged  and  re- 
modeled the  residence  and  now  has  a  \ery 
pleasant  home,  surrounded  Ijy  good  out- 
buildings and  shade  and  fruit  trees.  In  con- 
nection with  his  farming  operations  he  is 
engaged  in  raising  and  feeding  stock  for 
market,  which  branch  of  his  business  he  finds 
(|uite  ]M"ofitable.  Since  attaining  his  major- 
it)-  he  has  supiiorled  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Republican  part}',  but  lias  ne\er  sought 
office,  preferring  to  give  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  business  interests.  1  lis  wife  and 
two  older  daughters  are  actix'e  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  to  which  he  contriljutes 
liberally  although  not  a  member  of  any  re- 
ligious denomination.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  .\iuer- 
ica  at  -\l])ha.  and  both  he  and  his  wife  '.leld 


522 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


nieniljership  in  tlie  Fraternal  Trilnnie  at 
\\'noclliiill.  They  are  widely  and  faxorably 
known,  and  no  c<iuple  in  the  coniniunit}- 
where  they  reside  are  held  in  higher  regard 
than  Mr.  and  Mr.s.  Calkins. 


HEXRY  MUSSEY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  a 
niemher  of  the  well-known  hrni  of  Alussey 
Brothers,  g;rain  and  coal  dealers  of  Atkin- 
son, Illinois,  was  born  in  Rutland,  Vermont, 
on  the  1st  of  June,  1828,  and  is  a  son  ol 
Henry  and  .Sabra  Amanda  (Lawrence) 
Mussey,  also  natives  of  the  Green  Mountain 
state,  the  former  born  in  March,  1795,  the 
latter  in  May,  1808.  The  ^lussey  family  is 
an  old  one  in  America.  Our  subject's  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Ebenezer  ^lussey,  was  a 
nati\-e  of  Connecticut  and  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, while  his  maternal  grandfather.  Cap- 
tain Amos  Lawrence,  was  captain  of  a  com- 
pany of  Connecticut  troops  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  Throughout  his  active  busi- 
ness life  the  father  engaged  in  farming  near 
Rutland,  Vermont,  and  there  died  at  the  age 
of  eighty-three  years.  The  mother's  death 
occurred  at  Atkinson,  Illinois  when  she  was 
ninety-two  years  of  age.  All  of  their  ten 
children  reached  years  of  maturitv  and  eight 
of  the  number  are  still  living,  while  Henr\-, 
A\'illiam  and  iMrs.  Thomas  Nowers  are  resi- 
dents of  Atkinson. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
home  farm,  and  during  the  summer  months 
assisted  in  its  o])eration,  while  through  the 
winter  season  he  attended  school  in  Rutland 
until  eiglUeen  years  of  age.  He  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  twent\'-fonr 
3'ears  of  age.     On  coming  west,  in  1857.  he 


located  in  \\'ill  county.  Illinois,  about  four 
miles  from  .\urora.  where  he  purchased  two 
hundred  and  se\ent\'  acres  of  impro\ed  land, 
and  to  its  cultivation  and  further  de\elop- 
n.ient  de\-oted  his  energies  for  twenty-four 
years.  Selling  that  place  he  came  to  Atkin- 
son where  his  brother  Henry  made  h\i> 
home,  and  after  living  retired  for  two  years 
he  bought  the  elevator  of  Emanuel  LawT 
baugh  and  emliarked  in  the  grain  business,  to 
which  he  has  since  added  coal.  His  lirother 
is  a  member  of  the  firm  and  the_\-  do  (juite  a 
large  and  ]jrofitable  business. 

i\Ir.  Alussey  was  married.  Xovember  g. 
185-',  to  .Miss  Charlotte  E.  Moulthrop,  who 
was  liorn  in  \'ermont  in  1829,  and  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  e.xtraction.  Her  father,  Tru- 
man Moulthrop,  followed  farming  near  Rut- 
land. L'nto  i\Ir.  and  Mrs.  ]\Iusse_\'  werel'Orn 
three  children:  Henr}-  Ellsworth,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  six  months;  Jennie  E..  Avife  of 
I.  J.  Emmons,  of  Atkinson:  and  .-Mice 
Emily,  wife  of  W.  F.  .\rnold.  b}'  whom  she 
lias  three  children.  Henry.  Helen  and  Har- 
riet. 

Mr.  iMussey  is  an  acti\-e  memlier  and 
deacon  in  the  Congregational  Church,  while 
his  wife  is  an  Episcopalian  in  religious  be- 
lief. F'oliticall)-  he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Republican  ])arty  and  its  principles.  He 
h.as  e\'er  taken  an  active  and  prominent  part 
ir.  educational  affairs,  and  ser\'ed  as  school 
director  in  Will  count\-  eighteen  A'ear^.  in 
Henrv  count\"  for  three  vears. 


MRS.  PACLIX.V  H.  SHIXX. 

.\mong  the  well-known  residents  and 
honored  citizens  of  Oxford  townshi]),  the 
Shinn   family   occupy   an   envialile   position. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


523 


Their  linmestcad  adjnins  the  xillage  <if  Al- 
pha. .Mr>.  Shinn  was  horn  in  AiUlison  coun- 
ty. \'erni(>nt.  l'"ehruary  k).  i  Sj8.  and  belongs 
to  an  old  and  prominent  Xew  England  t'am- 
ih',  tracing  her  ancestry  hack  to  Rohert 
Pease,  who  came  to  the  new  world  on  the 
ship  Francis  from  Ipswich,  England,  and 
landed  in  Boston  in  .\pril,  1634.  hut  later 
settled  in  Salem,  Massachusetts.  Her  father. 
Ohed  Pease,  was  born  in  Enfield,  Connecti- 
cut, April  20,  1789,  and  was  a  son  of  Eze- 
kiel  Pease,  also  a  native  of  the  same  state 
'J"he  former  was  reared  in  Connecticut,  hut 
when  a  voung  man  went  to  A'ermont.  where 
he  cleared  a  farm  and  made  for  himself  and 
family  a  good  home.  There  he  was  married 
April  T  r.  181 1,  to  Miss  Lydia  Lamos,  a  na- 
tive of  Xew  Hampshire.  He  continued  to 
engage  in  farming  in  \'ermont  until  1839, 
w  hen  he  came  west  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  Knox  county.  Illinois,  wliere  he  entered 
land  and  o])ened  up  a  farm,  making  it  his 
home  until  called  to  his  fina;  rest,  in  1845. 
His  wife  died  Xoxemhcr  28.  i8f)3. 

On  the  removal  of  her  parents  to  this 
state,  Mrs.  Shinu  remained  with  a  sister  in 
\'ermont  U)  com])lete  her  education,  and  in 
1844  joined  her  ])arents  in  Knox  county. 
Prior  to  her  marriage  she  was  successfully 
engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Kno.x  and 
Warren  counties.  On  the  9th  of  January, 
i84(S.  she  wedded  Moses  H.  Shinn.  who  wa^ 
born  in  Harrison  count}'.  West  Virginia. 
Xo\-eniher  3.  iSji.  a  son  of  Hiram  Shinn. 
The  ])rogenitor  of  his  fami]\'  in  .\nierica 
was  John  Shinn.  a  Quaker,  who  came  to  this 
coiuUr\-  froni  England  in  1(^)79,  landing  at 
I'.urlington.  .\ew  Jersev.  and  later  located  in 
West  \'irginia.  In  1833  Muses  H.  Shinn 
came  to  Illinois,  and  after  spending  some 
years  in  Fulton  county,  he  took  up  bis  resi- 
dence in  Kuox  count)'  in  1841.  Being  a  black- 


smith by  trade  be  followed  that  occupation  in 
early  life,  but  on  his  renioval  to  Henry 
county,  in  1855,  he  purchased  land  and 
turned  bis  attention  to  agricultural  ]nu-suits. 
Jr,  ()xford  township  he  improved  the  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  which  his 
widow  still  resides,  erecting  thereon  a  good 
residence  and  substantial  barns  and  out-build- 
ings, and  making  many  other  iiuprovements 
which  added  greatly  to  the  value  and  ru- 
tractive  appearance  of  the  place.  He  also 
bought  land  in  Kansas  for  bis  children.  On 
com])leting  his  ajiprenticeship  as  a  black- 
.Muith  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  with 
a  ca])ital  i>f  only  twenty-tive  cents,  but  being 
iridustrious.  enerp'etic  and  anibitious  he  met 
with  success  in  bis  undertakings,  and  by  the 
assistance  of  bis  estimable  wife  accumulated 
a  large  and  valualile  property.  He  continued 
to  actively  engage  in  farming  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  May  \(>.  1883.  He  was  well 
and  favorably  known  throughout  his  section 
of  the  county  as  a  luan  of  business  integrity 
and  sterling  worth,  and  had  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  with  whom  be  came  in 
contact.  Politically  he  was  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, the  principles  of  which  jiarty  his  fam- 
ily  also   support. 

L'nto  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Sbiiui  were  lioru  six 
children,  namely  :  S_\'lvi;i  .\..  wife  of  Charles 
Hall,  of  Akron.  Iowa:  Carroll  A.,  who  is 
married  and  eng;iged  in  farming  in  Jewell 
couut\'.  Kansas:  Bertha  P..  who  was  grad- 
uated from  Knox  College  in  1894.  and  is 
now  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  in 
Jlenry.  Illinois.  The  others  are  now  de- 
ceased. .\rigelia  L..  the  brst  born,  and  lul- 
win  both  died  in  infancy.  Jenette  li. 
ivarried  Robert  Watson,  of  Henry  county, 
and  died  in  March,  1892,  at  the  age  of  thir- 
ty-nine year.s,  leaving  one  child,  Ethel  Wat- 
son,  who   finds    a   home     with   her    grand- 


524 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


motlier.  Mrs.  Shinn  and  her  daughter 
Bertha  are  members  of  tlie  Metliodist  Epis- 
copal Church  and  are  lield  in  liigh  regard  by 
all  who  know  them. 


TOHX  D.  HILL. 

Among  the  bra\e  men  who  devoted  the 
opening  years  of  their  manhood  to  the  de- 
fense of  our  country  from  the  internal  foes 
who  sought  her  dismemberment  was  John 
D.  Hill,  now  a  prominent  resident  of  Gen- 
eseo.  He  was  born  in  Rappahannock  coun- 
t}',  Mrginia.  March  nj.  1843,  '^"t  in  1855 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  county,  witii 
whose  interests  he  has  since  been  actively 
identified. 

William  T.  Hill,  the  father  of  our  sul)- 
ject.  was  bt:)rn  in  Culpeper  county,  \'irginia, 
April  10.  1821.  and  was  the  oldest  son  of 
John  K.  and  Grace  (Jenkins)  Hill,  also  na- 
tives of  the  Old  Dnminiim.  and  the  former 
a  soldier  of  the  war  oi  181J.  \\'illiam  l". 
Hill  grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm  in  Rap- 
pahannock county,  and  on  the  30th  of  March, 
1841,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  Lockhart.  who  was  born  there 
Januarv  13.  i8ji.  They  continued  their 
residence  in  Rappahannock  until  1845,  wiien 
they  removed  to  Rockingham  county,  \'ir- 
ginia,  where  they  made  their  home  for  si.K 
years.  The  following  four  vears  were  spent 
in  Augusta  county,  the  same  state,  where  Mr. 
Hill  operated  a  rented  farm,  and  in  1855  h.e 
came  to  Henry  county.  Illinois,  the  family 
traveling  overland  in  a  spring  wagon,  while 
their  household  goods  w  ere  hauled  in  a  Iv/o- 
horse  lumber  wagon.  It  rec|uired  tlurty 
days  til  make  the  journey.  For  two  years 
the  father  rented  a  farm  in  Cornwall  town- 


ship, and  then  purchased  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres  of  wild  prairie  land  on  section 
24.  Munson  townshii),  for  which  he  paid 
ten  dollars  per  acre.  It  is  now  the  property 
of  our  subject,  and  beng  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  well  improved,  it  is  worth 
eighty  dollars  per  acre.  In  1856  the  father 
erected  thereon  the  first  house,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  harvested  the  first  crop.  He 
added  to  his  farm  until  he  had  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres,  and  also  owned  city  prop- 
erty in  Geneseo.  and  three  farms  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  each  in  Nebraska. 
\\'illiam  T.  Hill  died  December  30,  1893, 
and  his  wife  died  October  2,  1884,  and  their 
remains  are  interred  in  Oakwood  cemetery, 
Geneseo. 

John  D.  Hill,  of  this  review,  is  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  fourteen 
children,  the  others  being  as  follows :  ^^'ill- 
iam  J.,  born  January  15.  1842.  enlisted  Au- 
gust 15,  1862,  in  L\>mpany  C,  One  Hundred 
and  Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  June  7,  1864.  George  R.,  born 
-August  13,  1844,  was  married,  December  31, 
1873,  to  ]Mary  M.  Taylor,  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  implement  business  in  Salt  Lake 
City.  Utah.  Sarah  Elizabeth,  born  August 
5.  1846,  was  married.  January  2^.  1865,  to 
George  Dugdale.  now  a  retired  farmer  of 
Geneseo,  Illinois.  Julia  F..  born  February 
20,  1848,  married  Samuel  J.  ^lurphy,  and 
died  December  24,  1884.  Edward  L..  born 
April  24,  1849,  ^^'is  married.  Deceember  2S. 
1 87 1,  to  Ella  Calhoun,  and  is  now  a  traveling 
salesman  for  the  McC(jrmick  Reaper  Com- 
pany, residing  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Rachel 
\'..  born  April  2J.  1851,  was  married,  De- 
cember 28,  187 1,  to  Porter  Liken,  now  a 
retired  farmer  of  Geneseo,  Illinois.  Mary 
E.,  born  September  7,   1852.  was  married. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


527 


September  7.  1876,  t<i  Adam  Vnunj;-.  a  farm- 
er of  Storm  Lake.  Iowa.  I'hilip  I).,  liorn 
June  17.  1854.  \\as  married.  December  K), 
1877,  to  Florence  Benton,  and  is  an  auc- 
tioneer of  Muscatine.  Iowa.  Jennie  A.,  liorn 
February  27,  1857,  is  tlie  wife  of  Herman 
A\'iedenlioeft.  a  farmer  of  Munson  townsbip, 
this  county.  James  X.,  Imrn  Septeml)er  17. 
1S58,  married  lielle  Mcl\ae,  and  is  a  farmer 
and  stock  raiser  ni  C'dlfax  county,  Nebraska. 
Emma  P..  born  July  18,  1860,  married 
James  J.  Callender.  and  resides  in  Des 
^Moines.  Iowa.  Stephen  R..  horn  September 
2/,  1862,  married  Cora  McRae,  and  is  a 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  (if  Wheeler,  Ne- 
braska. Estella  L..  horn  .\pril  0.  1865,  is 
the  widow  of  William  Lane,  and  now  a 
stenographer  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

During  his  ■boyhdod  and  youth  Ji'hn  D. 
Hill  attended  the  district  schools  of  Munson 
township  through  the  winter  jiionths,  w  hile 
in  summer  he  aided  in  the  work  of  the  farm. 
He  was  twelve  years  of  age  on  coming  to 
this  county,  and  remained  with  his  parents 
until  after  the  Civil  war  broke  out.  Prom])t- 
ed  by  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  he  enlisted  on 
the  15th  of  August,  1862,  in  Company  C, 
One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Illinois  \'olun- 
teer  Infantry,  at  Cambridge,  and  was  mus- 
tered into  the  United  States  service  at  Pe- 
oria in  the  following  October.  He  was  made 
corporal  October  17,  1863.  and  detailed  as 
color  guard,  carrying  the  regimental  banner 
from  May  of  that  year  to  May  6,  1864, 
when  he  was  ajipointed  color  sergeant  and 
served  as  such  until  mustered  out  in  C'hi- 
cago.  July  10,  i8C)5.  lie  ])articipatcd  in 
the  battle  of  Knowille,  Sanders  raid,  and 
the  engagements  at  Bean  Station,  Resaca, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Utah  Creek,  Atlanta, 
Jonesboro,  Franklin,  Xashville,  ^\'ilming- 
ton  (Xorth  Carolina),  Fort  Anderson,  Kel- 


ly's l-"ord.  D;mdridge.  and  many  others. 
He  was  shot  in  the  shoulder  at  Knoxville, 
Tennessee,  but  remained  in  the  service,  and 
the  flag  which  he  carried  was  riddled  by 
many  bullets. 

On  the  3otli  of  September,  1868,  'Sir. 
Hill  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Es- 
ther K.  Ayres,  who  was  born  in  Hicksville. 
Ohio,  ^lav  14,  1845,  '>"*'  '''^''  Febuary  6, 
iQoo.  her  remains  being  interred  in  Oak- 
wood  cemeterv,  (ienesei>.  1  Icr  parents  were 
Buenos  and  Sarah  (Osborn  )  .\yres,  of  Mun- 
son township,  this  county,  where  her  father 
owned  and  operated  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  valuable  land.  He  was  of  a  mechan- 
ical turn  of  mind,  antl  of  great  ])hysical  en- 
ergy. He  was  also  extremely  ])hilanthropi- 
cal.  and  was  interested  in  all  that  tended  to 
the  ad\ancement  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lived.  He  died  in  T8y5.  at  the  age  of 
cightv-h\e  \'ears.  honored  and  loved  by  all 
who  knew  him,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
Xovember  i,  1894,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years.  He  belonged  to  a  family  of 
Iinglish  origin,  which  was  foimded  in  Mas- 
sachusetts in  the  early  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  tracing  his  ancestry  back  to 
the  famous  Ca])tain  John  A}'res,  of  Brook- 
field,  that  state. 

Mrs.  Hill  was  one  of  a  family  of  ele\-en 
children  who  in  order  of  l)irth  were  as  fol- 
l<Avs:  Sheldon  H.,  born  .April  23,  1835,  was 
married,  January  22,  1857,  to  Louisa  Em- 
ery, who  died  near  Galva,  March  12,  1864, 
and  on  the  1st  of  ]\Iay,  1865,  he  married 
Sarah  Fmnk.  Orlando  V>..  born  July  26, 
1836.  married.  July  13,  1864,  Annie  L. 
Stone,  now  a  resident  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa, 
and  died  March  28,  1900.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent attorne\-.  In  the  spring  of  1837  the 
fatlier  of  this  family  removed  to  Defiance, 
Ohio,  where  the  following  six  children  were 


528 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


born:  George  \\'.,  born  January  6,  1839. 
died  October  10,  1S39.  Mary  A.,  born  No- 
vemlier  22.  1840,  died  November  25,  1840. 
Samuel  P.,  l^nrn  ]May  16,  1842,  \\as  married, 
April  6,  187 1,  to  Alary  Inglefield.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Knoxville, 
Iowa,  for  a  time,  but  subsequently  embarked 
in  the  newspaper  business,  and  is  now  editor 
of  the  Herald  of  ]\Iarshalltown,  Iowa.  Mrs. 
Hill  was  the  next  in  ijrder  <if  birth.  Roder- 
ick \\'.,  b(.irn  April  26,  1848.  was  married, 
February  12,  1874,  to  Sadie  AI.  Inglefield, 
and  after  her  death  A\as  ag'ain  married,  De- 
cemljer  2j.  1876,  his  second  union  lieing  with 
Edith  M.  Swain.  He  is  now  a  farmer  of 
Bussey,  IMarion  county.  Io\\a.  Ransom  O., 
born  in  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  October  24, 
1852,  was  married,  January  24,  1877,  to 
Fannie  Reaver,  and  is  a  miller  of  Knox\illei 
Iowa.  Azoline,  born  in  ]\Iunson  townshpi, 
this  county,  August  24,  1854,  died  three  days 
later.  John  C.  F.,  born  in  the  same  place, 
August  2().  1 85(1,  was  married.  December 
25,  1879,  to  S.  Alice  Martin,  and  followed 
farming  in  Munson  township  for  several 
years,  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Gen- 
eseo.  •  Helen  E.,  born  September  3,  1859, 
died  October  13,  1862. 

Throughout  his  active  business  career 
]\Ir.  Hill  was  engaged  in  agricultural  ])ur- 
suits.  Tlie  first  land  which  he  ])urchased  in 
this  county  was  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in 
Cambridge  township,  for  which  he  ])aid 
about  two  thousand  dollars,  and  which  he 
sold  at  a  profit.  He  next  bought  seventy- 
six  acres  in  Munson  township  for  four  thou- 
sand four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  later 
added  to  it  eighty  acres,  for  which  he  paid 
fi\e  thousand  dollars.  This  propert}'  he  im- 
prm-ed  b\'  the  erection  of  a  house  and  barn, 
and  then  snld  for  ten  thousand  dollars. 
Sul)se(iuentl\"  he  hnught  a  farm  of  three  hun- 


dred and  four  acres  on  section  24,  Munson 
township,  and  also  owns  an  elegant  home 
in  Geneseo,  where  he  is  ncjw  living  retired 
frfim  active  labor,  while  his  niece,  ]\Iiss  Au- 
gusta .\yres,  keeps  house  for  him.  He  has 
been  the  executor  of  three  estates,  including 
that  of  his  father.  Each  of  these  required 
two  years  in  settlement. 

Mr.  Hill  is  an  honored  member  of  E.  J. 
Jenkins  Post,  No.  452,  G.  A.  R.,  and  Stewart 
Lodge,  No.  92,  F.  &  .\.  M..  and  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  Unitarian  Church.  He  is 
public  s])irited  and  enterprising,  and  thor- 
oughlv  reliable  in  all  things,  his  word  being 
considered  as  good  as  his  bond.  His  pleas- 
ant, genial  manner  makes  him  many  friends, 
and  he  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact  either  in  business 
or  social  life. 


R.    PORTER    ^^■1LBER. 

Among-  the  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
O.xford  township  is  Porter  ^^''ilber,  who 
owns  and  operates  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  29.  He  was  born 
upon  that  place.  August  8.  1852,  and  is  a 
son  of  Robert  M.  ^^'ilber,  who  was  bom  in 
Rhode  Island,  in  1794.  His  ancestors  were 
of  Scotch  origin  and  among  the  Puritans 
who  first  settled  in  Rhode  Island.  His 
grandfather,  John  W'ilber.  was  a  native  of 
that  state  and  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Oneida 
county.  New  \'ork.  There  our  subject's  fa- 
ther was  reared  and  educated,  and  in  early 
life  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  He  was  married  in  that  county  to 
Hannah  Phelps,  and  in  1840  came  to  Illinois, 
locating  first  in  Warren  county,  becoming 
one  of  the  ])ioneer  preachers  of  the  western 
part  of  the  state.     In   1850  he  bought  land 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


529 


and  located  wliere  the  sun  now  resides,  and  in 
connection  with  iiis  farming'  operations  he 
continued  to  actively  ens^at;e  in  church  work 
in  Henry  and  adjoining  counties  lor  some 
years.  He  died  liere  September  4,  i<S6r,. 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  was  three  times  married,  his  second  wife 
being  Betsy  Wood,  a  nati\e  of  Xew  \'orl:, 
while  his  last  wife  and  the  mother  of  our 
subject  was  Martha  .S.  Clcxeland,  who  was 
born  in  Cirafton  county.  Xew  llam]ishirc. 
and  whom  he  married  in  W  iscon^^in.  Ity 
the  first  imion  he  had  two  children  who  are 
still  living,  Mrs.  Poily  Jenks,  a  widow  of 
Warren  county,  Illinois:  and  Celinda,  wife  of 
Edwin  Bundy.  of  P.edford,  Iowa.  Of  the 
seven  children  I)orn  of  the  second  marriage 
tliree  still  sur\i\e.  namelv:  L\-dia  .\.,  a  resi- 
lient of  Maryxille,  .Missouri:  .\.  J.,  of  Rc- 
]nil:)lic  count}'.  Kau>as ;  and  Elmira  Dixou.  of 
Henry  county,  Illinois.  Two  sons  gave  up 
their  lives  on  the  altar  of  their  country  dur- 
ing the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  war,  these 
being  Benjamin  W'.,  who  died  at  New  Or- 
leans: and  John  .M..  who  was  killed  in  a 
charge  on  A'icksburg.  Our  suliject  is  the 
oldest  of  the  three  children  born  of  the  third 
marriage,  the  others  being  Cynthia  and 
Ralph  -M.  rile  latter  i>  married  and  resides 
in  .\lpha.  ("xntliia  was  married  Xox'emlx'r 
,iO.  T'SjO.  to  Warren  Huey,  and  located  at 
Xew  Windsor,  where  he  died  February  12, 
1882,  leaving  one  son,  \'ernon,  who  assists 
his  uncle  in  the  operation  of  the  farm,  while 
Mrs.  Huey  keeps  house  for  her  brother. 

.\fter  the  death  of  his  father  Porter  Wil- 
ber  remained  at  home  with  his  mother,  and 
assisted  her  in  carrying  ou  the  phice.  1  le  suc- 
ceeded to  the  old  homestead,  and  since  i88j 
his  sister.  Mrs.  Huey.  has  been  his  house- 
keeper as  previously  stated.  They  both  hold 
meml)ership  in  the  Haptist  Church  at  .Mplui. 


and  Mr.  Wilber  is  also  connected  with  the 
Xew  Windsor  lo,lge.  I.  O.  O.  I',  lie  has 
affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party  since 
casting  his  hrst  presidential  vote  for  Samuel 
J.  Tilden  in  1876,  but  at  local  elections 
where  no  issue  is  involved  he  usually  votes 
for  the  nian  whom  he  believes  best  ((uali- 
lied  to  fill  the  office,  regardless  of  party 
line^j. 


CHARLES  P.  ROOS. 

.\mong  th.e  enterprising,  progressive  and 
energetic  farmers  of  Loraine  township  is 
numbered  Charles  P.  Roos,  who  is  following 
his  chosen  occupation  on  section  18,  where 
he  ojierates  a  valual)le  farm  of  three  hundred 
acres  of  his  father's,  besides  one  hundred 
and  thirt_\'-eight  acres  of  his  own  in  section 
10,  elegantly  impro\'ed  with  substantial 
buildings.  He  was  Ijorn  in  that  township 
on  the  1st  of  Xo\  ember,  i8fK),  and  through- 
out his  actix'e  Inisiness  life  has  been  promi- 
nently identifietl  with  its  agricultural  in- 
terests. 

Jacol)  Roos,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Prussia,  (iermauy,  .\ugust  30,  1837. 
and  was  sixteen  }'ears  of  age  when  he  came 
to  the  new  world  with  his  father,  I'hilip 
Koos,  and  took  u])  his  residence  in  Loraine 
township,  this  county.  During  the  gold  ex- 
c'tement  at  I 'ikes  Peak,  he  went  to  Colorado 
in  1859,  and  engaged  in  teaming  from  Den- 
\'er  to  the  mountains  until  the  Civil  war 
bnrke  out.  when  he  enlistetl  in  the  l'"irst  Col- 
iirado  Cavalry,  and  remained  in  the  service 
until  the  cessation  of  hostilities.  He  was 
mostly  engaged  in  lighting  Indians  on  the 
frontier,  .\fter  receiving  his  discharge  he 
remained  in  Colnrado  about  two  year>  and 
then  returned  to  this  connlv  and  turned  his 


530 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he 
met  with  marked  success,  becoming  owner  of 
five  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  fine  farm- 
ing land. .  He  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
Geneseo,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  On  the 
25th  of  January.  1867.  he  married  Miss 
Rosina  Ott.  a  native  of  Cook  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  a  daughter  of  Casper  and  Eliza- 
"beth  Ott.  She  died  March  8.  1886.  andiwas 
laid  to  rest  in  Loraine  cemetery.  ]\Ir.  Roos 
v.as  again  married,  in  October.  1900.  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Ella  McGowan. 

Charles  P.  Roos  is  the  oldest  of  the  eight 
children  born  of  the  first  marriage,  the  others 
Leing  as  follows:  Joseph  C.  married  Lotta 
Smith,  and  lives  on  a  farm  adjoining  our 
subject's  place;  Louisa  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Rader.  whose  farm  also  adjoins  that  of 
our  subject;  Albert  died  in  infancy:  Kate  M. 
is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Heller,  who  lives  on  a 
part  of  the  old  Heller  homestead  in  Loraine 
township ;  William  H.  is  in  the  employ  of  the 
Deere  Corn  Planter  Company  of  Rock  Isl- 
and: and  Carrie  M.  and  Martha  are  both 
with  their  father  in  Geneseo. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Charles 
P.  Roos  attended  the  district  schools  near 
his  home,  and  when  his  education  was  com- 
pleted he  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his 
labors  on  the  farm.  He  has  always  engaged 
in  general  farming  since  starting  in  life  for 
himself.  and  is  interested  in  the  breeding  of 
tb.oroughbred  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle,  of 
which  he  has  a  fine  herd.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  purchased  an  interest  with  his 
father  in  a  horse-power  threshing  machine, 
and  later  engaged  in  operating  the  same  in 
partnership  with  Louis  Lenzer  for  three 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  Mr.  Lenzer 
sold  out  to  Edward  Sommers.  This  connec- 
tion also  continued  three  years,  when  his 
brother.   Joseph,   purchased    Mr.    Summers' 


interest,  which  he  subsec|uently  sold  to  John 
P(ipi>enthien.  Our  subject  was  in  partner- 
ship with  the  last  named  gentleman  for  three 
years,  and  since  that  time  has  engaged  in 
business  alone,  operating  a  steam  thresher, 
corn  sheller,  saw.  grist  and  sorghum  mills 
quite  successfully.  He  is  a  wide-awake,  en- 
ergetic business  man.  of  known  reliability, 
and  carries  forward  to  successful  completion 
\v  hatever  he  undertakes. 

At  Geneseo,  on  the  nth  of  February. 
1892.  Mr.  Roos  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Barbara  Gerstner,  a  daughter  of  \^al- 
■  entine  and  Margaret  (Marsengarb)  Gerst- 
ner, natives  of  Germany,  who  came  to  Amer- 
ica, in  1870,  and  located  in  Geneseo,  where 
they  spent  one  year.  The  father  was  then 
successfullv  engaged  in  farming  in  this 
county  until  1898.  when  he  returned  to  Gen- 
eseo. and  has  since  lived  a  retired  life.  His 
children  are  Susan,  at  home;  Eva.  wife  of 
John  F.  Poppenthein,  of  Geneseo;  Barbara, 
wife  of  our  subject;  Johnnie,  at  home;  Mag- 
gie, wife  of  William  Santee.  of  Phenix  town- 
ship.  this  county:  Katie,  wife  of  Luther  Hen- 
ander.  of  Geneseo :  Dena.  twin  sister  of  Ka- 
tie, at  home;  Elizabeth.  Mary  and  Emma,  all 
at  home.  Two  children  were  lx)rn  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Roos :  Neva  Erman,  who  was  born 
May  6.  1895,  and  died  March  24,  1899;  and 
a  son,  born  May  10,  1900. 


EZRA  LITTEX. 

Ezra  Litten  is  a  thorough  and  skillful 
farmer  and  a  business  man  of  more  than  or- 
dinary capacity,  who  is  successfull}-  carry- 
ing on  his  chosen  calling  on  section  ^;^.  Wel- 
ler  township.  A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  his 
birth  occurred  in  Fulton  countv,  that  state. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


531 


January  i,  1834,  liis  parents  being  John  and 
Sophia  (Knable)  Litten.  The  former  was 
born  in  Maryland  of  Enghsh  ancestry,  llic 
hitter  in  Pennsylvania  of  German  extraction. 
Both  died  in  the  Keystone  state.  By  occupa- 
tion the  father  was  a  farmer,  and  in  religious 
belief  was  a  Methodist.  He  gave  his  sujjport 
to  the  Democratic  party  l)ut  never  took  any 
active  part  in  political  matters.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  about  sixty-nine  years 
of  age.  Of  his  thirteen  children  three  died 
in  infancy,  and  Wilson  and  Catherine  died 
during  the  Civil  war,  aged  twelve  and  fnur- 
tcen  years,  respectively.  The  others  were  as 
follows:  Ezra,  our  subject;  Richmond,  who 
served  in  a  Maryland  regiment  during  the 
Civil  war  and  died  in  Kansas  in  1885  :  Isaac, 
of  W'eller  township,  this  county;  Sarah  J., 
wife  of  Hillery  Dawson,  of  Morgan  county, 
West  Virginia;  John,  a  resident  of  Kansas; 
Thomas,  who  resides  in  Pennsylvania;  and 
Malachi.  who  lives'  near  the  old  homestead 
iri  Penns\-lvania;  and  Jared,  who  died  in 
1877. 

Reared  in  his  native  state,  Ezra  Litten 
received  a  good  common  school  education  for 
those  days,  but  his  advantages  were  much  in- 
ferior to  those  of  most  boys  at  the  present 
time.  He  remained  on  the  home  farm  until 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  and  then  went  to 
Ohio,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm  hantl  for 
two  years.  In  i860  he  came  to  Henry  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  lie  had  previously  visited  this 
slate  in  1855,  but  after  spending  a  short  time 
in  Knox  county  he  returned  to  his  Pennsyl- 
\ania  home.  In  Ilem-y  county  he  engaged  i:i 
farming  until  after  the  inauguration  of  the 
Ci\'il  war. 

In  August.  1862,  'Slv.  Litten  joined  the 
boys  in  blue  of  Company  G,  (3ne  Hundred 
and  Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
was  ill  the  tlrst  four  months  after  enterinL"" 


the  army,  but  after  that  was  in  active  service 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  taking  part  in 
some  of  the  most  important  engagements  of 
the  war,  including  the  battles  of  Resaca, 
Georgia;  Columbia,  Tennessee;  Franklin, 
Tennessee:  and  Xashville.  Tennessee;  ilon- 
ticello  and  Richmond,  Kentucky;  Calhoun, 
I'hiladelphia,  Campbell's  Station  and  Knox- 
ville, "Tennessee;  and  was  with  General 
Sherman  all  through  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
He  was  under  command  of  Generals  Thom- 
as and  Burnsides  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee 
in  1864;  and  was  with  General  Schofield  in 
Xorth  Carolina  in  18O5.  He  participated  in 
one  lumdred  and  ten  .skirmishes,  and  was 
sligbtl}'  wounded  at  Utoy  Creek  in  August, 
1864.  On  the  cessation  of  hostilities  he  was 
mustered  out  at  Greensboro,  North  Carolina, 
Jtme  20,  1865,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Chicago. 

Returning  to  Ilenrv  county  Mr.  Litten 
resinned  farming,  and  in  1868  purchased  a 
farm  of  eight}'  acres  in  Weller  township,  to 
which  he  has  since  atlded  se\enty  acres,  all 
unimproved  when  it  came  into  his  possession. 
He  has  since  tiled  the  land  and  placed  it 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  has 
erected  good  and  substantial  buildings  there. 
Lie  carries  on  general  farming  and  stockrais- 
ing,  making  a  specialty  of  cattle  and  hogs  for 
market  purposes. 

In  1866  Mr.  Litten  was  iniiled  in  mar- 
riage with  Aliss  Ivhoda  Hess,  who  was  al- 
S(^  born  in  Pulton  count}-,  Penn.sylvania,  in 
1836,  their  m;uriage  being  celebrated  there. 
Her  parents.  Stillwell  and  Asenith  Hess, 
spent  their  entire  li\es  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  all  her  relatives  live  with  exception  ot 
two  sisters  in  Kansas.  Mr.  and  Airs.  Lit- 
ten have  three  children ;  Abbie  Asenith, 
born  in  1868,  was  married,  Deceml>er  18. 
1900,  to  John   I'^  Johnson,  of  Knox  coun- 


532 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ty;  John  Howard,  born  in  iS/2,  is  on  tlie 
home  farm:  and  Thomas  J.  H.,  born  in 
iH^cS.  is  learning-  telegraphy  in  Galva.  All 
ha\e  receix'ed  good  common  school  educa- 
tions. Mr.  Litten  has  held  some  school 
office  for  many  years,  but  takes  no  part  in 
politics,  though  he  is  willing  to  aid'  any 
enterprise  for  the  public  good.  His  wife  is 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  both 
are  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all  who 
ha\-e  the  pleasure  of  their  acquaintance. 


WILLIAM  L.  CLAY. 

Henry  county  has  no  more  enterprising 
or  skillful  farmer  than  the  gentleman  whose 
name  introduces  this  sketch.  He  is  the 
owner  of  much  ^"aluable  property,  includ- 
ing his  home  place  of  three  hundred  and 
seventy  acres  on  section  35,  Oxford  town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Chester,  Windsor 
county,  A'ermont,  August  29,  1831,  and  is 
a  worthy  representative  of  an  old  colonial 
family  which  was  founded  in  this  coimtry 
by  three  brothers,  natives  of  England,  who 
crossed  the  Atlantic  during  the  seven- 
teenth century.  One  of  these  located  in 
^lassachusetts.  the  second  in  North  Caro- 
lina and  the  third  in  Virginia.  From  the 
first  our  subject  is  descended.  His  pater- 
nal grandfather,  Timothy  Clay,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts  and  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Chester,  Vermont.  As'  a  poor 
man  with  an  ax  upon  his  shoulder  he  went 
to  that  place,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  wil- 
tlerness  made  for  himself  and  famih-  a 
liome. 

John  L.  Cla_\-.  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  October  3,  1802,  in  the  same  house 
where  occurred  the  birth  of  \\'illiam  L.    He 


grew  to  manhood  in  Chester,  and  married 
Miss  Lousia  M.  Balch.  a  native  of  Andover 
township, \\'indsor  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
Joel  Balch,  who  was  also  from  }ilassachu- 
setts,  and  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812. 
Her  grandfather.  Hart  Balch,  aided  the  col- 
onies in  their  struggle  for  independence  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  remaining  in  the  ser 
\  ice  from  the  battle  of  Lexington  until  the 
surrender  at  Yorktown.      He,   too,   was   a 
pioneer  of  the  Green  Mountain  state.    Af- 
ter his  marriage  John  L.  Clay  operated  the 
old  homestead  for  some  years  and  there  all 
of  his  children  were  born,  his  familv  being 
composed  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter. 
In  1837  he  went  to  Knox  county,  Illinois, 
and  helped  to  raise  the  first  house  built  at 
Galesburg.      Purchasing  land   he    and    his 
familv  took  up  their  residence  there  in  1840. 
At  the  time  Galesburg  contained  only  one 
store,  two  blacksmith  shops,  Knox  Acade- 
my, and  about  thirty-seven  houses.    There 
he  prospered  in  his  farming  operations  and 
became  the  owner  of   four   hundred   acres 
of  valuable  land,  upon  which  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  dying  there  in  1878, 
at   the   ripe  old   age   of   seventy-six   years. 
His  wife  survived  him  a  number  of  years, 
dying  in  1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight. 
At  the  age  of   nine  years  AMlliam   L. 
Cla}-  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and 
spent  his  early  life  in  Knox  county,  remain- 
ing with  his  father  until  1854,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  half  section  of   raw  prairie  land 
on  section    35,    Oxford    township,    Henry 
county,  where  he  now  resides.     Lpon  his 
p'ace  he  erected  a  little  house,  in  which  he 
lived  alone  while    breaking    his  land    and 
])lacing  it  under  cultivation.     Subsequently 
he   built   a   more   commodious   and   preten- 
tious dwelling-;  a  large  barn   and  substan- 
tial outbuildings,   and   he  has  also   set  out 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


533 


shade  and  fruit  trees,  wlricli  add  greatly 
to  tlie  attracti\e  a])])earance  of  the  place. 
Throughout  lii.s  business  career  he  has  fol- 
lowed stock  raising-  in  connection  with  his 
farming;  operations,  and  always  keeps  on 
hand  a  high  grade  of  stock.  Besides  his 
home  farm,  now  consisting  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  Oxford  township, 
Henry  county,  he  owns  an  adjoining  tract 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Knox 
county;  two  farms  aggregating  four  hun- 
dred acres  in  ^'ork  coimt}-,  Nebraska ;  and 
one  hundred  and  si\t\'  acres  in  W  arren 
county,  Illinois.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent 
business  ability  and  sound  judgment,  and 
to  these  characteristics  may  be  attrilnited  his 
wonderful  success. 

At  Knoxville,  Illinois.  Mr.  Clay  was 
married,  November  22,  1854,  to  Miss  Har- 
riet A.  Davison,  who  was  born  in  Ohio, 
but  was  reared  in  Knox  county,  this  state, 
of  which  her  father,  Artenius  Da\ison, 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers.  She  died  in 
February,  1868,  lea\ing  two  children,  name- 
ly: Seth  H..  who  now  resides  in  Cam- 
bridge; and  Mary  L..  wife  of  E.  J.  Rich- 
ards, who  is  engaged  in  farming  on  the 
Clay  homestead.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Clay  married  Miss  .\nn  M.  Johnson.  \\\v> 
\vas  born  in  Sweden,  but  reared  in  this 
county.  By  this  union  there  are  three 
children:  Fannie  M.,  wife  of  H.  M.  Wil- 
sey,  of  Galesburg:  Warren  L.,  at  home; 
and  Eugenia  Marion,  wife  of  Frank  Welch. 
a  farmer  of  Knox  county. 

Politically  Mr.  Clay  is  a  Jeffersonian 
Democrat,  and  has  never  failed  to  cast  his 
ballot  for  each  presidential  nominee  of  that 
party  since  he  first  voted  in  1852  for  I">ank- 
lin  Pierce.  He  has  ne\'er  cared  fi>r  politi- 
cal honors,  preferring  to  give  his  undivid- 
ed  attention   to   his   extensive   business   in- 


terests. IVaternally  he  is  a  Royr>l  .\rch 
Mas<in.  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge  at 
Woodhull  and  the  chapter  at  Rio.  I-'or 
sixty  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
section  of  the  state,  and  has  watched  with 
interest  its  wonderful  growth  and  develop- 
ment. He  has  seen  the  great  prairie  fire 
which  used  to  sweep  over  the  country,  en- 
dangering the  life  and  iimpcrty  of  the  earlv 
settlers,  and  can  well  remember  when  rail- 
roads, telegraphs  and  telephones  were  un- 
known in  this  region,  but  now  all  has 
changed,  and  all  the  conveniences  an<l  ac- 
cessories of  an  advanced  civilization  have 
been  introduced.  In  the  work  of  develop- 
ment and  upbuilding  he  has  ever  bore  his 
part,  and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  all 
enterprises  calculated  to  adxance  the  gen- 
eral welfare.  He  is  widely  and  fa\orably 
known  in  both  Henry  and  Kiiox  counties, 
and  is  one  i>f  the  leading  and  prominent 
citizens  of  his  comnnmitv. 


JAMES  RILEY. 

James  Riley  lielongs  to  that  class  of 
men  whom  the  world  terms  self-made,  for 
starting  out  in  life  for  himself  emptv- 
handed  he  has  conquered  all  the  obstacles 
in  the  ])ath  to  success,  and  has  not  only  se- 
cured for  himself  a  handsome  competence. 
but  by  his  efforts  has  materially  advanced 
the  interests  of  the  community  with  which 
he  has  been  associated.  For  almost  half  a 
ccntmy  he  was  one  of  the  active  and  ener- 
getic farmers  of  Henry  county,  but  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  .\tkinson. 

Mr.  Riley  was  bo.rn  in  Licking  coiuitv. 
Ohio,  July  JO,  1824.  a  .son  of  Paul  and 
Elizabeth  ( Laughlin  I  Riley,  natives  of 
PennsyKania  and  pioneers  of  Licking 
countv,  Ohio,  whence  thev  came  to  Illinois 


534 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  1835,  tlie  journey  being  made  In-  team. 
Locating  in  Bureau  county,  tiie  fatiier 
opened  up  a  farm  on  the  present  site  of 
Sheffield,  but  later  sold  that  place  to  the 
railroad  company  and  bought  another,  on 
which   he   s])ent   the   remainder   of   his   life. 

James  Riley  was  a  lad  of  ten  years  when 
he  removed  with  the  family  to  Bureau 
county,  and  there  h-  grew  to  manhood. 
On  the  25th  of  May,  1848,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  w'ith  ]\Iiss  Sarah  Ann  Dunbar,  who 
was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  1828. 
Her  father.  Hiram  Dunl^ar,  was  Imru  and 
reared  in  Licking  county.  Ohio,  and  there 
married  Jemima  \\'olf,  aLo  a  native  of  the 
Buckeye  state.  In  1836  they  brought  their 
family  to  Illinois,  and  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  Putnam  county,  where  Mr.  Dun- 
bar first  worked  at  the  carpenter's  and 
wheelwright's  trades,  and  later  turned  his 
attention  to  farming.  Subsequently  he  re- 
sided in  Henry  county  for  some  years,  and 
then  remoxed  to  Kansas,  where  his  death 
occurred,  though  his  remains  were  brought 
back  to  Geneseo.  this  county,  for  interment. 
His  wife  still  survi\es  him  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-three  years,  and  makes  lier 
home  w"ith  a  son  in  Atkinson. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs'.  Riley  were  born  the 
following  children :  Jemima  married  Ben- 
jamin McCloud  and  died  leaving  three 
children;  Mary  Elizabeth  died  at  the  age 
of  three  years:  William,  a  retired  farmer 
of  Atkinson:  Hiram,  who  is  married  and 
resides  with  his  parents :  EUery,  who  is 
married  and  is  now  operating  a  coal  shaft 
on  his  father's  place;  Laura,  wife  of  Vic- 
tor McCullough,  of  Calhoun  county,  Iowa ; 
Alice,  wife  of  John  Xowers,  a  merchant  of 
Atkinson ;  and  Nellie,  w'ho  died  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Riley  was  en- 
gaged   in    farming   in   Bureau   countv   until 


1854,  when  he  came  to  Henry  county  and 
purchased  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
wild  land  in  Cornwall  township,  which  he 
broke,  fenced  and  improved,  transforming 
it  into  a  fine  farm.  He  continued  the  oper- 
atinon  of  that  land  until  1882.  wdien  he 
rented  the  place  and  bought  a  tract  of  for- 
ty acres  where  he  now-  resides.  Since  then 
he  has  practically  lived  a  retired  life,  enjoy- 
ing the  fruits  of  former  toil.  Twelve  acres 
of  his  land  has  been  laid  out  in  tow^n  lots, 
forming  an  addition  to  Atkinson.  Under- 
lying his  farm  is  a  good  grade  of  coal  in 
three  x'eins,  and  his  sons  have  sunk  a  shaft 
and  engaged  in  mining  for  the  past  six 
years. 

Prior  to  the  Civil  war  IMr.  Riley  was'  a 
stanch  Abolitionist,  and  was  connected  with 
Owen  Lovejoy  in  his  w-ork  to  abolish  sla- 
^•ery.  He  feels  a  just  pride  in  his  eflforts  to 
assist  the  poor  negroes'  to  gain  their  free- 
dom, and  loyally  did  he  stand  by  Lovejoy 
in  the  trying  days  preceding  the  Rebellion. 
On  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  he  joined  its  ranks,  voting  for  Fre- 
mont in  1856  and  Lincoln  in  i860  and 
1864.  Being-  a  strong  temperance  man  and 
believing  that  the  principles  of  prohibition 
to  be  the  most  important  issue  before  the 
people  of  to-day,  he  now  supports'  the  Pro- 
hiljition  party.  For  some  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board  in  his  district, 
but  has  never  cared  for  political  honors. 
He  and  his  familv  are  members  of  the  Free 
]\Iethodist  Church,  and  are  held  in  warm 
regard  by  all  who  know  them. 


JAMES  :\IACHESXEY. 

Prominent  among  the  agriculturalists  of 
Henry  county  is  James  IMachesne}',  who  for 
almost  half  a  centurv    has    been    identified 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLh. 
URBANA 


JAMES   MACHESNEY. 


MRS.  JAMES  MACHESNEY. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSIlIf  Ul-  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


537 


Avitli  her  growth  ami  ile\clopmeiU.  while 
his  name  is  inseparalily  cunnected  with  her 
farming  interests.  He  is  a  man  of  keen  dis- 
crimination and  sound  judgment,  and  his 
executive  ability  and  excellent  management 
have  brought  to  liini  a  high  degree  of  suc- 
cess, so  that  he  is  now  the  largest  land  owner 
of  .\nnawan  township. 

A  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  AIacb.es- 
ney  was  born  in  (ireensburg.  Westmoreland 
C(junty,  .Marcii  17,  1817.  his  parents  being- 
Andrew  and  Alary  (Henders(jn)  Alaches- 
ney.  The  father  was  born  in  Ireland  and 
vas  four  years  of  age  when  brought  by  his 
parents  to  .\merica  in  1786.  The  grand- 
father William  Machesney.  spent  the  remain- 
iler  of  his  life  in  Westmoreland  county, 
TennsyKania,  where  lie  died  about  1825. 
His  wife  had  pre\'iously  passed  awav.  both 
being  (]uite  old  at  the  time  of  their  death. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  Their  fam- 
ily consisted  of  si.x  children,  namely :  John, 
who  spent  liis  early  life  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  then  removed  to  Ohio :  Andrew,  the 
father  of  our  subject;  William,  who  made 
his  home  in  Westmoreland  county.  Penn- 
sylvania, until  death;  Elizabeth,  who  became 
the  wife  of  David  AIcElvane,  of  Butler 
county,  Pennsylvania;  Margaret,  and  one 
other  daughter,  both  deceased. 

Throughout  his  active  business  career 
Andrew  Machesney  also  followed  the  voca-. 
tion  of  a  farmer.  For  two  years  lie  li\'ed 
in  Ohio,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  returned 
to  \\"estmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
died  at  his  home  near  Greensburg,  in  1864, 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-two  years.  His 
wife  died  in  January,  1868,  at  about  the  age 
of  seventy-two.  She  was  a  native  of  the  Key- 
stone state  and  of  Scotch  descent.  Tliey 
were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children.  John 
was    a    farmer    of    Westmoreland    count v, 


where  be  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six; 
William  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, but  in  his  declining  years  came  west  to 
live  with  a  daughter  in  Colfax,  Iowa,  where 
he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight;  Andrew 
died  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, at  the  same  age;  Jane  became  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Dunkin,  of  that  county,  and  later 
nioved  to  Marion,  Indiana  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  died  several  years  ago, 
and  where  she  is  still  living;  Alexander  is 
still  a  resident  of  Westmoreland  county; 
James,  our  subject,  is  next  in  order  of  birth ; 
Henderson  died  in  Westmoreland  county, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-six;  Mary  wedded  Ar- 
chie Davis  and  died  in  Blairsville,  Indiana 
count}',  Pennsylvania,  at  the  age  of  about 
seventy;  Lewis  was  a  life-long  resident  of 
Peiins_\l\ania :  Alaragaret,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  John  Alower}-;  David  died  at  Grin- 
nell,  Iowa ;  Jackson,  deceased,  was  a  resident 
of  Pennsylvania;  and  Elizabeth  is  the  wife 
of  Henry  Lawbach,  of  Stewart,  Iowa. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  James  Ma- 
chesney grew  to  manhood,  and  is  indebted 
to  its  public  schools  for  his  educational 
privileges.  There  he  followed  farming  when 
his  school  days  were  over  until  coming  to 
Illinois  ill  1854  w^ith  his  brother,  David,  who 
was  a  physician.  In  the  winter  of  1855  they 
opened  a  drug  store  in  Annaw-an  at  the  loca- 
tion of  the  present  drug  store  at  that  place, 
and  carried  on  business  there  until  the  i6th 
i-if  March,  i860.  Since  then  our  subject  has 
engaged  in  farming,  and  has  converted  many 
a  wild  tract  into  highly  cultivated  fields. 
In  his  farming  operations  he  has  met  with 
remarkable  success,  and  is  now  the  owner 
of  eight  hundred  and  twent\'  acres  of  rich 
and  productive  land,  upon  which  he  has 
erected  good  and  substantial  buildings. 
Mrs.  Machesney  is  also  the  owner  of  a  farm 


538 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Anna- 
wan  townsliip.  He  now  rents  most  of  his 
property.  His  residence  is  pleasantly  lo- 
cated on  section  29,  six  and  a  half  miles 
southwest  of  Annawan.  Prosperity  has  at- 
tended his  well-directed  efforts,  and  within 
the  past  four  years  he  has  purchased  twenty- 
two  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  land.  He 
has  never  given  a  mortgage  in  his  life. 

Mr.  Wachesne)'  was  married,  January 
30,  1861,  to  Mrs.  Selinda  Johnson,  a  native 
of  Tippecanoe  county^  Indiana.  Her  par- 
ents were  Silas  and  Sarah  (Henderson) 
Burgett,  natives  of  Ohio;  they  both  died  in 
Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Machesney  have  five 
children,  as  follows :  ]\Iar)'  Agnes,  wife  of 
Joseph  Anderson,  of  Annawan;  Anna  Ar- 
delia,  wife  of  James  E.  Douglas,  of  Anna- 
wan township;  James  H.,  who  married 
Minnie,  daughter  of  Robert  Booth,  of  An- 
nawan township,  and  lives  in  Annawan; 
Milton  Howard,  who  married  Densey 
Barton  and  resides  at  the  same  place;  and 
Morgan  Burgett,  who  married  Xora,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Batten,  of  Annawan. 

In  his  political  views.Mr.  Machesney  is 
a  stanch  Republican.  He  cast  his  first  pres- 
idential vote  for  Zachary  Taylor  and  has 
always  taken  a  deep  and  commendable  in- 
terest in  public  affairs,  although  he  has  never 
cared  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  pub- 
lic office,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time 
and  attention  to  his  extensive  business  in- 
terests. He  is  one  of  the  representative 
citizens  and  prominent  men  of  his  com- 
munity, and  is  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed wherever  known. 


FRANK  L.  HOUGH. 
Among  the  representative  business  men 
of  the  county  none  are  more  deserving  of 
representation  in  this  volume    than    Frank 


L.  Hough,  who  for  thirty  years  has  been 
actively  engaged  in  the  grain  business  in 
WoodhuU,  and  who  has,  through  his  well- 
directed  efforts,  gained  a  comfortable  com- 
petence that  numbers  him  among  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  the  community. 

A  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born  in 
^^larshall  county,  October  12,  1844,  and  is 
the  only  child  who  grew  to  maturity  of  the 
union  of  Rev.  Marshall  Hough  and  Ma- 
tilda flyers.  His  father  was  born  and 
reared  in  Greene  county,  Xew  York,  and 
when  a  young  man  came  to  Illinois.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  ilonticello  College  and 
was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  but  later  united  with  the  Univer- 
salist  Church  and  continued  in  the  minis- 
try of  the  latter  until  his  death  in  1847, 
when  our  subject  was  only  three  years  old. 
He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife 
had  two  children :  Baylis,  who  married 
and  settled  in  Iowa,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred; and  Mrs.  Eliza  S.  Leonard,  a  widow 
residing  in  Denver,  Colorado.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  also  married  twice,  her 
first  husband  being  Baplis  Garrison,  and 
tc  them  were  born  two  children :  William 
B.,  a  resident  of  Iowa;  and  Ada,  deceased. 

!Mrs.  Hough  was  born  in  \\'estmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  18 14,  and  came 
to  Illinois  about  1828  with  her  father,  Da- 
vid ilyers,  who  first  settled  in  Sangamon 
count)'  and  later  removed  to  ^larshall  coun- 
ty. She  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in 
a  farail)'  of  twelve  children,  all  of  whom 
married  and  reared  families  of  their  own. 
Besides  herself  four  of  the  number  are  still 
living,  these  being  Hiram,  who  was  born  in 
Illinois,  and  is  now  living  retired  in  Gales- 
burg;  ^Irs.  Dorinda  Ong,  a  resident  of  La- 
con,  Illinois;  ]Mrs.  Emily  Burnham  and 
JNlrs.    Eliza    Roberts,  both  of     Iowa.     Al- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


539 


ihnugii  eiglit_v-se\en  years  of  age.  Mrs. 
Hough  is  still  hale  and  hearty,  and  contin- 
ues ti)  act  as  lier  son's  housekeeper. 

During  his  early  lite  Frank  L.  Hough 
>pent  three  _\ears  with  his  sisters  in  Ottum- 
\\a.  Liwa,  hut  in  the  fall  of  1858  returned 
111  Galesburg,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated,  completing  his  studies  at  Lom- 
liard  University.  In  i860  he  taught  one 
term  of  school  in  Iowa,  and  then  embarked 
in  the  grain  business  at  Galesburg,  wnich 
lie  carried  on  at  that  place  for  three  years, 
hi  1870  he  came  to  Woodhull,  and  has 
since  engaged  in  the  grain  business  at  this 
place,  having  erected  a  large  elevator  and  a 
good  brick  office.  He  owns  or  leases  ele- 
\ators  at  Alplia,  Opheim,  Lynn,  Orion, 
\'iola  and  Xew  Windsor,  and  probably  does 
the  largest  business  of  any  dealer  in  the 
county.  By  fair  and  honorable  dealing  he 
iias  built  up  an  excellent  trade,  and  has  be- 
con>e  one  of  the  most  prosperous  citizens 
(if  the  community.  He  has  inxested  his 
cajiital  in  real  estate,  (iwning  two  hundred 
acres  in  Knox  county,  ami  with  Judge 
Bigelow,  of  Galva,  bought  sixty  acres  ad- 
joining the  village,  which  was  laid  out  and 
kuiiwn  as  Bigelow  &  Hough's  adtlition  to 
the  village  of  Woodhull.  This  has  been 
well  sold  and  settled  up.  He  is  also  inter- 
ested in  other  real  estate.  He  started  mit 
in  life  for  himself  empty-handed,  and  his 
success  is  due  entirel}'  to  his  diligence, 
perseverance  and  good  management. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Air.  Hough 
has  supported  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  is  accounted  mie  of 
niost  i)rogressive  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zens of  his  community.  He  has  served  as 
a  member  of  the  town  board,  but  has  never 
sought  political  honors.  Fraternally  he  is 
a  Master    Mastm.  having    united  with    the 


order  at  Woodhull.  His  mother  is  an  ear- 
nest member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  a  most  estimable  lady. 


WILLIAAI  KIEXE. 

(jermany  has  contributed  a  large  quota 
of  the  sturdy,  energetic  agriculturists  of 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  among  them 
are  to  be  found  men  of  sterling  worth  and 
integrity,  who  have  succeeded  in  life 
through  their  own  industry  and  persever- 
ance. To  this  class'  belongs  the  subject  of 
this  re\iew,  who  is  now  a  well-to-do  farm- 
er residing  on  section  12,  Loraine  town- 
shi]). 

Ml'.  Kicne  was  born  on  the  7th  of 
March.  1S4O,  in  Hanover,  Germany,  of 
which  pmvincc  his  parents,  Henry  and 
Fredereka  (Sien)  Kiene,  were  also  natives. 
The  father,  who  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade, 
died  in  that  country  al)Out  1S60,  and  the 
muther  departed  this  life  in  1S92.  They 
had  three  children:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  W'ill- 
iani  Myer,  of  Germany;  William,  our  sub- 
ject ;  and  Charles,  who  is  married  and  lives 
in  Germany. 

Reared  in  the  land  of  his  birth,  Air. 
Kiene  is  indebted  to  its  public  schools  for 
his  educational  advantages.  Bidding 
good-bv  to  home  and  friends  in  1869,  he 
took  passage  on  a  steamer  at  Bremen,  and 
after  a  voyage  of  tw-enty'-one  days  landed 
in  Xew  Orleans,  whence  he  came  up  the 
Mississippi  river  to  Davenport,  Iowa.  His 
destination,  was  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
and  on  reaching  Geneseo,  in  the  evening, 
he  was  so  tired  out  that  he  fell  asleep  in 
the  deixjt  and  did  not  awaken  until  the  fol- 
lowing mornine  at  nine.     During  the  first 


540 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sixteen  nmnths  (jf  liis  residence  here  lie 
\\i irked  fur  George  Arnett,  and  later  was 
in  the  emplciy  of  (j.  (jraft  and  Charles  Zy- 
jer  for  one  vear  each. 

On  the  1 6th  of  P'ehruary.  1873,  Mr. 
Kienc  married  Miss  Frances  'Idiurwenger, 
of  (ieneseii,  a  danghter  of  ]\Iark  and  h'liza- 
htth  (Linninger)  Thnrwenger.  wlm  emi- 
grated to  Henry  county  from  Germany  in 
1868.  The  father  died  in  1893,  the  mother 
in  1886,  both  in  Loraine  township.  She 
was  the  oldest  of  their  three  children,  the 
others  being  Kate,  wife  of  Antonia  Syler, 
of  Kewanee :  and  Jacob,  who  is  also  mar- 
ried and  li\-es  in  Kewanee.  ?klr.  and  ^Irs. 
Kiene  are  the  parents  of  five  children, 
namely  :  (  i  )  I'rank.  born  November  lO, 
1873.  is  a  resident  of  Loraine  township. 
He  married  Flora  Egert  and  the}-  ha\c  two 
children.  Francis  and  Burton.  (2)  IMary, 
born  April  6,  1874,  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Ken- 
wick,  (if  Bartlett,  Nebraska,  and  they  have 
twii  children,  I'hilip  and  an  infant.  (3) 
Katie,  horn  .\ugust  6,  1876,  is  the  wife  of 
I'^rank  h^gert.  of  Kewanee,  and  they  have 
one  child,  William  yi.  (4)  I'hilip,  l)orn 
February  20.  1885.  is  attending  the  home 
school.      (5)    Otto  died  in  infancy. 

For  four  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Kiene  operated  a  rented  farm,  and  in  1876 
purchased  seventy-five  acres  of  land  on 
section  12,  Loraine  township,  for  which  he 
paid  seventeen  hundred  dollars'.  The  im- 
pro\-enients  upon  the  place  at  that  time  were 
verv  slight.  InU  through  his  untiring  labors 
and  good  management  he  has  made  it  one 
of  the  best  farms  of  the  locality,  having 
added  to  the  original  purchase  until  now  it 
comprises  one  hundred  and  thirt}-fi\e 
acres  of  well-improved  land.  On  coming 
to  this  country  he  was  entirely  unfamiliar 
with  the  English  language  and  knew  noth- 


ing of  farm  work,  and  the  success  that  he 
has  achieved  is  certainly  well  merited.  His 
knowledge  of  his  chosen  occupation  has 
lieen  gained  by  experience,  and  he  is  to-day 
a  thorough  and  systematic  farmer.  He  al- 
st  raises  stock  for  the  market.  For  a  num- 
ber of  )-ears  he  has  filled  the  office  of  school 
director,  and  has  alwa^'s  taken  a  commenda- 
ble interest  in  public  affairs.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  Brooks  Camp,  Xo.  225, 
M.  W.  A.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Lu- 
theran, while  his  wife  holds  membership  in 
the  Catholic  Church. 


SWAN  T.  OLSOX. 

Although  an  adopted  son  of  America, 
the  coiuitry  has  no  more  patriotic  or  loyal  I 
citizen  than  Swan  T.  Olson,  who  fought  | 
for  the  preserA-ation  din-ing-  the  dark  days 
of  the  Rebellion,  and  is  to-day  an  honored 
citizen  of  AVoodhull,  Illinois.  He  was  born 
in  Blekingelan,  Lister  Herrad  Gammaes- 
tcrp  Socken,  Sweden,  March  3,  1838,  a 
son  of  Truedson  and  Celia  (Trulson) 
Olson,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1867. 
The  mother  died  November  8,  1867.  at  the 
age  of  about  sixty  years,  and  the  father  de- 
parted this  life  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  eighty. 

Coming  to  the  new  world  in  1856, 
Swan  T.  Olson  proceeded  at  once  to  Illinois, 
landing  in  Galesburg,  Knox  county,  on  the 
10th  of  -\ugnst.  He  had  the  misfortune 
to  l)reak  his  leg  on  the  first  day  spent  in 
that  cit}-.  After  his  recovery,  in  1837,  he 
commenced  work  on  the  farm  of  Judge 
b'erris.  west  of  Galesburg'.  and  remained  in 
his  employ  for  nearly  three  years.  He  con- 
tinued to  work  by  the  month  as  a  farm 
hand  until  the  Civil  war  broke  out. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


541 


Feeling  tliat  tlie  country  neetled  liis 
ser\-ices.  Mr.  Olson  enlisted  on  the  first 
call  in  1861,  but  the  coni])an\-  which  he 
joined  was  not  accepted  ;d  that  time.  In 
August  of  the  same  year  he  enlisted  in 
<I"om])an\-  C.  Forty-third  Illinois  \'olunteer 
Infantry,  as  a  ];ri\ate,  it  being  a  Swedish 
coni])any  which  was  organized  at  Camp 
Hutler.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
W  estern  army,  and  was  first  engaged  in 
skirmishing  in  Missouri,  where  thev  spent 
the  winter.  The  following  spring  they 
went  to  hurt  llenrv.  and  from  there  to 
I'ort  Donelson.  the  battle  being  mostly  over 
when  they  arrived  at  tlie  latter  ])lace.  They 
])articipated  in  the  engagements  :u  Shiloh, 
and  then  marched  to  Corinth,  and  was  in 
the  siege,  and  later  went  to  Jackson  and 
i5oii\-ar,  Tennessee.  They  w  ere  in  the  fight 
at  Salem  t.'emetery.  and  were  in  a  numlier 
of  skirmishes  around  Somerville,  Tennes- 
see. They  were  next  ordered  to  \'icksl)urg. 
hut  the  city  surrendered  l)efore  their  arri- 
\al.  They  had  previously  been  sent  to  Me- 
c]ianicsl)urg  to  burn  the  town,  and  after 
some  skirmishing  accomplished  their  ob- 
ject, after  which  the\-  cam])ed  at  Snyders 
Bluft'.  They  assisted  in  cajjturing  Little 
Rock,  .\rkansas.  and  later  were  engaged  in 
guard  duty  until  luustered  out.  The  regi- 
ment was  veteranized  and  .Mr.  Olson  was 
tiansferred  to  Company  .\.  He  received  an 
h.onorable  discharge  at  Springfield.  Illinois, 
in  December.  i8r)5.  and  tlien  returned  to 
his  home  with  a  war  record  of  which  he 
may  lie  just!}'  proud.  l"or  a  month  he  was 
confined  in  the  reginiental  hospital  near 
Little  Rock  by  illness,  and  then  sent  to  the 
general  hospital  at  Little  Rock,  where  he 
remained  until  able  to  rejoin  his  regiment. 

After  his  return  home  Mr.  Olson  lived 
•with  his  brother  at  W'oodhull.     lieing  in  ill 


health,  he  wws  unable  to  do  any  work  for 
some  time,  but  imrchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  of  his  brother  on  credit.  In  the  fall 
of  1866  he  returned  to  Sweden,  where  he 
spent  the  winter,  but  the  following  spring 
again  came  to  the  United  States,  bringing 
with  him  his  parents.  The  mother  died, 
howexer.  on  the  8th  of  Xo\-ember.  1867. 
( )ur  subject  locatetl  upon  his  present  farm 
;nid  later  added  to  it  an  adjoining  tract, 
making  a  good  f:'rm  of  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres  in  Oxford  townshi]).  which  he 
improved  and  i)laced  under  a  high  state 
t)f  cultivation.  He  continued  to  reside 
thereon  until  i8q6,  when  he  purchased  a 
residence  in  W'oodhull  and  has  since  made 
hiis  home  there.  His  long  and  arduous  ser- 
vice in  the  armv  so  imiiaired  his  health  that 
for  a  (piarter  of  a  century  he  has  been  al- 
most helpless,  and  has  had  no  use  of  his 
limbs  for  the  jjast  fifteen  years,  but  uses  a 
wheeling  chair.  .\s  a  sort  of  com])ensation 
he  now  receives  a  pension  of  seventy-two 
dollars  per  month  from  the  government. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1871.  Mr.  Olson 
married  Miss  Celia  Hokenson.  who  was 
born  in  Sweden  June  16,  1844.  and  was 
reared  in  the  same  neighborhod  as  her  bus- 
band.  She  came  to  America  and  joined 
some  relatixes  in  Galesburg,  Illinois.  July 
13.  1866.  Her  ])arents,  Hoken  Benson  and 
wife,  crossed  the  .Atlantic  in  1873  and  set- 
tled in  Kansas,  where  the  father  died.  Later 
thf  mother  made  her  home  with  Mrs.  Ol- 
son in  this  count}",  where  her  death  oc- 
curred May  2~.  1892.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olson 
have  five  children  living,  namely  :  Esther, 
wife  of  John  Franceen.  who  now  operates 
Mr.  Olson's  farm;  Emma  and  llattie.  both 
at  home;  Ella,  wife  of  Leon  lioughton,  a 
farmer  of  Henry  county;  and  Herman,  a 
lad  of  fourteen  vears,  who  is  attending  the 


542 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


home  school.  Three  children  are  deceased : 
Herman,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
months;  Clotelia,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
three  and  a  half  years;  and  a  son  who  died 
in   infancy. 

Mr.  Olson  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Lincoln  in  1864,  and  has  always  been 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  secured  his  naturalization  papers  after 
his  return  from  the  war.  and  filled  the  office 
of  school  director  for  a  time.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Swedish  Lu- 
theran Church,  and  are  highly  respected 
and  esteemed  bv  all  who  know  them. 


WILLIAM  O.  ALLISON. 

The  subject  of  this  review  owns  and 
successfully  operates  a  fine  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres  adjoining  the  corporate  lim- 
its of  Alpha,  and  is  also  actively  identified 
with  the  industrial  interests  of  that  town. 
A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  he  was  born  in 
Derry  township,  Westmoreland  coimt\'. 
January  28,  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew 
J.  Allison,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Arm- 
strong county,  that  state.  The  latter  is  a 
cousin  of  Senator  Allison,  of  Iowa,  and  a 
son  of  Squire  Allison.  In  his  native  coun- 
ty the  father  grew  to  manhood  and  married 
Miss  Susan  Dible,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  county.  Later  they  removed  to  a  farm 
in  \\'estmoreland  county,  where  they  still 
reside.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion  serving  as  a  member  of  Company 
E.  One  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Pennsylvania 
\''olunteer  Infantry.  He  was  present  at  Lee's 
surrender. 

William  O.  Allison  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm  and  had  but  limited  educational 
advantages    in    earlv    life.      In    Februarv, 


1876,  he  came  to  Henry  county.  Illinois, 
and  wiDrked  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month 
for  two  or  three  years.  At  Alpha,  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides,  he  was  married, 
L)ecember  17,  1878,  to  Miss  Phylinda  Pat- 
terson, who  was  born  on  that  place.  Her 
father,  O.  H.  Patterson,  was  one  of  tlie 
early  settlers  of  the  county,  and  from  a  tract 
of  wild  land  developed  the  farm  now  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Allison.  There  he  died  ^larch 
3.  1895.  and  his  wife  passed  awav  ^Nlav  2^. 
1893.  ' 

O.  H.  Patterson  was  born  in  Auster- 
litz,  Xew  York,  June  4,  1823,  and  he  there 
grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm  within  forty 
rods  of  the  ^lassachusetts  line.  \\'hile  still 
residing  there  he  married  his  first  wife. 
Coming  west,  he  located  in  Galesburg.  Illi- 
nois, where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  chain  pumps.  After  residing  there  about 
one  year  and  a  half,  in  the  spring  of  185 1 
he  came  to  Henry  county  and  purchased 
forty  acres  of  what  is  now  the  homestead 
at  Alpha,  on  which  he  built  and  otherwise 
improved.  His  first  wife  having  died,  he 
married  ^liss  ilargaret  Taze,  who  was 
from  A\'estmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania. 
To  his  original  forty  he  added  from  time  to 
time  until  he  had  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  which  he  greatly  improved,  and  on 
which  he  carried  on  general  farming  and 
stock  raiding.  Politically  he  was  first  a 
Whig,  then  a  Republican,  and  later  a  Pro- 
hibitionist. He  was  one  of  the  first  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Alpha,  and 
was  active  in  church  work,  serving  as  dea- 
con and  trustee  of  the  church..  He  left  only 
one  child,  ]\Irs.  Allison. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Al- 
lison lived  on  the  old  homestead,  and  Mr. 
Allison  assisted  in  carrying  on  the  farm, 
which  they  now  own.  and  which  comprises- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


543 


two  Inindreil  acres.  Tliey  also  own  another 
well-improved  place  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  In  1894  he  erected  a  large 
and  pleasant  residence,  and  has  also  built  a 
good  barn.  He  has  set  out  a  good  young 
orchard,  has  tiled  the  land  and  made  many 
other  improvements  which  add  greatly  to 
the  value  and  attractive  appearance  of  the 
place.  He  raises  a  good  grade  of  stock, 
and  also  owns  and  operates  the  Alpha 
broom  factory,  which  was  started  here  about 
ten  years  ago,  and  Mr.  Allison  has  been 
buying  the  stock  until  he  now  owns  it  all. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allison  have  a  family  of 
five  sons,  namely:  Ira  D.,  Harry  O.,  Fred 
C,  Raymond  A.  and  \\'esley  Merritt.  Since 
attaining  his  majority  our  subject  has  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
h  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  principles.  He 
served  four  years  as  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Oxford  township,  but  has  never  cared  for 
lK)litical  honors,  preferring  to  give  his  un- 
divided attention  to  his  business  interests. 
He  is  an  active  and  prominent  member  of 
tlie  Al[)ha  Baptist  Chinch,  to  which  his  wife 
also  belongs:  is  now  serving  as  deacon  and 
trustee:  is  also  a  trustee  of  the  Rock  Isl- 
and Baptist  Association :  and  served  as  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday-schcKil  for  eight- 
een years.  His  life  is  exemplary  in  all  re- 
spects, and  he  has  ever  supported  those  in- 
terests which  are  calculated  to  uplift  and 
benefit  humanity,  while  his  own  high  moral 
worth  is  deserving  of  the  highest  commend- 
ation. 


JAMES  C.   PIERSOX. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  one  of 
the  thrifty  and  enterprising  agiricultui ists 
of  Henrv  countv.  is  the  owner  of  a  good 


farm  adjoining  the  village  of  Atkinson. 
He  was  born  in  \\'3andot  county.  Ohio,  on 
the  loth  of  May,  1836.  and  is  a  son  of 
Daniel  Pierson,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  removed  to  Ohio  in  early  life,  and  near 
Mansfield,  that  state,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  .\nn  Cook.  They  continued 
their  residence  in  Ohio  until  after  the  l)irth 
of  three  of  their  children,  the  father  being 
engaged  in  farming,  and  in  1855  came 
west,  driving  across  the  country  to  Bureau 
county.  Illinois.  He  purchased  a  farm  not 
far  from  Tiskilwa.  on  which  he  made  a 
number  of  improvements,  but  finally  sold 
that  place  and  bought  another  farm  nearer 
the  village.  On  disposing  of  the  latter  prop- 
erty he  took  up  his  residence  in  Tiskilwa, 
where  he  spent  his  last  years  in  retirement 
from  active  labor,  dying  there  in  1880. 
His  wife  survived  him  some  years,  and 
passed  away  in  1895.  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four.  In  their  family  were  four  sons  and 
three  daughters,  all  of  whom  reached  years 
of  maturity,  namely :  Elniira  and  Melissa 
A.,  both  residents  of  Tiskilwa;  James  C, 
our  subject;  Philemon,  of  Tiskilwa;  Will- 
iam J.,  of  Iowa;  Charles  H..  of  Frankfort, 
Kansas;  and  Laura,  who  died  in  1899,  at 
about  thirty-seven  years  of  age. 

James  C.  Pierson  accompanied  his  pa- 
rents, on  their  removal  to  Bureau  county, 
Illinois,  in  1855.  and  remained  with  them 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  when  he 
rented  land  in  that  county  and  commenced 
farming  on  his  own  account.  There  he 
was  married  on  the  4th  of  March,  1862,  to 
Miss  Maria  Pickard,  a  native  of  Livings- 
ton, New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  Leander 
and  Rebecca  (Kenney)  Pickard,  who  were 
bom,  reared  and  harried  in  that  state,  and 
also  removed  to  Bureau  county.  Illinois,  in 
1855.  locating  near  Tiskilwa.     After  farm- 


544 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ing  there  for  some  time  Mr.  Pickard  came 
to  Henry  county,  and  purcliased  a  piace 
near  Atkinson,  but  now.  at  the  age  of  nine- 
ty years,  he  is  Hving  retired  with  his  daugh- 
ter. Mrs.  Anna  Clifton,  in  Atkinson.  'Sir. 
and  ]\Irs.  Pierson  have  one  daughter.  Cora 
Belle,  at  home.  They  have  lost  three  sons, 
namely :  Franklin,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  years ;  Melville  and  Jesse,  who 
both  died  at  about  the  age  of  two  and  a  half 
)-ears. 

During  the  Civil  war  Sh.  Pierson  en- 
listed in  1864.  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-sixth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  joined  his  regiment  at  Springfield,  where 
it  was  organized.  They  did  provost  duty 
in  this  state,  and  Company  I  was  stationed 
at  Peoria  most  of  the  time.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  Mr.  Pierson  was  mustered  out 
and  honorably  discharged  at  Springfield. 
July  8.  1865. 

Returning  home,  Mr.  Pierson  resumed 
farming  in  Bureau  county,  and  later  pur- 
chased a  farm  three  miles  west  of  Tiskilwa, 
but  after  operating  it  one  year  he  sold  that 
place  and  bought  his  present  farm  in  At- 
kinson township,  Henry  county,  which  at 
that  time  was  only  partially  improved. 
Here  he  has  made  his  home  since  1867,  and 
in  the  operation  of  the  farm  he  has  met 
with  marked  success.  He  also  owns  a 
tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Butler  county,  Kansas,  all  of  which  ]  ■ 
erty  has  been  acquireil  through  his  own 
well-directed  efforts. 

Since  casting  his  first  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  i860,  he  has  supported  every 
presidential  nominee  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  been  an  earnest  adxocate  of  its  prin- 
ciples. He  has  been  a  member  of  the  village 
board  of  Atkin.son.  but  has  never  cared  for 
political  honors.     Fraternally  he  is  a  member 


of  the  Grand  Army  post  of  Geneseo.  He 
is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  his  commu- 
nity, and  commands  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  all  who  know  him. 


PETER  \V.  WARXOCK. 

Among  the  more  prominent  and  enter- 
prising farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Air. a 
township  who  are  of  alien  birth,  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review,  whose  home  is  on  sec- 
tion 29.  He  was  born  in  county  Down,  Ire- 
land, on  the  19th  of  October,  1828,  and  is 
a  son  of  William  and  Jane  (^^'oods)  War- 
nock,  natives  of  the  same  county,  who  came 
to  America  in  1848,  accompanied  by  one 
son  and  three  daughters  and  settled  in 
Burlington,  New  Jersey.  In  their  family 
were  the  following  children :  ]\Iary.  who 
wedded  Henry  Prichard  and  died  in  Ire- 
Ian^,  while  his  death  occurred  in  Alba 
township,  this  county ;  Jane,  Eliza  and  Will- 
iam, w'ho  all  died  in  Burlington,  Xew  Jer- 
sey; Anna,  who  married  Robert  McCullough 
and  died  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania; 
Peter  W.,  our  subject;  Hugh,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  Eight3--first  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantrj'  during  the  Civil  war  and  w"as 
killed  in  the  battle  o.f  Vicksburg;  and  James, 
who  is  represented  on  another  page  of  this 
volume.  The  parents  both  died  in  Burling- 
ton, New  Jersey;  the  father  died  at  about 
seventy  and  the  mother  at  about  the  same 
age. 

Peter  ^^^  \\'arnock  was  reared  and  ed- 
ucated in  his  native  land.  He  attended  the 
National  schools,  where  he  paid  one  penny 
per  week  tuition  and  helped  furnish  the  fuel. 
On  their  way  to  school  the  scholars  car- 
ried a  lump  of  peat  under  their  arms,  ar.d 


MR.  AND   MRS.   P.   W.  WARNOCK. 


l!Fi9ARY 

UNIVtRSIlt  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


547 


those  who  brouglit  no  fuel  were  not  allowed 
near  the  fire.  Later  he  attended  a  private 
school  which  cost  one  pound  per  cptarter. 
In  1846.  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  Mr. 
Warnock  came  to  America  alone,  lieing  one 
of  the  passengers  on  the  Henrietta  Mary,  of 
Belfast,  a  sailing  vessel,  which  at  this  timc 
was  six  weeks  and  three  days  in  crossing  the 
Atlantic.  From  New  York  city,  where  he 
landed,  he  went  to  Burlington,  Xew  Jersey, 
where  he  joined  a  cousin  employed  as  gar- 
dener by  Bishop  Doan,  and  during  the  four 
years  our  subject  remainetl  with  him  he 
thoroughly  learned  the  art  of  gardening. 
For  three  months  he  served  as  gardener  for 
Mr.  Remington,  president  of  the  Perkio- 
men  Mining  Company,  near  \'alley  Forge, 
.and  subsequently  assisted  laying  out  the  Odd 
Fellows  cemetery  at  Philadelphia.  In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  he  entered  the  emplox' 
of  Owen  Jones,  of  Lower  Merion  townshi]), 
IMontgonicry  count\',  Penns_\lvania,  with 
"whom  he  remained  two  years,  and  later  en- 
gaged in  gardening  at  Camden,  Xew  Jer- 
sey, until  coming  west  in  1857. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Warnock  w  as  mar- 
ried, February  23,  1854,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Cassels,  who  was  born  in  New  York,  Au- 
gust 20,  1836,  and  is  the  only  child  of  John 
and  Jane  (.\dams)  Cassels,  l>oth  natives  of 
■county  Down,  Ireland.  The  father,  who 
Avas  captain  of  a  ship,  was  lost  at  sea  in 
1838,  and  the  mother  died  in  Xew  \'ork,  in 
1844.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warnock  were  born 
the  following  children :  (  i )  Joseph,  lx)rn  in 
Camden,  Xew  Jersey,  Xovember  17.  1854, 
•died  in  Nebraska,  August  25,  1888,  immar- 
ried.  (2)  William,  born  in  Camden,  Xew 
Jersey,  January  31,  1857,  married  L}da 
Steele,  and  the\-  liaxe  ten  children,  .\rthur, 
Kay,  Maud.  ( iracie.  I'loy.  Howard,  Warren, 
-Aroma.  Lee  and  Lewis.     (  3)  Peter  W.,  born 


in  this  county,  August  20,  1859,  resides  in 
Idaho,  lie  married  Edna  lirainard  and 
they  have  three  children.  Mabel  E.,  Earl 
and  Ruth.  (4)  Mary  J.,  born  January  i, 
1862,  is  the  wife  of  F"red  Detro,  of  Mineral, 
Illinois,  and  they  have  two  children,  Milo 
and  Naomi  E.  (5)  Elizabeth  A.,  born  Au- 
gust 6,  i866,  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Steele, 
of  Annawan.  (6)  Hugh  J.,  l)orn  June  25, 
1869,  lives  near  his  father  in  Alba  town- 
ship. He  married  Pheuny  Hirshberger, 
and  they  have  four  children,  \'erne  Joseph, 
Nina  E..  Carl  C.  and  LitTard  A.  [j) 
Helena  R..  born  January  i,  1872.  is  the 
wife  of  William  R.  b'rew,  who  lives  in  Ke- 
wanee.  (8)  John  C.  a  dentist,  born  March 
21,  1874,  resides  in  Wyanet,  Bureau  county, 
Illinois.  He  married  Lenora  Pottorf  and 
they  have  two  children,  Alice  H.  and  Oscar 
W.  {9)  Hugh  James,  born  April  9,  1864, 
dietl  April  2/,  1865.  (10)  George,  born  Oc- 
tober 28,  1876,  died  the  same  month. 

On  first  coming  to  Henry  countw  Illi- 
nois, in  1857,  Mr.  Warnock  located  in 
Colona  township,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing until  the  spring  of  1867,  when  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  in  Alba  town- 
ship, for  which  he  paid  twelve  and  a  half 
dollars  per  acre.  This  he  soon  broke  and 
placed  under  cultiwition.  and  has  since 
added  to  it  mitil  he  now  has  a  tract  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  takes  a  great 
irAerest  in  horticulture,  and  is  extensively 
engaged  in  the  raising  of  cattle  and  hogs, 
making  a  specialty  oi  the  breeding  of  Aber- 
deen Angus  cattle,  which  are  considered 
the  best  in  the  world  for  beef  purposes. 
He  owns  "Ides  Eclip.ser,"  a  full  uncle  of 
the  steer  "Advance"  that  .sold  at  the  live 
stock  show  of  1900,  at  Chicago,  to  a  New 
York  firm,  for  one  dollar  and  a  half  per 
jKumd.     He  has  a  very  fine  herd  upon  hi> 


548 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


place,  and  is  able  to  command  the  highest 
prices  for  his  cattle,  and  has  a  great  many 
pedigreed  cattle. 

y\v.  W'arnock's  political  support  is  given 
the  Republican  party,  and  he  has  been  called 
upon  to  fill  the  offices  of  school  trustee  and 
director,  collector,  assessor  and  justice  of 
the  peace,  having  held  the  latter  office  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  both 
earnest  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  are  held  in  \\tirm  regard  by 
all  who  know  them. 


OLOF  OLSON. 


For  half  a  century  Olof  Olson  has  been 
a  resident  of  Henry  county,  and  is  to-day  one 
of  the  leading  farmers  of  Weller  township, 
his  home  being  on  section  26.  He  was  born 
in  Sweden.  July  13,  1843,  and  came  to  the 
L'nited  States  with  his  parents,  Eric  and 
Catherine  (Jolmsun)  Olson,  in  1849.  It 
was  four  niunths  from  the  time  that  they  left 
their  old  home  in  Sweden  before  they  ar- 
rived in  this  county,  their  destination  being 
Bishop  Hill,  where  so  many  of  their  coun- 
trvmen  had  settled.  Cholera  having  broken 
out  in  the  colony  they  proceeded  to  Gales- 
burg,  "where  they  remained  until  the  epidemic 
was  over  and  then  located  at  Bishop  Hill. 
The  father,  m  ho  was  a  miner  and  laborer  by 
occupation,  worked  around  Victoria  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  died  on  a  farm  in  Henry 
county,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  but  his  wife 
is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years, 
and  now  makes  her  home  with  our  subject. 
Their  other  children  were  Jonas,  who  lives 
near  Xekoma.  Weller  township;  and  a 
daughter,  Avho  died  at  the  age  of  three  years. 

During  their  bovhood  th.e  sons  remained 


v>ith  their  mother  at  Bishop  Hill,  and  are  in- 
(lel)ted  to  the  schools'  of  that  place  for  their 
educational  privileges.  As'  .soon  as  old 
enough  our  subject  was  employed  by  the 
colony  as  ox  boy  and  herdsman,  and  con- 
tinued to  W(_)rk  there  until  after  the  Civil  war 
broke  out.  Feeling  that  his  adopted  country 
needed  his  services,  he  enlisted  in  1865  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  remained  in  the 
service  until  hostilities  ceased.  Fie  then  re- 
sumed work  as  a  farm  hand  in  Weller  town- 
ship, and  was  thus  employed  initil  his  mar- 
riage. 

On  the  22nd  of  Deceinl)er,  1S66.  ]\lr. 
Olson  wedded  Miss  Mary  Malmgren,  who 
was  born  in  Bishop  Hill,  December  27,  1846, 
being  the  first  child  born  in  the  colony.  Her 
parents  were  Jonas  and  Anna  Malmgren, 
who  came  with  the  second  party  to  this  coun- 
try. The  mother  died  of  cholera  in  1S49 
when  Mrs.  Olson  was  only  three  years  old, 
and  one  daughter  died  in  infancy.  Chris- 
tine E.,  born  in  Sweden,  is  now  the  wife  of 
Olof  Nordstrom,  of  Alabama.  The  father 
was  again  married  and  by  his  second  union 
had  two  children,  of  whom  one  daughter  died 
in  infancy.  Abraham  grew  to  manhood  and 
died  in  Kewanee  in  1898.  The  mother,  Mrs. 
Catherine  Malmgren,  is  living  in  the  city  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  but  the  father 
is  now  deceased.  He  was  always  a  very  ac- 
ti\-e  man  and  a  hard  worker,  and  followed 
the  blacksmith's  trade  in  the  colon_\-.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Olson  have  three  children, 
namely:  Emma,  born  May  19,  1868,  taught 
school  prior  to  her  marriage,  and  is  now  the 
v/ife  of  Paul  L.  Johnson,  of  Bishop  Flill, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume; Jennie,  born  June  18,  1871,  was  a 
stenographer  prior  to  her  marriage,  and  is 
now  the  wife  of  E.  L.  Swanson,  of  Bishop 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


549 


Hill:  and  Henry,  born  May  30,  1875.  assists 
in  the  work  of  the  home  farm. 

At  the  age  of  ten  years  the  children  of 
the  colony  had  to  go  to  work,  and  Mr.  Ol- 
son thus  early  began  his  business  career. 
After  his  marriage  he  located  upon  his 
present  farm,  and  to  its  cultivation  and  im- 
provement has  since  devoted  his  energies  un- 
til he  now  has  one  (jf  the  most  desirable  farms 
of  its  size  in  W'eller  township,  it  consisting 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  In  con- 
nection with  general  farming  he  has  also 
engaged  in  >tock  raising  with  good  success, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers 
of  the  cDmmunity.  He  has  held  som^  school 
offices  but  has  never  aspired  to  ixilitical 
honors.  Socially  he  is  an  honored  member  of 
the  Modern  A\'oodnien  camp  at  Bishop  Hill 
and  the  Grand  Army  post  at  Galva,  while 
his  son  Henry  is  also  connected  with  the 
former  fraternitv  and  the  Select  Knights  of 
America.  Mrs.  Olson  is  a  consistent  and 
faithful  memlier  of  the  Swedish  ]\Iethodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  Bishop  Hill  and  as  a 
Sunday-school  teacher  takes  an  active  part 
in  its  work.  The  family  is  one  of  prominence 
in  the  communitv  where  thev  reside. 


HERMAN.  KRAUSE. 

Many  of  Henry  county's  most  enterpris- 
ing and  industrious  citizens  have  come  from 
beyond  the  sea,  among  them  being  Herman 
Krause.  who  is  successfully  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  section  10,  Burns  town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1840,  a 
S(jn  of  Louis  and  Augusta  (Marshner) 
Krause.  natives  of  the  same  country,  where 
they  continued  to  make  their  home  until 
iS^6.  when  thev  emigrated  with  their  fam- 


ily to  America.  The  voyage  was  a  long 
and  tedious  one.  consuming  seven  weeks  and 
six  days.  They  sailed  from  Bremen  and 
landed  in  New  York,  whence  they  came  di- 
rect to  Kewanee,  Illinois.  The  father  was 
a  small  farmer  in  his  native  land,  and  after 
following  various  occupations  in  Kewanee, 
he  purchased  forty  acres  of  unbroken  timber 
land  on  Mud  creek,  in  1864.  and  again 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. Subsef|uently  he  sold  that  place  to  his 
brother  August,  and  bought  two  eighty- 
acre  tracts,  one  of  which  he  paid  for.  while 
the  other  was  paid  for  by  our  subject.  The 
first  home  of  the  family  was  merely  a  small 
shanty,  but  was  later  replaced  by  a  good 
frame  residence.  The  father  died  in  1872. 
and  was  buried  in  Cosners  cemetery.  He 
was  twice  married  and  by  his  first  union  had 
two  sons,  William  and  August.  The  chil- 
dren by  the  second  marriage  were  Herman, 
Fred,  Tena  and  Albert.  The  mother  of  these 
is  still  living  and  now  makes  her  home  with 
her  son  Albert. 

Being  princi])ally  reared  in  the  father- 
land, Herman  Krause  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Germany.  He  ac- 
companied the  family  on  their  removal  to 
this  country,  and  remained  with  his  father 
until  he  was  married,  December  25,  1863, 
to  Miss  Christina  Peterson,  who  was  born 
in  Sweden,  and  came  to  the  L'nited  States 
with  her  parents.  Ten  children  bless  this 
union,  namely:  Emma,  now  the  wife  of 
Louis  Leonard,  a  farmer  of  Burns  township ; 
Frank,  who  married  ]\Iinnie  Snyder  and  is 
also  engaged  in  farming  in  Burns  township ; 
John,  who  married  and  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing at  Atkinson ;  Charles,  who  married  Liz- 
zie Hepner  and  is  a  mechanic  of  Kewanee ; 
Al)ner,  who  married  Ella  A\'hitehead  and 
follows  farming;  Eddie,  at  home;  Winnie, 


5  50 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


\vife  of  Taylor  ^Nlonte.  a  fanner:  and  Car- 
rie and  Samuel,  both  at  h(ime.  The  mother 
of  these  children  died  and  fcir  his  second 
wife  Mr.  Krause  married  Mrs.  Louisa 
Swechenilyne. 

Mr.  Krause  has  a  well-imiiroved  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
lo.  I'.urns  township,  and  in  connection  with 
general  farming  he  is  successfully  engaged 
in  stock  raising.  L'pon  Iris  place  is  a  good 
residence,  substantial  barns  and  other  out- 
buildings, and  everything  about  the  place 
denotes  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the 
owner,  whcj  is  numbered  among  the  most 
skillful  farmers  of  the  neighborhood.  He 
is  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
holds  membership  in  the  (ierman  Lutheran 
■Church. 


HOX.  WILLIAM  C.  STICKXEY. 

In  the  past  ages  the  history  of  a  country 
was  the  record  of  wars  and  conciuests ;  to-day 
it  is  the  record  of  commercial  activity,  and 
those  whose  names  are  foremrist  in  its  annals 
are  the  leaders  in  business  circles.  Among 
the  most  prominent  business  men  of  Henry 
county  is  William  C.  Stickney.  of  A\'oodhull, 
who  has  a  wide  reputation  as  a  capable  finan- 
cier and  occupies  a  position  of  no  little  prom- 
inence in  connection  with  the  political  af- 
fairs iif  the  county. 

William  C.  Stickney  was  born  in  Cam- 
bridgejKirt,  Massachusetts,  September  6. 
1846,  and  is  descended  from  a  prominent 
early  Xew  England  family,  being  of  the 
eighth  generation  from  William  Stickney, 
who  founded  the  family  in  America  as  early 
as  1637.  Records  of  the  family,  however, 
in  England,  can  be  traced  back  to  1331- 
\\'illiam  Sticknev  settled  at  Rowlev,  Massa- 


chusetts, where  he  was  a  selectman  and  free- 
holder, and  filled  several  offices  of  trust  and 
honor.  (2)  Samuel  Stickney,  his  eldest  son, 
was  also  born  in  England  in  1633,  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  Rowley,  Massachusetts. 
He  was  later  a  large  freeholder  of  Brad- 
ford, and  the  early  records  show  him  as 
having  been  a  selectman  there  nine  years 
between  1671  and  1695,  and  in  1689  a  rep- 
resentative to  the  Council  of  Safety,  at 
Boston  to  confirm  the  new  administration. 
(3)  William  Stickney  was  a  freeholder  at 
Bradford,  where  he  died  young.  (4)  Will- 
iam Stickney,  a  resident  of  Billerica,  ap- 
pears on  the  Massachusetts  muster  rolls  in 
1/22,  althougli  not  eighteen  years  old.  He 
was  prominent  in  public  affairs,  ha\ing  for 
many  years  ser\ed  as  town  clerk,  selectman, 
and  a  representative  to  the  first  Provincial 
Congress,  which  was  convened  at  Salem. 
October  7,  1774.  at  no  little  peril  to  its 
members.  He  was  also  a  representative  to 
the  second  Provincial  Congress,  convened 
at  Cambridge,  February  i.  1775,  serving 
on  many  of  the  most  important  commitcees, 
and  in  the  third  Pro\'incial  Congress,  of 
which  he  was  a  member,  he  took  an  equallj- 
important  part.  I  5  )  ^\'illiam  Stickney.  of 
Billerica.  was  a  sergeant  in  Col.  Bridge's 
regiment,  and  was  in  the  battles  of  Lexing- 
ton and  Bunker  Hill.  Later  he  was  a  lieu- 
tenant in  Col.  Mcintosh's  regiment.  In 
1784  he  moved  to  an  unbroken  wilderness, 
which  was  afterwards  inciirporated  as  Graf- 
ton. \'ermiint.  which  place  he  represented 
in  the  general  court  (legislature)  of  \'er- 
mont  for  two  years.  (6)  William  Stickney, 
a  farmer  of  Grafton.  \'ermont,  was  select- 
man, representative  to  the  general  court  of 
\'ermont.  and  held  many  other  offices  of 
trust. 

(7)    Henry   Stickney.  cuir  subject's   fa- 


W.  C.  STICKNEY. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVtRSIlY  UF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGBLA.PHICAL  RECORD. 


555 


ther.  was  born  in  (jrafton,  \'erinont.  Jan- 
uary 29,  1S07,  and  grew  to  manhood  in 
tliat  state.  For  some  years  lie  was  en- 
gaged in  tile  commission  and  grain  business 
in  Boston.  Massacliusetts.  and  while  there 
he  married  Miss  Mary  Anna  Wood,  a  na- 
tive of  Xew  Hampshire,  and  a  daughter  of 
David  \\'ood,  who  was  also  born  in  that  state. 
In  1853  Henry  Stickney  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois with  his  family  and  located  in  Henry 
county,  where  he  entered  some  government 
land,  securing  other  tracts  on  land  warrants, 
and  kept  adding  to  his  landed  possessions 
until  he  owned,  about  one  thousand  acres. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers 
of  the  county,  as  well  as  one  of  its  promi- 
nent early  settlers.  His  death  resulted  from 
an  accident  Xo\ember  16,  1866.  He  was 
well  known  liiroughout  Henry  and  adjoin- 
ing counties,  and  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  first  board  of  county  supervisors.  His 
v.ife  survived  him  a  number  of  years  and 
departed  this  life  February  19,  1888,  being 
laid  to  rest  by  his  side  in  the  W'oodhull 
cemetery.  (For  further  information  see 
the  Stickney  Family  Genealogy,  Salem, 
Massachusetts.) 

(8)  William  C.  Stickney  was  six  years 
of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  county,  and  on  the  old  homestead  farm 
he  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  his  primary 
education  in  the  common  schools.  Later 
he  attended  Knox  College  for  some  time. 
On  the  completion  of  his  education  he  re- 
turned to  the  farm  and  for  several  years  de- 
voted his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
succeeded  to  the  old  homestead,  which  he 
operated  until  1892,  and  at  the  same  time 
successfully  engaged  in  stock  raising,  his 
farm  being  headquarters  for  registered  short 
horns  for  many  years.  In  1880  he  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  Farmers  Bank  at  Wood- 


hull,  and  on  his  removal  to  that  town  in 
1 892  he  assumed  the  active  management  of 
the  bank,  w  hich  is  now  one  of  the  most  re- 
liable financial  institutions  of  Henry  count\\ 
In  connection  with  his  banking  business  he 
still  carries  on  the  home  farm,  he  now  own- 
ing three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  the 
original  homestead.  He  is  also  interested 
in  the  electric  light  plant  at  Woodhull  in 
partnership  with  II.  E.  Houghton  and  T. 
F.  Bell,  it  being  built  and  put  in  operation 
by  these  gentlemen. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1870.  in  Wood- 
hull,  Mr.  Stickney  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Ida  A.  Clarke,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut and  a  daughter  of  Jason  Clarke, 
who  brought  his  family  to  this  county 
among  the  early  settlers,  where  Mrs.  Stick- 
ney was  reared  and  educated.  By  this  union 
were  born  three  children,  namely :  William 
W.,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  on  the  old 
Stickney  homestead,  married  Xellie,  daugh- 
ter of  T.  W.  Gamble,  of  Woodhull,  and  they 
have  two  children,  William  Wilson  and  Ida; 
Grace  M.  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  W.  A.  Davis,  of 
Woodhull:  and  Henry  C.  completes  the  fam- 
ily. The  wife  and  mother  died  March  31, 
1 89 1,  and  her  remains  were  interred  in 
Woodhull  cemetery. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Stick- 
ney has  aftiliated  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  supported  ever}'  presitlential  nom- 
inee of  the  party  since  casting  his  first  bal- 
lot for  General  U.  S.  Grant.  For  several 
terms  he  was  one  of  the  leading  and  in- 
fluential members  of  the  county  board  of 
supervisors,  and  was  a  member  of  the  board 
at  the  September  session,  1878,  when  the 
resolution  was  passed  for  building  the  pres- 
ent court  house.  In  1894  he  was  elected 
to  the  state  legislature,  becoming  a  member 
of  the  Thirtv-ninth  general  assemblv.     He 


554 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


filled  the  office  in  a  most  creditable  man- 
ner: was  a  member  of  the  committees  on 
appropriations,  corporations  and  banking; 
and  materially  assisted  in  securing  the  pass- 
age of  a  bill  for  the  establishment  of  an  in- 
sane asylum  in  this  district.  He  takes'  a 
deep  interest  in  everything  pertaining  to  the 
public  welfare,  and  withholds  his  support 
from  no  enterprise  calculated  to  prove  of 
public  benefit.  His  genial,  pleasant  manner 
has  made  him  quite  popular  in  both  public 
and  jjrivate  life,  and  as  a  public-spirited  and 
enterprising  man  he  is  recognized  as  a  valued 
citizen  of  the  conununitv. 


WILLIAM  C.  GILLESPIE. 

For  the  past  ten  years'  this  gentleman 
has  been  successfully  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business  in  Alpha,  and  by  his  genial,  pleas- 
ant manner  has  made  many  warm  friends 
among  his  patrons  and  fellow  citizens.  He 
was  born  in  fiercer  count)-,  Pennsyhania, 
December  13,  1829,  and  there  grew  to  man- 
hood upon  a  farm,  his  early  life  being  de- 
voted to  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade. 

On  first  coming  west,  in  1853,  Mr.  Gil- 
lespie,located  in  Comanche,  Iowa,  where  he 
engaged  in  carpentering  for  a  time.  In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year,  however,  he  went  to 
northern  Wisconsin,  where  he  spent  a  few 
months,  and  then  returned  to  Iowa,  but  in 
January,  1854,  came  to  Illinois,  taking  up 
his  residence  in  Mercer  count)"^,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  for  a  few  years.  In 
i860  he  went  to  Pikes  Peak,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  mining  with  fair  success  for  about 
two  years. 

After  the  battle  of  Lexington,  ^lissouri. 


Mr.  Gillespie  went  to  Denver  with  the  in- 
tention of  enlisting  but  found  the  quota  full 
and  so  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Illinois. 
Soon  afterward,  however,  he  went  to  Leav- 
enworth, Kansas,  where  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany H,  Eighth  Kansas  \'olunteer  Infantry, 
and  with  his  command  proceeded  at  once  to 
Tennessee.  He  participated  in  a  number 
of  skirmishes  and  several  important  en- 
gagements, including  the  battles  of  Look- 
out Alountain  and  Corinth ;  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, and  the  battle  of  Xashville,  and  later 
at  Perryville,  Kentucky,  under  command 
of  General  Jefterson  C.  Davis;  and  was  in 
a  forced  march  from  Xashville  to  Louis- 
^"ille,  and  in  the  fight  at  Green  River  Bridge, 
In  1863  he  was  honorably  discharged  and 
returned  home,  but  the  following  year  re- 
enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Fortieth  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantn.-,  and 
with  this  regiment  went  to  Memphis,  Ten- 
nessee. He  was  on  active  duty  until  the 
term  of  his  enlistment  expired,  and  was  dis- 
charged at  Chicago  earh-  in  the  year  1865. 
He  then  returned  to  his  farm  in  Mercer 
county,  and  in  connection  with  its  opera- 
tions he  engaged  in  raising  and  dealing  in 
stock,  and  was  also  extensively  interested 
in  bee  culture,  having  quite  a  large  apiary. 
On  the  22nd  of  Februar}-,  1869,  in 
Aledo,  Mercer  county,  Mr.  Gillespie  was 
married  by  Rev.  James  Poag  to  Miss  Sarah 
M.  Decker,  a  native  of  that  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  Westfall  Decker,  who  was  born 
in  Ohio,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1837,  lo- 
cating in  IMercer  county.  By  this  union 
were  born  four  children,  namely:  Hannah 
]\I.,  wife  of  Forrest  Wilson,  a  farmer  of 
Henry  county ;  John  C,  a  resident  of  Alpha ; 
Ida  E.,  wife  of  ^^'illiam  Shivey,  a  farmer  of 
Henry  county;  and  Bonnie  D.,  at  home  with 
her  parents. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


555 


After  his  marriat^'e  Mr.  Gillespie  settled 
on  a  farm  near  Aledo,  in  Mercer  tcjwn- 
ship,  Mercer  county,  where  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land,  which  he  broke,  fenceil 
and  improved.  Subsequently  he  bought  an- 
other farm  of  similar  size,  and  still  later  an- 
other tract  of  eighty  acres,  all  of  which  he 
operated.  One  of  the  farms  he  traded  for 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in 
Coffey  county,  Kansas,  but  after  residing 
there  for  one  year  he  sold  out  and  returned 
to  tlie  old  home  farm  in  Mercer  county,  Illi- 
nois. A  year  later  he  returned  to  Kansas 
and  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres'  in  Butler  county,  where  he  lived  for  a 
few  years  and  then  sold.  He  was  subse- 
quently engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Mercer  county,  Illinois,  until  coming  to 
Alpha  in  1890,  when  he  purchased  a  hotel 
and  has  since  successfully  conducted  the 
same.  Besides  his  property  he  owns  seven 
acres  and  a  good  residence  in  the  village, 
and  has  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  near  Rolla,  Missouri.  On  starting  out 
in  life  for  himself  his  capital  consisted  only 
of  a  pair  of  willing  hands  and  a  firm  de- 
termination to  succeed.  Being  a  man  of 
sound  judgment,  keen  discrimination  and 
good  business  ability,  as  well  as  a  capable 
financier,  he  has  met  with  success  in  life  and 
is  now  quite  well-to-do.  in  1872  Mr.  Gil- 
lespie made  a  trip  to  California,  and  spent  six 
months  on  trlie  Pacific  slope.  He  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Franklin  Pierce, 
in  1852,  and  since  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  has  been  one  of  its  stanch 
supporters,  but  has  never  cared  for  po- 
litical preferment.  He  is  an  honored  member 
of  Oxford  Lodge,  No.  367,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at 
New  Windsor,  and  is  also  connected  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He 
is  widely  and  favorably  known  throughout 


this  section  of  the  state,  with  whose  inter- 
ests he  has  so  long  been  identified,  and  well 
merits  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held. 


FIENRV    BOOMER. 

Among  the  leading  citizens  of  .Atkin- 
son township  is  numbered  Henry  Boomer, 
who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on 
section  28,  a  mile  and  a  (juarter  from  the 
village  of  Atkinson,  lie  first  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1843,  'Tid  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
county  since  1862.  He  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son county.  New  York,  July  23,  1825,  and 
is  a  son  of  Michael  Boomer,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  the  same  county,  April  23,  1794. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Edward  Boomer, 
was  also  a  native  of  New  York, "and  belonged 
to  one  of  its  pioneer  families.  The  father 
served  as  a  drummer  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  participated  in  se\eral  engagements,  in- 
cluding the  battle  of  Sackett  Harbor.  In 
his  native  county  he  married  Miss  Martha 
Moore,  who  w'as  also  born  there  November 
19,  1795,  and  died  July  20,  1843,  while  his 
death  occurred- September  9,  1847.  By  oc- 
cupation he  was  a  farmer,  and  followed  that 
pursuit  in  JelYerson  c<_iunt_\'.  New  York, 
throughout  life. 

Henry  Boomer  is  the  onl_\'  sur\i\-or  of  a 
family  of  thirteen  children,  consjisting  of 
eight  sons  and  five  daughters.  His  early 
life  was  spent  upon  the  home  farm  and  he 
pursued  his  studies  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighborhood.  He  came  to  Illinois 
in  1843,  'I'ld  ^oi"  several  years  worked  on 
a  farm  near  Elgin,  Kane  count}'.  Return- 
ing to  the  county  of  his  nativity  he  was 
there  married,  March  i,  1849,  to  Miss  Julia 
Wood,  who  was  also  born  in  Jefferson 
county.  New  York,  of  which  her  father, 
James  Wood,  was  an  early  settler. 


556 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Soon  after  liis  marriage  Mr.  Boomer  re- 
turned to.  Illinois,  and  took  up  his  residence 
near  Sa\anna.  La  Salle  county,  where  he 
rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  for  eight 
years.  In  1862  he  came  to  Henry  county 
and  purchased  one  iiundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land  in  Atkinson  township,  where  he 
now  resides.  At  that  time  only  a  few  acres 
had  been  broken,  and  a  little  shanty  erected 
thereon,  but  to  its  further  improvement  and 
cultivation  he  at  once  turned  his  attention, 
and  now  has  a  very  desirable  and  attractive 
farm,  supplied  with  all  the  conveniences  and 
accessories  found- upon  a  model  farm  of  the 
present  day.  To  .the  original  tract  he  has 
added  eighty  acres,  and  now  has  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  rich  and  arable  land.  In  con- 
nection with  his  farming  operations  he  also 
raises  and  feeds  stock. 

yir.  Boomer's  first  wife  died  here  Au- 
gust 9.  1894.  By  that  union  there  were 
four  children,  namely :  Herbert,  a  railroad 
man  of  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  married,  and  died 
]May  20.  1893,  leaving  four  children,  Eugene, 
Harry.  Jesse  and  Frank;  ^Irs.  Emogene 
Thayer  is  a  widow  living  in  California; 
Gertrude,  the  wife  of  Timothy  Sammons,  of 
St.  Paul.  Minnesota,  and  they  have  two 
children.  Rosaline  and  Aldin  J. ;  and  Jay, 
who  carries  on  the  home  farm,  married  Miss 
Helen  Placater,  a  native  of  La  Salle  coun- 
ty, and  has  two  children,  Floyd  Henry  and 
Olive  Gertrude. 

Mr.  Boomer  was  again  married  in  Jeffer- 
son county,  Xew  York,  November  15,  1898, 
his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Flora  Hol- 
lister  \\'ilcox,  a  daughter  of  Colonel 
Charles  Hollister  of  that  county,  who 
served  with  distinction  as  an  officer  in  the 
war  of  181 2,  and  rose  from  the  rank  of 
captain  to  colonel,  holding  four  commissions. 
He  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  Empire  state. 


and  there  married  Miss  Pleuma  Lewis,  the 
mother  of  Mrs.  Boomer.  Colonel  Charles 
Hollister  was  a  son  of  John  Hollister.  who 
was  engaged  in  the  supply  department  of 
General  Washington's  army  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  There  the  wife  of  our 
subject  was  reared  and  educated.  Her  first 
husband  was  Henry  Noble,  who  died  in 
the  service  of  his  country  during  the  Civil 
war,  leaving  one  son,  Charles  Noble,  a  resi- 
dent of  Jefferson  county.  New  York.  There 
^Irs.  Noble  wedded  James  ^^'ilcox,  and  with 
him  removed  to  Michigan,  where  his  death 
occurred. 

IXIr.  Boomer  is  now  practically  living  a 
retired  life  while  his  son  operates  the  farm. 
Politically  he  is  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat, 
and  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  his  party  prin- 
ciples. His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Geneseo 
Baptist  Church,  and  both  are  held  in  the 
warmest  regard  by  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances. 


THOMAS  C.  CO\A'DEN. 

This  well-to-do  and  progressive  farmer 
residing  on  section  17,  Burns  township,  was 
born  in  Millwood,  Guernsey  county,  Ohio, 
on  the  8th  of  August,  1849,  ^  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Mary  (Rogers)  Cowden.  The  fa- 
ther was  born  in  Ireland  in  1798,  and  when 
a  boy  came  to  America  with  three  brothers, 
one  of  whom  drifted  to  parts  unknown. 
After  spending  some  time  in  New  York, 
he  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  married,  and 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  coming 
to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  about  1854,  lo- 
cating in  Burns  township,  on  the  state  road, 
buying  eighty  acres.  He  also  took  up  six 
eighty-acre  tracts  of  land,  including  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  17,  and  north- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


559 


west  quarter  of  section  20.  and  nortli- 
east  (|uartcr  of  section  19,  tliat  town 
siiij).  Me  was  called  to  his  linal  rest 
July  31.  1 89 1.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
highly  esteemed  citizens  of  his  community. 
His  second  wife  died  when  our  sul)ject  was 
but  three  or  four  years  old. 

To  this  worthy  cou[)le  were  born  the  lol- 
lowing  children :  William  Washington  was 
a  member  of  Company  D.  One  Hundred 
and  Twelfth  Jlliniiis  N'oluntecr  Infantry, 
during  the  Civil  war  and  was  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Resaca.  Joseph  ser\ed  tiiree  years 
ill  Company  A.  Forty-second  Illinois  X'olun- 
teer  Infantry,  and  re-enlisted  in  the  Fourth 
United  Stales  Cavalry.  He  died  fmni  rlie 
etiects  of  his  arm_\-  ser\ice  while  home  on 
a  furlough,  after  having  spent  thirteen 
months  in  the  hospital  at  Nashville.  D. 
L..  now  a  retired  farmer  of  Cambriilge,  Illi- 
nois, was  also  a  member  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twelfth  Illinois  Infantry.  Jjlin 
H.,  a  farmer,  died  at  tiie  age  of  twenty- 
three  years.  Thomas  C,  our  subject,  is  the 
next  son.  Jacob  G.  is  a  farmer  living  near 
Tecumseh,  Johnson  county,  Nebraska. 
Mary,  deceased,  tirst  married  George  Davis 
and.  second,  S.  1.  Mathews  and  had  two 
children  by  the  former  marriage.  Deborah 
is  also  deceased.  She  was  the  wife  of  J. 
G.   Walker. 

Reared  upon  the  home  farm.  Thomas  C. 
Cowden  early  became  familiar  with  all  the 
duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agricult- 
urist, and  acquired  his  literary  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  He 
still  lives  upon  the  old  homestead,  owning 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  in  his 
farm  operations  is  meeting  with  most  ex- 
cellent success.  He  has  owned  and  oper- 
ated a  threshing  machine  and  corn  sheller 


twenty-three  years.  On  the  6th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1883,  was  celebrated  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Anna  Michaels,  a  native  of  McDon- 
ough  county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Margaret  (Walker)  Michaels. 
Her  mother  died  near  Salisbury,  IMissouri, 
July  10,  1882,  and  her  father  departed  this 
life  in  Alabama,  February  14.  1900.  Mr. 
and  ^Irs.  Cowden  have  two  children:  Law- 
rence H.,  born  June  18,  1885;  and  Flossie, 
born   December  24.    1892. 

Like  his  brothers,  Mr.  Cowden  was  also 
numbered  among  the  boys  in  blue  during  the 
Rebellion,  enlisting  in  1865,  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years,  in  Company  E,  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
with  which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  ser\ice  at  Chicago,  and  then  sent  to 
Tullahonia,  Tennessee.  When  hostilities 
ceased  and  his  services  were  no  longer  need- 
ed he  was  mustered  out  at  Memphis,  and 
honorably  discharged  at  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois. As  a  Republican  he  has  taken  quite 
an  active  and  prominent  part  in  local  pol- 
itics since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Grant.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
township  central  committee,  and  for  three 
years  was  a  member  of  the  Republican 
C(junty  central  committee.  He  has  served 
as  school  director  about  eighteen  years,  and 
has  also  filled  various  other  ot^ces,  includ- 
ing that  of  drainage  commissioner,  his  du- 
ties always  being  faithfully  and  conscien- 
tiously performed. 


.\.\1)RIA\'  ARXni'lSr. 

This  j)roniinenl  and  successful  merchant 
of  Bishop  Hill,  was  born  in  Helsingland,  in 
the  northern  part  of  Sweden,  .\pril  29,  1847, 
and  is  the  secoml  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family 


560 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  sex'en  children,  all  of  whom  reached  years 
of  maturity,  but  two  are  now  deceased. 
Peter,  John,  Anna  and  Sarah  still  reside  in 
Sweden,  our  subject  being  the  only  member 
of  the  family  in  the  United  States.  The 
tleath  of  his  parents  occurred  in  Sweden, 
where  they  spent  their  entire  lives.  The 
father,  Andrew  Arnquist,  Sr.,  was  a  carpen- 
ter by  trade. 

Our  subject's  early  education  was  ac- 
quired in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
land.  The  parents  being  in  straitened 
circumstances  the  children  early  became  de- 
pendent upon  their  own  resources  for  a  Hve- 
lihood,  and  he  worked  with  his  father  at  the 
carpenter's  trade,  and  also  at  farm  labor 
until  his  emigration  to  America  in  1870. 
On  landing  on  the  shores  of  this  country, 
he  proceeded  at  once  to  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois, his  destination  being  Bishop  Hill. 

After  working  as  a  farm  hand  for  three 
years  !Mr.  Arnquist  commenced  clerking  in 
the  general  store  of  Linbeck  &  Jacobson, 
where  he  gained  his  first  knowledge  of 
mercantile  pursuits.  In  the  fall  of  1877  ^^^ 
bought  a  lot,  and  erected  thereon  a  build- 
ing, in  which  he  placed  a  small  stock  of  gen- 
eral merchandise.  From  the  beginning  his 
trade  steadily  increased  and  he  soon  built 
up  a  good,  extensive  business.  A  few  years 
after  opening  his  store  he  bought  the  general 
mercantile  establishment  of  A.  Barlow, 
which  he  consolidated  with  his  own,  and 
has  since  conducted  business  as  a  dealer  in 
general  merchandise,  furniture  and  under- 
takers" supplies,  carrying  a  stock  valued  at 
eight  thousand  dollars.  In  addition  to  his 
business  property  and  pleasant  home  in 
Bishop  Hill  he  owns  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  in  \\'eller  and  Galva  town- 
ships, all  under  cultivation  and  well  im- 
])roved.     This  he  now  rents. 


In  1873  ^Ir.  Arnquist  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Anna  E.  Berg,  who  was 
also  born  in  Sweden  and  came  to  this  coun- 
try the  same  year  as  her  husband.  They 
have  become  the  parents  of  five  children, 
namely :  Bennett,  who  when  quite  young 
commenced  learning  the  mercantile  business 
with  his  father,  and  is  now  the  efficient 
manager  of  the  store;  Almeda,  who  is  a 
normal  g'raduate  and  is  now  successfully 
teaching  school  in  Bishop  Hill ;  Emma,  de- 
ceased ;  Andy,  who  is  with  his  brother  in 
the  store;  and  Blanche.  All  of  the  children 
reside  at  home,  and  the  sons  are  now  success- 
full}-  conducting  the  store  for  their  father. 
They  are  wide-awake  and  energetic  young 
men  of  good  business  and  executive  ability. 

Politically  !Mr.  Arnquist  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing as  trustee  of  the  township  schools.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  town  board  for 
many  years,  and  was  president  of  the  same 
for  some  time.  He  is  a  supporter  of  all 
church  work,  and  a  prominent  member  of 
W'eller  lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W..  the  Select 
Knights  of  America  and  the  Home  Forum. 
He  has  been  a  trustee  of  all  of  these,  and 
financier  of  the  first  named  order.  He  has 
made  the  most  of  his  opportunities  through 
life,  and  although  he  came  to  this  country 
in  limited  circumstances  he  is  now  one  of 
the  substantial  and  well-to-do  citizens  of 
his  community  and  his  success  is  due  to  his 
own  well-directed   and   energetic  efforts. 


JOHN  HEXDERSOX. 

This  well-to-do  agriculturist  of  section 
15,  Oxford  township,  is  a  typical  self-made 
man.      Placing  his   reliance  upon    industry 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


561 


and  perseverance,  lie  lias  made  the  most  of 
circumstances,  however  discouraging,  and 
lias  won  his  way  to  a  substantial  success, 
his  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  adjoining  the  corixjrate  limits  of  Alpha 
being  a  tangible  evidence  of  prosperity. 

Mr.  Henderson  was  born  on  the  9th  of 
September,  1831.  in  Indiana  county,  Penn- 
svlvania,  and  is  a  son  of  Brice  and  Anna 
(Thomas)  Henderson,  also  natives  of  that 
state.  The  father  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Indiana  county  and  there  grew  to 
manhood  and  married.  He  died  about  1836, 
and  his  wife,  who  long  survived  him,  passed 
away  in  Indiana  county  about  1873.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  three  of 
whom  reached  years  of  maturity,  but  only 
our  subject  is  now  living.  The  children  were 
small  when  the  father  died,  being  left  for 
the  mother  to  rear,  and  most  faithfully  did 
she  discharge  that  arduous  duty. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  spent  upon  a  farm  and  he  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county. 
When  a  young  man  he  came  to  Henry  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  1856,  and  after 
working  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  for 
three  or  four  years  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  partially  broken  land,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  located  uix)n  his  farm  in 
1 86 1,  and  to  its  further  development  has 
since  given  his  time  and  attention  with  most 
gratifying  results.  He  has  added  to  the 
original  purchase  until  he  now  has  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  on  which  he  has  made 
many  substantial  improvements,  so  that  he 
now  has  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  de- 
sirable farms  of  its  size  in  the  county.  He 
also  owns  one  half-section  in  Barton  county, 
Kansas,  and  also  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres 
in  Pawnee  county,  Nebraska.       In  connec- 


tion with  general  farming  he  has  success- 
fully engaged  in  stock  raising. 

January  10,  1861,  Mr.  Henderson  was 
married  in  this  county  to  Miss  Eliza  Cox, 
who  was  born  in  Indiana  but  reared  in  Illi- 
nois. She  is  a  sister  of  J.  F.  Cox,  whose 
sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Henderson  have  become  the 
parents  of  five  children,  namely :  Frank,  who 
is  married  and  follows  farming  in  Pawnee 
county,  Nebraska;  Anna,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  years;  ^\'illiam,  who  assists 
in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm;  Jennie, 
wife  of  J.  \\'.  McLaughlin,  of  Oxford  town- 
ship; and  Fannie,  at  home. 

^Ir.  Henderson  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  W'infield  Scott,  the  \N  hig  candi- 
date of  1852,  and  has  been  identified  with 
the  Republican  party  since  its  organization 
in  1856.  He  has  never  sought  political 
honors,  but  being  a  warm  friend  of  our  pub- 
lic-school system  he  faithfully  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  for  some  years. 
His  supix)rt  is  given  to  all  enterprises  which 
he  believes  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit,  and  be  is  accounted  one  of  the  \alu- 
able  citizens  of  this  community 


CHARLES  H.  RUGII. 

Charles  H.  Rugh,  who  resides  on  section 
20,  Colona  township,  owns  and  operates  a 
fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and  forty-two 
and  a  half  acres,  whose  neat  and  thjifty  ap- 
pearance well  indicates  his  careful  super- 
vision. Substantial  improvements  are  sur- 
rounded by  well  tilled  fields,  and  all  the  ac- 
cessories and  conveniences  of  a  model  farm 
are  there  found.  His  place  is  known  as  tliQ 
old  Glenn  homestead. 


S62 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Rugh  is  one  of  Illinois'  nati\'e  sons, 
for  he  was  born  in  Rock  Island  county.  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1844.  His  father.  Henry  Rugh, 
was  born  near  Ijlairstnwn,  Indiana  county, 
Pennsx'hania.  in  1810.  and  was  still  a  young 
man  when,  in  1837,  he  left  that  state  and 
removed  to  Rock  Island.  Illinois,  where  as 
a  mechanic  he  followed  the  cabinet  maker's 
trade  until  1849.  Gold  being  discovered 
in  California  that  year,  he  went  to  the  Pa- 
cific slope  and  spent  several  years  there,  be- 
ing moderately  successful  in  his  mining 
operations.  In  1867  he  returned  to  Illinois, 
but  in  the  spring  of  1S69  again  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, though  he  spent  his  last  days  with  our 
subject  in  Missouri,  where  he  died  in  1876. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
JMarv  A.  Spiers,  departed  this  life  in  1847. 

Charles  H.  Rugh,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth  with  James  Glenn  and  one  of  his  sons, 
assisting  in  carrying  on  the  farm  and  at- 
tending the  local  schools  for  a  few  months 
during  the  winter  season.  In  1868  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Eliza 
Glenn,  a  daughter  of  James  Glenn,  who  was 
one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  Henry  coun- 
ty, having  located  here  in  May,  1835.  He 
v.as  born  on  one  of  Henry  Clay's  farms  in 
Kentucky.  July  18.  181 1.  and  was  reared 
in  that  state.  On  coming  to  Henry  county, 
Illinois,  he  opened  up  and  ftnproved  the  farm 
r.dw  iiwned  by  Mr.  Rugh.  Our  subject  and 
his  wife  are  the  parents  of  three  sons,  name- 
ly :  Frank  G.,  who  is  married  and  now  en- 
gaged in  the  telephone  business  in  Kewanee, 
Illinois ;  Harry,  who  is  married  and  is  an 
electrician  and  telegrapher  of  Sandwich, 
Illinois;  and  James,  who  holds  a  business 
position  in  Rock  Island. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Rugh  engaged 
ill  farming  in  this  countv  for  one  ^■ear,  and 


then  remii\ed  to  Butte  cmmty,  California. 
where  he  followed  gold  mining  with  fair 
success  for  a  short  time.  In  1873  'i*^  ''*^" 
turned  to  Henry  cnunty,  Illinois,  and  re- 
sumed farming.  Init  two  years  later  renrnved 
to  Holt  county.  Missouri,  where  he  pur- 
chased o\-er  ft)ur  hundred  acres  oi  land, 
v.hicli  he  inij)r(i\e(l  and  farmed  successfully 
for  nine  years.  He  went  to  Dakota  in  1882. 
but  se\"en  \ears  later  we  again  find  him  in 
^Missouri,  where  he  spent  one  winter.  In 
1890  he  returneil  to  this  county,  and  ]jur- 
chased  the  old  Glenn  homestead,  on  which 
he  has  since  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  with  marked  success. 

On  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Rugh 
supported  General  U.  S.  Grant  for  the  presi- 
dency in  1868.  and  the  Republican  party  has 
since  fnund  in  him  a  stalwart  adxocate  of 
its  principles.  He  has  never  aspired  to  ottice, 
preferring  rather  to  give  his  undivided  at- 
tention to  his  business  interests.  He  is  ener- 
getic, progressive  and  enterprising  and  to 
these  characteristics  may  be  attributed  his 
success  in  life. 


JACOB    LIEVEXS. 

Among  the  prosperous  farmers  of  At- 
kinson township,  Jacob  Elevens  occupies  an 
enviable  position.  Since  coming  to  the  new 
world  he  has  through  his  own  unaided  ef- 
forts steadily  prospered  until  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  a  well  improved  and  valuable  farm 
of  four  hundred  and  f(irty  acres  nf  land  on 
section  21.  and  twcj  hundred  and  furty  on 
section  3.  His  early  home  was  on  the  other 
side  (if  the  Atlantic,  for  he  was  born  in 
Belgium.  February  2/.  1843,  ^"^  ^^''s  there 
reared  upon  a  farm,  receiving  a  good  com- 
mon school  education  in  his  nati\"e  tongue. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


563 


Inn  his  knowledge  of  the  English  language 
lias  all  been  ac(|uire(I  since  coining  to 
.\mcrica. 

In  187-'  Mr.  Lieven;,  led  to  the  marriage 
altar  Miss  Rosalie  Vandevort,  who  was  born 
in  the  same  neighborhood  as  her  Inisband, 
and  as  a  wedding  jonrney  the  young  couple 
came  to  this  country.  From  New  York 
they  proceeded  at  once  to  Illinois,  their 
<lestination  I^eing  Henry  county.  Locating 
in  Atkinson  township,  Mr.  Lievens  first 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  nine  months, 
and  then  rented  a  farm  which  he  operated 
for  aliout  three  years.  In  1875  he  purchased 
eight}-  acres  of  land,  on  which  a  little  house 
had  been  built,  but  there  was  not  a  tree  or 
fence  upon  the  place.  In  the  improvement  and 
cultixation  of  his  land  he  met  with  marked 
success,  and  as  time  advanced  he  has  added 
til  his  property  until  he  now  has  six  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivatiiMi  and  supplied  with  all  the  con- 
veniences and  accessories  found  upon  model 
farms  of  the  twentieth  century.  His  first 
home  here  has  long  been  replaced  by  a 
large  and  more  substantial  residence,  and 
everything  aliout  the  farm  indicates  the 
thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner,  who  is 
accounted  one  of  the  most  skillful  farmers  of 
the  community. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lievens  have  become  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  namely  Jacob,  Jr., 
who  is  married  and  follows  farming  on  sec- 
tion 3,  Atkinson  township;  Henry  and  John, 
wIkj  are  both  married  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing near  their  father:  Peter,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  on  the  home  farm :  Charles, 
^lary,  Edward,  Louisa,  Frank  and  Emma, 
all  at  home.  The  family  are  communicants 
of  the  Catholic  Church  of  .\tkinson,  and  Mr. 
Lievens  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics, 
but  has  never  cared  for  political  preferment 


He  is.  however,  one  of  the  leading  and  prom- 
inent citizens  of  his  community  and  well 
(lualified  to  fill  any  position  to  which  he 
miffht  be  elected. 


'JOSEPH  FRANK  COX. 

As  a  furniture  dealer  and  undertaker 
this  gentleman  has  become  an  important 
factor  in  the  business  circles  of  Alpha,  and 
as  a  public-spirited  citizen  is  thoroughly  in- 
terested in  whatever  tends  to  promote  the 
moral,  social  or  material  welfare  of  the  com- 
munitv.  A  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born 
in  Rock  Island  county,  January  16.  1840, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  W".  and  Juliette  (  Will- 
iamson) Cox,  both  natives  of  Indiana,  of 
which  state  the  grandfather.  Joseph  Cox, 
was  an  early  settler.  The  father  was  born 
in  1807,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1835.  be- 
coming one  of  the  pioneers  of  Rock  Island 
county.  He  opened  up  a  farm  in  Hainptmi 
township,  where  he  made  his  liMuie'  until 
1848,  when  he  removed  to  Mercer  cnunty, 
this  state,  and  two  years  later  came  to  Henry 
county,  settling  in  what  is  now  known  as 
Oxford  township.  From  a  tract  of  wild 
land  he  developed  a  good  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  near  Alpha,  and  also 
owned  other  property,  being  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  farmers  of  his  community.  lie 
died  upon  his  farm  in  Oxford  township, 
March  2,  1869,  and  his  wife,  who  survived 
hiiH  for  some  years,  parsed  away  in  January, 
1888. 

-Amid  pioneer  scenes  Frank  Cox  grew  to 
manhood,  his  time  being  passed  in  attending 
the  district  schools  for  about  three  months 
during  the  winter,  and  in  working  upon  the 
farm  during  the  remainder  i>f  the  vear.     .\t 


564 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  inaugunitiuii  of  the  Civil  war  lie  joined 
the  boys  in  blue,  enlisting  August  3.  1861, 
in  the  Fourth  Illinois  Cavalry,  which  was 
assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Henry, 
Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh  and  Franklin,  after 
which  he  was  taken  ill  with  typhoid  fever 
and  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Keokuk,  Iowa. 
After  his  reco\-ery  he  was  placed  on  de- 
tached duty  as  clerk  in  the  office  of  the 
general  hospital  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  for  a 
time  served  as  ward  master.  When  his  term 
of  enlistment  expired  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  October,  1864,  and  returned  to 
his  home  in  this  county. 

Here  Mr.  Cox  was  married,  December 
6,  1864,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Jane  W.  Sutton,  who  was  born  in  Canada, 
but  was  reared  in  \Msconsin  and  Illinois. 
Her  father,  William  B.  Sutton,  died  in  the 
Badger  state,  after  which  her  mother  mar- 
ried R.  ^I.  W'ilber  and  removed  to  Illinois, 
making  her  home  for  a  time  in  Warren 
county,  and  later  in  Henry  county.  ^Ir.  and 
ilrs.  Cox  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
children :  ^linnie,  a  professional  trained 
nurse ;  Elmer,  who  is  married  and  lives  on 
a  farm  in  Nebraska:  Clinton  C,  who  is 
married  and  engaged  in  the  grain  and  coal 
business  in  Alpha ;  Walter,  also  a  business 
man  of  that  place ;  Daisy  and  Trev^,  both  at 
home;  Lyle,  who  is  attending  the  Alpha 
school ;  and  Carlton,  the  second  born,  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years. 

After  his  marriage  'Sh.  Cox  located  on 
a  farm  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Alpha,  where 
he  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and 
to  its  improvement  and  cultivation  devoted 
F.is  energies  until  1890,  when  he  rented  the 
place  and  removed  to  Alpha.  Here  he 
opened  a  furniture  store  and  two  years  later 
added  to   it  an  undertaking  business'.     He 


carries  a  well  assorted  stock,  and  liy  fair  and 
honorable  dealing  has  built  up  an  excellent 
trade,  which  is  constantly  increasing. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Cox 
has  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  in  1864  and  for  every  nominea 
of  the  party  since  that  time.  He  has  taken 
quite  an  active  part  in  local  politics :  has 
lieen  a  delegate  to  county,  state  and  con- 
gressional conventions :  and  has  been  hon- 
ored with  a  number  of  official  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility,  having  served  as 
collector,  road  commissioner,  township  clerk 
and  supervisor.  He  was  an  influential  mem- 
ber of  the  county  board  for  twelve  years; 
was  chairman  of  the  equalization  committee 
some  vears ;  and  a  member  of  other  im- 
portant committees.  He  pro\ed  a  very  com- 
petent and  faithful  officer.  He  is  also  an 
tifficial  member  and  trustee  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  Alpha,  and  holds  mem- 
bership in  Oxford  Lodge,  Xo.  367,  F.  &  A. 
:\I. ;  Horeb  Chapter,  at  Rio,  Xo.  4,  R.  A.  M. ; 
and  Sherman  Post.  Xo.  479,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Woodhull. 


WILLIAM  A.  :\IUSSEY.  } 

Among-  the  representatixx  business  men 
of  Atkinson  is  William  A.  IMussey,  the  .j 
junior  member  of  the  firm  of  IMussey  ' 
Brothers,  dealers  in  grain  and  coal  at  that 
place.  A  native  of  Vermont,  he  was  born 
at  Rutland,  June  22,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Sabra  Amanda  (Lawrence) 
Mussey.  He  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  that  locality,  which  he  attended 
until  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  upon  his 
father's  farm  early  acquired  an  excellent 
knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits. 

On  the  15th  of  August,  1862,  during  the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


565 


dark  days  of  the  Rel)elli<>n,  Mr.  Mussey  en- 
listed in  Company  K,  Twelftli  \'ermont  In- 
fantry, nnder  Colonel  A.  P.  Blunt,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  I'nited  States  service  at 
Brattleboro,  about  the  ist  of  Sei)tember. 
The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  and  was  stationed  near  Wash- 
ington to  defend  that  city  most  of  the  time, 
though  it  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Gettys- 
burg. For  over  fi\e  months  Mr.  Mussey 
was  conrtnetl  to  the  hospital,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  his  regiment  at  Brattleboro, 
\'ermont,  July  16.   iS(i_v 

Returning  hume  lie  resumed  farming 
uixjn  his  father's  ])lace  and  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  the  fall  nf  1868,  when 
he  removed  to  Henry  cnunty.  lllinnis.  The 
previous  winter  he  had  visited  this  county, 
and  on  the  31st  of  March,  1868,  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Miss  Louisa  Xowers,  a 
daugiiter  of  Thomas  Xowers,  whose  sketch 
appears  on  another  page  of  this  volume.  By 
this  union  have  been  born  two  children, 
namely:  Clara  Foster  is  now  the  wife  oi  11. 
P.  Hinckley,  who  is  connected  with  Armour 
&.  Company  at  .Allegheny,  Pennsylvania,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Gertrude  Abbie.  Harry 
R.  is  a  graduate  oi  Beloit  College,  and  is 
now  principal  of  the  Port  Byron  Academy. 
-\s  previously  stated  Mr.  Mussey  re- 
moved to  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1868,  anil 
for  several  years  was  successfully  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  his  farm  adjoining 
the  corporate  limits  of  .\tkinson,  in  which 
village  he  made  his  home,  b'or  two  years 
he  was  a  silent  partner  of  his  brother  in  the 
grain  and  coal  business  at  that  place,  and 
in  1885  became  actively  associated  with  him 
in  the  management  of  that  enterprise  under 
the  firm  name  of  Mussey  Brother.s.  He  is  .1 
wide-awake  and  progressive  business  man, 
and  lias  met  with  well-deserved  success. 


I'xith  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mus.sey  are  active 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and 
he  is  also  a  charter  member  of  Atkinson 
Cam]),  M.  W.  .\..  of  which  he  was  the  first 
venerable  consul.  In  his  political  affiliations 
he  is  a  Repul)lican,  and  has  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  village 
and  justice  of  the  peace  one  term. 


WILLIAM    1'A1'!':X1)1CK. 

'I'liis  well-known  and  successful  farmer 
and  stuck  raiser  residing  on  section  24, 
Lnraine  township,  was  liorn  in  lierlin,  Ger- 
many, on  the  _'9th  of  July,  1859.  and  is  a 
son  of  Louis  and  Sophia  (Greenwood) 
Papendick,  also  natives  of  the  fatherland, 
the  former  born  in  .Sdiwerin,  the  latter 
near  Berlin.  In  18^)3  Louis  Papendick 
brought  his  fantil_\-  to  America,  and  on  land- 
ing in  Xew  York  proceeded  at  once  to  Mor- 
ri.son,  \\'hiteside  county,  Illinois,  where  be 
was  engaged  in  cabinet  making  for  a  short 
tiine.  He  subsequently  made  his  home  in 
Pro])hctstown  for  three  }-ears,  mid  at  the  end 
of  that  i)ei"iod  came  to  lleiiry  county,  and 
purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Loraine  township,  upon  which  he 
resided  until  called  to  his  final  rest  Janu- 
ary 31,  1879.  His  wife  survived  him  for  a 
few  years  and  passed  away  September  30, 
1887.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  died  in  infancy,  the 
others  being  Carrie,  wife  of  John  Jai|uet,  of 
Loraine  township:  \\'illiam,  our  subject; 
and  Otis,  who  married  Anna  Walzcr  and  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  Rock  county,  Minne- 
sota. 

William  l'a])en(lick  was  only  three  years 
old  when  brought  liv  his  parents  to  this  coun- 


566 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


try.  and  he  is  indebted  to  the  district  schools 
of  W'liiteside  and  Henry  ct)unties  tor  his  ed- 
cational  privileges.  During  his  boyhood  and 
youth  he  remained  at  home  and  did  his  share 
of  the  farm  work,  and  after  the  death  of  his 
father  he  and  his  brother  Otis  took  control 
of  the  place,  which  they  operated  in  partner- 
sliip  until  1888.  when  our  subject  purchased 
his  brother's  interest.  He  has  a  fine  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  and  as  a  tiller  of 
the  soil  and  stock  raiser  is  meeting  with  ex- 
cellent success. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1886,  was  celebrat- 
ed the  marriage  of  Mr.  Papendick  and  Miss 
Lizzie  Kreps,  and  three  children  bless  their 
union,  namely :  Julia  Beatrice.  l)orn  April 
26,  1887;  Hattie  born  February  22.  1889: 
and  Louis,  born  February  26,  1891.  All  are 
now  in  school.  Mrs.  Papendick  is  a  native 
of  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter 
of  Christian  and  Annie  (Chaplar)  Kreps. 
who  were  born,  reared  and  married  in 
Switzerland,  where  the  father  fallowed  the 
carpenter's  trade  until  their  emigration  to 
America  in  1850.  They  first  located  in  Bu- 
reau county,  Illinois,  but  later  came  to  Henry 
county,  and  took  up  their  residence  in  Lo- 
raine  township,  where  the  father  died  in 
1865.  the  mother  in  1885.  Of  their  ten  chil- 
dren nine  are  still  living,  namely:  Anna, 
widow  of  George  Liverknecht  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Geneseo:  ]Mary,  wife  of  Charles 
Walzer,  of  Loraine  township:  Christian,  a 
resident  of  Chatfield,  Fillmore  county,  Min- 
nesota; John,  who  was  formerly  a  resident 
of  California,  but  is  now  engaged  in  gold 
mining  at  Cape  Nome,  Alaska:  Caroline, 
wife  of  John  Xeiswenger  of  Geneseo:  Fred, 
of  Rock  county,  Minnesota :  Lizzie,  wife  of 
our  subject;  Elias,    a    merchant    of    Rock 


Rapids.  Iowa :  and  Emeline.  a  resident  of 
Geneseo. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Papendick  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Evangelical  Church,  and  he  is  also 
connected  with  Hoop  Pole  Camp,  Xo.  126, 
:\1.  W.  A.  Politically  he  affiliates  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  is  prominently  identi- 
fied with  public  affairs  in  his  community. 
For  eight  years  he  has  creditably  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  also  been 
school  director  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
is  one  of  the  union  special  drainage  commis- 
sioners, which  has  reclaimed  fourteen  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  in  his  part  of  the  coun- 
ty, their  main  ditch  being  eight  miles  in 
length.  He  is  one  of  the  most  progressive 
and  public-spirited  citizens'  of  the  community 
and  is  widelv  and  fa\orablv  known. 


IRA  E.  KELSEY. 

Ira  E.  Kelsey,  an  active  and  energetic 
farmer,  who  carries  on  his  chosen  occupation 
on  section  16,  Annawan  township,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut,  his  birth  having  oc+ 
curred  in  Kensington,  March  18,  1850. 
His  father,  Erastus  Kelsey,  was  born  in 
Portland,  Connecticut,  January  10,  1821, 
and  belonged  to  an  old  Xew  England  family. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Fanny  Way,  who  died  in  Annawan  town- 
ship, this  county.  March  22,  1869,  leaving 
three  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
oldest,  William  E.,  born  July  2,  1853,  died 
ii?  Annawan,  in  April,  1888.  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, born  June  10,  1868,  is  now  the  wife 
of  Richard  Arkland,  of  Calhoun  county, 
Iowa.     For  his  second  wife  the  father  mar- 


MR.  AND   MRS.  IRA  KELSEY. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


569 


Tied  Johannah  Burgess,  of  Somerset  county, 
Maine,  who  died  August  10.  1895,  while 
his  death  occurred  Marcli  26,  1896.  The 
family  came  to  Illinois  in  1856  and  first 
located  in  Bureau  county,  but  the  following 
spring  came  to  Henry  county,  the  father 
purchasing  one  hundred  and  six  and  two- 
thirds  acres  of  land  on  section  16,  Annawan 
township,  at  twenty-si.x  dollars  per  acre. 
Throughout  liis  active  business  life  he  fol- 
lowed farming,  and  preferring  to  devote  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  that  occupation 
he  would  never  accept  public  office. 

Ira  E.  Kelsey  received  his  education  in 
the  district  school  near  his  boyhood  home, 
and  obtained  a  thorough  knowledge  of  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  upon  his  father's  farm. 
On  leaving  the  parental  roof,  in  1870.  he 
went  to  the  western  frontier,  and  spent  three 
years  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska  among  th!« 
Indians,  with  whom  he  was  on  quite  familiar 
terms,  often  camping  out  with  them.  On  his 
return  home  in  1873.  his  father  retired 
from  active  labor  and  he  succeeded  to  tlie 
management  of  the  farm,  and  has  since  su':- 
cessfully  engaged  in  its  operation.  He  h.n.^ 
never  cared  to  enter  politics,  though  he 
takes  a  deep  and  commendable  interest  \a 
public  affairs.  Fraternally  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
and  the  Royal  Xeighbors.  and  his  wife  also 
belongs  to  the  latter  order. 

On  the  20th  of  March.  1870.  Mr.  Kelsey 
A\as  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Frances 
M.  Boss,  a  native  of  Rochester,  ew  York, 
who  died  October  2.  1881.  He  was  again 
married  October  14.  1882.  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Augusta  Koch,  of  Daven- 
port. Iowa,  who  was  born  in  New  York. 
August  26,  1853.  and  is  a  daughter  of  Carl 
and  Ernestina  (  Edler)  Koch,  both  natixes 
of  Germany.     On  coming  to   America.   In 


1850.  her  parents  located  in  New  Yoik, 
where  the}'  made  their  home  until  Mrs. 
Kelsey  was  three  years  old.  when  they  re- 
moved to  Davenport,  h^wa.  The  father,  who 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  died  April  4.  1897. 
and  the  mother  departed  this  life  August 
6,  1887.  Of  their  three  children  Carl  died 
in  childhood.  Augusta  is  next  in  order  of 
birth;  and  Louisa  is  the  wife  of  John  Cole, 
of  Davenport.  Iowa.  By  his  second  mar- 
riage Mr.  Kelsey  has  had  five  children, 
namely:  Edna  L..  born  ^larch  10,  1884.  is 
attending  school ;  Arthur  C.  born  October 
26,  1885.  died  February  4.  1887:  Laura 
May.  lx>rn  December  16,  1887.  is  also  in 
school;  Florence  F.,  born  August  26.  1890; 
and  Leroy  Oscar,  born  July  4.  1893,  are 
also  pursuing  their  studies  in  the  local 
schools  and  reside  at  home. 


R.  \V.  MILAR. 


For  almost  a  cjuarter  of  a  century  R. 
W.  Milar  has  been  engaged  in  the  fire  in- 
surance business  in  Atkinson,  tliougii  he  is 
now  practically  living  a  retired  life,  enjoying 
a  well-earned  rest.  He  was  born  in  Somer- 
set county.  Pennsylvania.  July  29.  1824. 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Isabel  (Fulton') 
Milar.  natives  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylva- 
nia, respectively.  Born  of  jXKir  ])arents  the  fa- 
ther was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  at 
an  early  age  and  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade  in  Baltimore.  \\'hen  a  young  man  he 
went  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  married  and 
continued  to  make  his  home  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  our  subject  was  a 
small  boy.  He  left  a  widow  and  six  children, 
namely;  Samuel,  deceased;  Eli.  a  retired 
farmer  of  Tuscarawas  conntv.   Ohio,   now 


570 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


eighty  years  of  age:  Michael,  who  died  iiT 
Missouri;  R.  \\'..  our  subject;  John  A.,  de- 
ceased; and  !Mary  Aim,  who  is  Hving  on  a 
farm  in  Tuscarawas  county.  Ohio.  There 
the  motlier  died  at  tiie  age  of  seventy-six 
j'ears.  having  never  married  again. 

R.  W.  Milar  began  liis  education  in  the 
schools  of  Pennsylvania,  but  his  advantages 
along  that  line  were  limited,  and  he  never  at- 
tended school  more  than  a  year.  At  the  age 
of  twelve  years  he  accompanied  the  family 
on  their  removal  to  Tuscarawas  county. 
Ohio,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm  for  four 
years,  and  then  commenced  learning  the 
miller's  trade,  to  which  he  devoted  his  en- 
ergies for  four  years,  but  was  forced  to  give 
up  that  occupation  as  he  found  it  injurious 
to  his  health.  He  next  took  up  the  trade 
of  carpenter,  which  he  followed  many  years. 

On  the  6th  of  July.  1849,  ^Ir-  ^lilar 
married  M'iss  Rebecca  Knisley,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  B.  Knisley, 
who  was  a  carpenter  Xof  ew  Philadelphia. 
Ohio,  where  ^Ir.  Milar  made  his  home  un- 
til 1855.  In  that  year,  accompanied  by  his 
wife  and  three  chiklren,  he  came  west  and 
located  in  Geneseo  county.  Illinois,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  for  a  short  time. 
and  the  folowing  year  he  came  to  Atkinson, 
which  at  that  time  had  just  been  laid  out. 
He  assisted  in  the  construction  of  the  first 
building  erected  here,  and  for  many  years 
built  the  greater  portion  of  its  business 
houses  and  private  residences.  In  1877  he 
became  interested  in  the  fire  insurance  busi- 
ness, and  now  represents  the  following 
companies :  the  Hartford,  of  Hartford. 
Connecticut;  the  Springfield,  of  Springfield, 
jMassachusetts ;  the  Phoenix,  of  Brooklyn; 
the  Phcenix.  of  Hartford;  the  Fire  Associa- 
tion, of  Philadelphia;  and  the  Insurance 
Company  of  North  America.     He  has  been 


engaged  in  this  business  longer  than  any 
other  man  in  this  section  of  the  state.  Al- 
though he  started  out  in  life  empty-handed 
he  has  accjuired  some  property,  and  is  now 
the  owner  of  a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres, 
two  miles  north  of  Atkinson,  which  is  suc- 
cessfully operated  under  his  supervision. 

]\Irs.  Milar,  who  was  a  consistent  and 
faithful  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  died  in  Xovember.  1892,  at  the  age 
of  sixty  years,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Oak- 
wood  cemetery,  Geneseo.  She  was  the 
mother  of  four  children,  namely :  Theodore, 
a  carpenter  of  Atkinson,  married  Eliza  Ruth 
Storm  and  they  have  one  child.  Storm ;  Leroy 
married  Clara  Guesbecker,  and  died  in  At- 
kinson, Xovember  28.  1898,  at  the  age  of 
forty- four  years,  leaving  one  child,  Robert; 
J.  Knisley  married  Anna  Green  and  died  in 
Atkinson,  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six 
years ;  and  Clara  is  the  wife  of  R.  E.  Bailey, 
a  painter,  decorator  and  paper  hanger,  and 
they  live  with  our  subject.  They  had  a 
daughter,   who  died   in  infancy. 

'Sir.  Milar  was  made  a  Mason  at  Aima- 
wan.  in  1867.  and  still  holds  membership  in 
Annawan  Lodge,  Xo.  433,  which  has  been 
moved  to  Atkinson.  He  served  as  worship- 
ful master  of  the  same  for  six  years,  and  has 
represented  the  lodge  in  the  grand  lodge  of 
the  state.  He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
in  1848  for  John  P.  Hale,  the  Freesoil  can- 
didate, and  since  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  has  been  one  of  its  stanch 
supporters.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  many 
conventions,  and  has  been  honored  with  po- 
litical positions,  having  served  as  constable 
seventeen  years;  justice  of  the  peace  twenty 
years  and  school  director  many  years,  and 
deputy  sheriff  of  Henry  county  four  years; 
discharging  the  various  duties  of  these  posi- 
tions with  fidelitv  and  aliilitv. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


FESTUS  C.  COLE. 

The  natural  advantages  of  this  section 
of  the  state  attracted  at  an  early  day  a  su- 
perior class  of  settlers,  thrifty,  industrious, 
progressive  and  law-abiding,  whose  influ- 
ence has  given  permanent  direction  to  the 
development  of  the  locality.  Among  the 
worthy  pioneers  of  Henry  county  Festus  C. 
Cole  holds  a  prominent  place.  Since  June. 
1839  he  has  made  his  home  here,  and  now 
owns  and  operates  a  valuable  farm  of  one 
liundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  28,  Ox- 
ford township,  one  mile  soutli  of  Alpha. 

Mr.  Cole  was  born  near  Sherburne,  in 
Madison  county.  Xew  York,  December  22. 
1833.  a  son  of  .\mos  and  Augusta  (Briggs) 
Cole.  His  father  was  born  in  the  same  state 
in  1806,  and  there  made  his  home  until  com- 
ing west  in  1839.  Settling  in  Henry  county, 
lie  built  the  fourth  house  in  Oxford  town- 
ship and  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in  that  sec- 
tion of  the  county,  his  patrons  coming  as 
far  as  forty  miles  to  have  work  done.  He 
continued  to  carry  on  blacksmithing  for  fif- 
teen years,  and  then  devoted  his  entire  time 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  had  entered 
some  land  from  the  government  and  also 
purchased  some,  and  opened  up  the  farm 
i\\K)n  which  our  subject  now  resides,  it  be- 
ing his  place  of  residence  for  many  years. 
He  died  at  the  home  of  a  daughter  in  Aledo, 
Illinois,  in  February,  1897,  while  his  wife 
departed  this  life  in  1876. 

Festus  C.  Cole  was  only  five  years  of 
age  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  this, 
county,  and  in  Oxford  township  the  days 
of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed.  He 
aided  his  father  in  the  shop  and  on  the 
farm,  and  also  worked  for  neighboring 
farmers  for  some  years.  He  succeeded  to 
the  old  homestead,  and  by  purchase  added  to 


it  from  time  to  time  until  he  had  five  hun- 
dred acres,  but  with  the  exception  of  the 
original  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
he  has  divided  the  property  among  his  chil- 
dren. 

In  i860,  in  this  county,  Mr.  Cole  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Taze,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  came  to  Illinois  when  a  yoiuig 
lady.  Prior  to  her  marriage  she  engaged 
in  teaching  school  in  Henr}-  county.  Mr. 
Cole  has  been  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss 
of  his  estimable  wife,  who  died  January  i, 
1898,  leaving  two  children:  William,  who 
now  operates  tiie  home  farm,  married  Mar- 
tha Stitt  and  has  four  children.  May.  Clinton, 
Erma  and  Robert:  and  Edith  is  the  wife  of 
Otis  Timberlake,  a  farmer  of  Oxford  town- 
ship, and  they  have  three  children,  Lyle. 
^lyrtle  and  ^Minnie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole 
lost  two  children :  Cynthia,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years ;  and  LeRo\-,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Cole  is  a  Jef- 
fersonian  Democrat  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  James  Buchanan  in  1856. 
but  at  local  elections  he  votes  independent 
of  party  lines,  supporting  the  men  whom  he 
believes  best  qualified  to  fill  the  offices.  For 
three  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  but  has  never  cared  for  political  hon- 
ors. During  the  long  years  of  his  residence 
in  Henry  county  he  has  watched  with  inter- 
est its  wonderful  development,  and  in  its 
improvement  and  upbuilding  he  has  ever 
borne  his  part.  He  has  become  widely 
known,  and  his  many  excellent  traits  of  char- 
acter have  gained  him  the  high  regard  of  his 
many  friends.  As  an  honored  pioneer  and 
representative  citizen  he  is  certainly  deserv- 
ing of  prominent  mention  in  the  history  ot 
his  adopted  county. 


572 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


AMOS  A.  MACKEV. 

The  well-known  and  efficient  bookkeeper 
and  assistant  cashier  of  the  W'oodhull  Bank, 
was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania. 
April  22.  1856,  and  is  a  son  nt  William 
A.  and  Emily  (Hammond)  ^lackey,  also 
natives  of  that  county.  The  Mackey  family 
is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  was  founded 
in  the  United  States  during  the  seventeenth 
century.  On  reaching  the  new  world  our 
sul)ject"s  ancestors  located  in  Lancaster  coun- 
ty. Pennsylvania.  As  a  merchant  and  tanner 
liis  father  carried  cin  business  at  Spring 
Ri\er.   Pennsylvania,  throughout  life. 

The  subject  of  this  review  completed 
liis  education  by  a  course  at  Chambersburg 
Academy,  and  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  began 
his  business  career  in  the  employ  of  a  col- 
lection agency  in  the  oil  regions  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  spent  one  year.  In  1875  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  after  stopping  for  a 
short  time  in  Galesburg  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  \\'oodhull,  Henry  county,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home.  I'(;)r  se\en  years 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  a  dry-goods  house  of 
that  place,  and  then,  during  President  Gar- 
field's administration,  was  appointed  post- 
master of  W'oodhull,  which  position  he 
creditably  filled  for  four  years.  During  the 
following  four  years  he  was  l:)ookkeeper  in 
the  l)ank,  after  which  he  again  served  as 
postmaster  under  President  Harrison.  Since 
1882  he  has  maintained  his  connection  with 
the  bank,  and  is  now  serving  as  bookkeeper 
and  assistant  cashier,  his  services  there  hav- 
ing always  given  the  utmost  satisfaction. 

At  W'oodhull.  Mr.  Mackey  was  married, 
February  22.  1883,  to  Miss  Carrie  L.  Woods, 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  was 
rearetl  in  this  countv,  her  father,  Robert  L. 


Woods,  being  one  of  the  old  residents  of 
\\'oodhull.  By  this  union  have  been  born 
two  children,  Lyle  E.  and  Wayne  W. 

In  his  political  views  ^Ir.  Mackey  is  a 
stalwart  Republican,  and  has  always  taken 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  is  the 
present  township  treasurer,  and  for  six 
years  served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board.  Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Wood- 
hull,  and  he  is  prominently  connected  with 
the  blue  lodge  of  the  ^Masonic  fraternity  at 
that  place,  of  which  he  is  now  secretary : 
the  chapter  at  Rio ;  and  the  commandery  at 
Galesbure. 


LESTER  COWLES  WELTOX. 

Among  the  early  residents  and  honored 
citizens  of  Henry  county  was  the  late  Les- 
ter Cowles  W'elton.  who  was  born  in  Har- 
winton,  Litchfield  county.  Connecticut, 
April  20,  181 7,  a  son  of  Xoah  and  Ellen 
( Cowles )  W'elton,  also  natives  of  that  place. 
He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  en- 
joyed the  advantages  of  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighborhood.  After  reaching  his 
majority  he  left  the  parental  roof  and  went 
to  Vermont  to  live  with  an  older  sister,  who 
was  a  widow,  and  remained  there  three 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  returned 
to   Connecticut. 

In  October.  1845,  -^I''-  \\  elton  was 
uriited  in  marriage  with  Mi^s  Ora  Mathews, 
of  Bristol,  Conecticut,  and  the  following 
spring  they  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Peo- 
ria county,  where  he  pre-empted  a  home- 
stead, upon  which  he  lived  until  1855.  It 
was  in  that  year  that  he  removed  to  Henry 
county,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  at  one  dollar  and  a  quar- 


LESTER    C.  WELTON. 


UNIVERSln  Ot  ILLINOIS 

URBAN A 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


57S 


ler  per  acre.  Later  he  bought  anotlier  quar- 
ter-section, and  as  both  tracts  were  raw- 
prairie  land  wlien  they  came  into  his  pos- 
session, he  at  once  turned  his  attention  to 
their  improvement.  Acre  after  acre  was 
broken  until  at  length  the  entire  farm  was 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  In  1876 
he  sold  that  place  and  spent  a  year  in  rest- 
ing, traveling  and  visiting  friends  in  the 
east.  He  also  spent  some  time  at  the  Cen- 
tennial exposition  in  Philadelphia.  On  his 
returned  to  Henry  county  he  located  in  Cam- 
bridge, and  assisted  in  organizing  the  First 
National  Bank  at  that  place.  He  was  also 
interested  in  the  First  National  Bank  at 
Geneseo.  In  the  fall  of  1882  Mr.  W'elton 
removed  to  Reno  county,  Kansas,  and  pur- 
chased a  section  of  land  four  miles  west  of 
Hutchinson,  to  which  he  added  from  time 
tti  time  until  he  owned  twelve  hundred  and 
fortN'  acres  of  \alual)Ie  farming  land.  He 
also  invested  in  the  I'irst  National  Bank  of 
Hutchinson,  and  was  (Mie  of  its  directors 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
was  a  business  man  whose  ability  and  judge- 
ment was  always  respected,  and  in  all  his 
dealings  was  upright  and  honorable. 

In  his  family  were  four  children,  name- 
ly :  James  M..  a  resident  of  Geneseo,  Illi- 
nois; Ellen,  wife  of  W.  M.  Ringle,  of  Osco, 
Illinois;  Merritt  H.,  of  Wiota,  Iowa;  and 
Margaret.wife  of  Chester  O'Neal,  of  Hutch- 
inson. Kansas.  Mr.  W'elton  renioxed  his 
tamily  to  Kansas  in  1883,  and  continued 
to  make  his  home  on  his  farm  near  Hutchin- 
son until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  15, 
1896.  His  wife  survived  him  four  years, 
dying  on  the  i8th  of  October,  1900.  Both 
were  earnest  and  consistent  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  had  many  warm 
friends  in  the  communities  where  thev  had 
made  tlieir  home.     PoHticalJv  Mr.   W'elton 


was  an  active  Republican,  and  was  the  tirst 
supervisor  of  Osco  township,  this  county, 
being  elected  to  that  office  in  1858.  He  held 
other  minor  offices,  and  always  took  a  deep 
and  commendable  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
his  community.  He  was  a  kind  neighbor 
and  valued  citizen,  and  his  life  was  one 
which  was  fraught  with  u.sefulness  and 
crowned  witli  success. 


JOHN    J.\OUET. 

Numbered  among  the  well-to-do  agri- 
culturists and  higlil}-  esteemed  citizens  of 
Loraine  township  is  the  gentleman  whose 
home  is  on  section  14,  Loraine  township. 
He  was  born  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  Sep- 
tember 15.  1848,  and  is  a  .son  of  Christian 
Jaquct,  a  native  of  Alsace,  (jcrmany,  and  a 
carpenter  Ijy  trade.  The  father  came  to 
America  about  1835  and  located  in  Cook 
county,  Illinois,  where  his  first  wife  died, 
leaving  one  child.  Christian,  now  a  resident 
of  Sterling.  Illinois.  For  his  second  wife  he 
married  Elizabeth  ]\Ietzner,  wiio  was  also 
born  in  Germany  and  when  a  young  girl 
came  alone  to  the  Cnited  States.  By  this 
union  four  children  were  born:  Fred,  de- 
ceased; Joim,  our  subject;  Mary,  wife  of 
Adam  W'ierhold.  of  Vorktown  township, 
this  county;  and  Henry,  a  resident  of  Bureau 
county,  Illinois.  .\l)out  i860  the  father  re- 
moved to  Henry  county  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Yorktown  township, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death 
in  1864.  His  wife  survived  him  many  years, 
dying  in  February,  1891,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-m'ne. 

.\s  soon  as  he  attained  a  sufficient  age 
John  Jaquel  entered  the  district  schools  of 


576 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Cook  cciuiit}-,  where  he  pursued  liis  studies 
until  twehe  years  old,  when  he  accompanied 
the  family  on  their  removal  to  this  county, 
completing  his  education  in  the  schools  of 
Yorktown  township.  He  began  life  for  him- 
self as  a  farm  hand  in  the  employ  of  Jake 
Shuler,  of  that  township,  receiving  seven 
dollars  per  month  in  compensation  for  his 
services.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  worked 
two  months  for  his  half-brother,  Christian, 
who  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Loraine 
township,  and  the  following  spring  com- 
menced learning  the  carpente'r's  trade,  to 
\\hich  he  devoted  his  energies  for  three 
years.  On  attaining  his  majority  he  went  to 
Boone  county,  Iowa,  where  he  followed  that 
occupation  three  months,  but  on  his  return 
to  this'  county  resumed  farming,  being  em- 
ployed by  the  month  for  three  years.  The 
following  year  he  rented  the  John  Rapp 
farm  in  Yorktown  township,  but  at  the  end 
of  tliat  time  he  returned  to  his  old  employer, 
Irwin  Shelton,  with  whom  he  remained  an- 
other year. 

Air.  Jaquet  was  married  February  26, 
1874,  to  JMiss  Carrie  Papendick,  a  daughter 
of  Louis  and  Sophia  (Greenwood)  Papen- 
dick, of  whom  more  extended  mention  is 
made  in  the  sketch  of  William  Papendick 
on  another  page  of  this  volume.  To  them 
have  been  born  ten  children,  namely:  Will- 
iam, deceased ;  Cecelia,  now  the  wife  of 
James  Pray,  of  Rock  Island;  Albert,  de- 
ceased; Cora,  wife  of  Edward  Oberle,  of 
Loraine  township,  by  whom  she  has  two 
children,  John  and  Edna;  Nellie,  at  home; 
and  Lillie,  Ralph,  John,  Howard  and  Inez, 
all  in  school. 

For  four  years  after  his  marriage  Air. 
Jaquet  rented  the  home  place  in  Yorktown 
township,  and  then  operated  the  old  Papen- 
dick homestead  in  Loraine  township  for  one 


year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  13,  the  lat- 
ter township,  and  to  this  he  has  since  added, 
making  a  good  farm  (jf  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres,  which  is  well  improved  and 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  is 
an  energetic  and  progressive  farmer  and 
stock  raiser,  and  a  man  of  good  business  anc 
executive  ability. 

Religiously  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jaquet  aer 
members  of  the  United  Evangelical  Church, 
and  politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  of  which  he  has  been  a  stanch 
supporter  since  casting  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  General  U.  S.  Grant.  He  is  now 
serving  his  ninth  year  as  school  trustee,  and 
has  held  the  office  of  road  commissioner  six 
years,  during  which  time  a  number  of 
bridges  have  been  built  under  his  super- 
vision. He  takes  an  active  interest  in  all 
enterprises  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit,  and  for  eight  years  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Union  special  drainage  commis- 
sion, which  has  reclaimed  several  thousand 
acres  of  what  once  was  considered  worthless 
swamp  land. 


LOUIS    HELLER. 

Among  the  prosperous  and  successful 
agriculturists  of  Loraine  township  is  Louis 
Heller,  whose  home  is  on  section  32.  Dur- 
ing his  entire  life  he  has  been  a  resident  of 
that  township,  his  birth  having  occurred  on 
section  4,  February  3,  1842.  His  parents 
were  David  and  Catherine  (Arnett)  Heller, 
the  former  a  native  of  Luzerne  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, the  latter  of  Alsace-Loraine, 
France.  The  paternal  grandfather,  David 
Heller,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  of  Ger- 
man ancestry,  and  belonged  to  one  of  the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


577 


pioneer  families  of  Luzerne  county.  He 
served  for  several  years  as  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  in  days  of  peace  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits. 

In  early  life  David  Heller,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  worked  at  the  weaver's  trade  in 
his  native  state.  In  1832  he  came  west  and 
located  in  what  is  now  Loraine  township. 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  he  took  up  a 
tract  of  government  land  and  built  thereon 
a  log  cabin,  in  which  some  of  his  children 
were  born.  He  added  to  his  place  from  time 
to  time  as  his  financial  resources  increased 
until  he  had  about  twehe  hundred  acres  of 
land,  and  was  one  of  the  wealthiest  citizens 
of  his  community.  He  continued  to  active- 
ly engage  in  farming  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1881,  when  he  was  sixty-nine 
years  of  age,  his  remains  being  interred  in 
Loraine  cemetery.  In  his  political  views  he 
was  a  strong  Republican  but  never  cared  for 
office.  His  wife  died  in  Geneseo,  in  1900, 
at  the  age  of  se\-enty-nine.  Their  children 
were  Caroline,  deceased ;  Louis,  our  subject  ; 
Susan,  deceased ;  Levinus,  who  was  formerly 
engaged  in  farming  in  Atkinson  township, 
but  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Geneseo: 
Lavina,  who  died  in  infancy;  Solomon,  who 
lives  near  the  old  homestead  in  Loraine 
township;  Samuel,  a  resident  of  Michigan; 
Wesley,  of  Atkinson  township;  Ella,  wife  of 
Fredierick  Rieger,  of  Geneseo;  and  Mary, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

During  the  boyhood  of  our  subject  he 
attended  the  district  schools  in  winter,  while 
through  the  summer  months  he  aided  in  th? 
labors  of  the  fields.  At  that  time  wild  game 
of  all  kinds  was  plentiful  and  he  well  re- 
members seeing  deer  on  the  prairies,  whik 
the  wolves  often  made  the  night  hideous 
with  their  howling.  Among  his  early  recol- 
lections is  that  of  himself  and  friend  convert- 


ing a  hog  trough  into  a  canoe  with  tiie  in- 
tion  of  crossing  a  slough  in  order  that  they 
might  get  some  seed,  but  the  rude  boat 
tipped  over  and  the  boys  found  themselves 
in  the  mud  and  water.  He  continued  to  pur- 
sue his  studies  in  an  old  log  school  house  on 
his  father's  farm  until  about  twenty-one 
years  of  age. 

On  the  I2th  of  Feliruary,  1867.  Mr. 
Heller  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Margaret  \\'agner,  who  was  born 
.in  Germany  and  was  four  years  of  age 
when  brought  to  the  L'nited  States  by 
her  father,  John  Wagner.  The  family 
located  in  Chicago,  where  ^[r.  Wagner 
worked  at  his  trade  of  tailor  for  one  year, 
and  then  came  to  Henry  county,  settling  in 
Loraine  township,  where  he  purchased  land 
and  engaged  in  farming  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  died  in  January, 
1882,  and  his  first  wife  passed  away  when 
i\Irs.  Heller  was  only  ten  years  old.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  four  of 
whom  are  still  living,  these  being  ^^largaret, 
wife  of  our  subject ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Philip 
-Arnctt,  of  Whiteside  county ;  Catherine,  wife 
of  Isaac  Urich,  of  Whiteside  county;  and 
Helen,  wife  of  George  Besse,  of  Erie,  White- 
side county.  Susan  and  Henry  both  died  in 
infancy.  For  his  second  wife  the  father  mar- 
ried Caroline  Rieger,  who  died  in  1875.  IJy 
this  union  he  also  had  six  children  :  Cor,->line. 
deceased  wife  of  Edward  OfTerle;  Louisa, 
wife  of  Bell  Heffelfinger;  August,  a  resident 
of  Nebraska;  Hattie,  wife  of  Edward  Rowe; 
John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  and 
Edward,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fixe. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heller  ninj  children 
have  been  born,  namely :  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Albert  Sands  of  Loraine  township ;  George, 
who  married  Ella  Johnson  and  is  engaged 
in  farming  in  the  same  township;  Edward, 


578 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


vho  married  Fl(jra  Smith,  and  is  also  a  far- 
mer i)f  Loraine  to\viislii|);  Laura  and  Lei  mi 
ard,  1)i.)tli  deceased;  Alaliel,  at  home;  Ruy 
and  (Hoy  twins,  and  Earl,  all  three  attend- 
ing school. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Heller  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  c)n  one  of  his  father's 
places  for  a  time,  and  then  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
iive  acres  on  section  32,  Loraine  township, 
which  at  that  time  was  only  partially  im- 
pro\-ed  but  is  now  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation and  is  one  of  the  most  desirable 
places  in  the  locality.  Religiously  Mr.  and 
}vlrs.  Heller  are  members  of  the  Lnited 
Evangelical  Church  of  Loraine  township, 
and  fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Geneseo 
Camp,  No.  40,  ^I.  W'.  A.  By  his  ballot  he 
supports  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  has  served  as  school 
director  about  thirty  years  and  tax  collector 
one  term.  He  iS  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
and  representative  farmers  of  his  commu- 
r.it}-,  and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who 
know  him. 


AIRS.  HULDA  G.  CALKINS. 

Prominent  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Henry  county  and  honored  residents  of 
Alpha  is  Mrs.  Calkins,  who  is  familiarly 
known  as  Aunt  Hulda  by  her  numerous 
friends.  She  came  to  this  state  in  1841,  and 
has  made  her  home  in  Henry  county  since 
1847.  -^  natix'e  of  Massachusetts,  she  was 
born  in  Stockbridge,  July  19,  1826,  and  be- 
longs to  an  old  New  England  family.  Her 
paternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Griffin,  was 
a  native  of  Vermont,  but  spent  much  of 
his  life  in  the  Bay  state.  Her  father,  John 
Griffin,  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1795, 


and  there  he  was  married  about  1818  to 
Miss  Mary  Hoag,  a  native  of  Columbia 
cianity.  New  York,  where  he  learned  the 
weaver's  trade.  In  early  life  he  followed 
the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade  in  his  na- 
tive state,  where  he  continued  to  make  his 
home  until  coming  west  with  his  family  iri 
1841.  He  first  located  near  the  present 
town  of  \'iola,  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois, 
then  known  as  Stewart's  Corners,  where  he 
opened  up  and  improved  a  farm,  on  which 
he  continued  to  reside  until  called  to  his 
final  rest  June  4,  1S65,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty years.  His  wife  sur\i\'ed  him  several 
years,  and  died  January  11,  1891,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-one  years  and  six 
months.  Further  mention  is  made  of  the 
family  in  the  sketch  of  H.  G.  Griffin,  of 
Cambridge,  on  another  page  of  this  volume, 
he  being  a  brother  of  Mrs.   Calkins. 

As  previously  stated  Mrs.  Calkins  came 
to  this  state  with  her  parents  in  1841.  She 
was  principally  reared  and  educated  in 
Alassachusetts,  and  became  one  of  the  pio- 
neer school  teachers  of  Henry  county.  On 
the  20th  of  April,  1847,  she  gave  her  hand 
in  marriage  to  Anson  Calkins,  who  was 
born  in  Austerlitz,  Columbia  county.  New 
York,  in  1818,  and  there  grew  to  manhood. 
During  his  youth  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
and  joiner's  trade.  On  coming  to  Illinois 
in  1841,  he  located  in  Knox  county,  where 
he  planted  a  large  number  of  trees  and  en- 
gaged in  the  nursery  business  for  about  si.x 
years.  He  made  the  acquaintance  of  Miss 
Griffin  while  stopping  at  her  father's  resi- 
dence for  dinner  while  passing  through  this 
county,  and  the  friendship  then  formed 
soon  ripened  into  love,  resulting  in  their 
marriage.  They  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Oxford  town- 
ship where  Airs.   Calkins  still   resides,  now 


liBRARY 
Ul^lVtK^lir  OF  ILLINOIS 

USSA.NA 


ANSON   CALKINS. 


MRS.   HULDA  G.   CALKINS. 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


583 


within  tiic  \  illat^e  nt  Alplia,  there  heing  no 
tcwn  at  tiiat  time.  Here  ^Ir.  Calkins  also 
started  a  nursery,  which  he  successfully  car- 
ried CHI  tor  many  years,  and  sold  the  greater 
numher  of  evergreen  and  ornamental  trees 
and  sliruhs  now  found  in  this  localitx'.  lie 
was  also  engaged  in  the  cidli\ation  of  va- 
rious kinds  of  fruit,  and  followed  general 
farming  quite  extensivelv.  Prospering  in 
his  husiness  enterprises,  he  added  ti\  his 
original  tract  of  forty  acres  from  time  to 
time  until  he  owned  o\'er  one  thousand 
.'icres  of  \  ery  \alual)le  and  i)rotlucti\e  land, 
lie  laid  out  the  town  of  .\lpha  upon  hi^ 
farm,  and  gax'.e  the  railroad  company  right 
of  way  and  a  site  for  the  depot.  He  was  in- 
strumental in  building  up  the  village,  and 
ah  a  puhlic-spirited  and  enterpri.sing  citizen 
gave  his  support  to  all  measures  for  the 
jjublic  good.  In  his  political  views  he  was 
originally  an  old  line  ^^'hig,  and  later  he 
became  a  stanch  Republican.  Prior  to  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  an  ardent  Abo- 
litionist, and  was  interested  in  the  "under- 
grouud  railroad"  in  that  way  assisting  many 
a  negro  on  his  way  to  Canada  and  free- 
dom, lie  tilled  the  office  of  as.sessor  for  a 
time,  but  never  cared  for  political  honors, 
preferring  to  devote  his  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  interests.  Me  died  July  jo, 
1895.  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years, 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  iiini. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Calkins  were  born 
ten  chiklren,  namely:  Myra  P.,  wife  of 
jVlexander  A.  Shaw,  a  farmer  of  Knox 
county:  Mary  li..  wife  of  Ira  I'rankenber- 
ger,  a  farmer  of  O.xford  township.  Henry 
countx':  J.  H.,  a  resident  of  .Vlpha;  John  I"., 
a  farmer  of  Oxford  township:  W'inficld  C. 
who  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Mt.  Ver- 
non. Illinois;  Lucia  M.,  who  was  married 
ii.  October.  1875.  to  E.  P.  Leland.  the  first 


telegraph  operator  at  .\lpha.  and  died  the 
following  March:  and  four  who  died  in  in- 
fanc)'. 

Mrs.  Calkins  is  a  consistent  and  faith- 
ful member  of  the  liajjtist  Church,  and  is 
loved  and  respected  b\-  all  who  know  her. 
.\>  a  pioneer  of  this  section  of  the  state  she 
has  witnes.sed  almost  its  entire  development. 
.She  has  seen  the  wild  prairie  transformed 
into  highly  cultivated  tields:  railroads,  tele- 
gra[)hs  and  telephones  introduced:  while 
hamlets  have  grown  into  thriving  cities  and 
villages  with  all  of  the  conveniences  of  an 
advanced  civilization.  She  can  relate  many 
interesting  incidents  of  pioneer  life. 


JACOr.  MYERS. 

Among  the  honored  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  Atkinson  who  are  now  living,  re- 
tired from  active  labor  is  Jacob  Myers,  who 
was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
October  14,  1831,  and  is  a  son  f)f  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (  P.loom )  Myers,  also  natives  of 
that  state.  The  Myers  family  was  original- 
ly from  Ciermaii}-,  and  was  founded  in  this 
country  o\-er  two  lumdred  v'ears  ago.  Oiu" 
subject's  paternal  grandfather  was  a  native 
of  New^  Jersey  and  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania.  There 
the  father  was  liMirn.  reared  and  educated, 
pursuing  his  studies  in  an  old  log  school 
house  witli  slab  seats  and  puncheon  fio(jr. 
In  early  life  he  followed  farming  with  his 
father  and  later  on  his  own  acccjunt.  making 
tliat  his  life  work,  lie  was  very  successful 
and  accunuilated  a  comfort.able  competence. 
He  died  upon  his  f.arm  in  I'ranklin  county. 
Pennsylvania,  at  a  comparatively  early  age, 
when  our  subject  was  onlv  ;i  vear  old.     He 


;84 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


left  two  other  cliildren  :  Jolin.  a  blacksmith, 
who  died  in  Mercersburg,  Pennsylvania ; 
and  Amy.  deceased  wife  of  Isaac  Peck,  of 
Franklin  county.  The  mother  subsequently 
became  the  wife  of  Leonard  Bievens.  also  a 
native  of  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  a  representative  of  one  of  its  old  fam- 
ilies. By  that  union  she  had  Hve  children, 
namely :  Michael,  a  resident  of  Hagers- 
town.  Marjiand ;  Pawl,  who  Uves  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Franklin  county.  Pennsylva- 
nia; ^lary,  wife  of  Henry  Yeakle,  of  the 
same  county;  Sarah,  wife  of  John  Phillips, 
of  Plum  Run,  Pennsylvania:  and  Amanda, 
widow  of  John  Pitman  and  a  resident  of 
Franklin  county.  Mrs.  Bievens  died  in  1859 
and  her  second  husband  is  also  deceased. 

^Ir.  jSIyers,  of  this  review,  grew  to  man- 
hood in  ,the  county  of  his  nativity,  and  in 
early  days  would  walk  two  miles  over  the 
hills  to  school,  W'here  he  pursued  his  studies 
for  about  six  weeks  during  the  year.  At  the 
age  of  thirteen  he  commenced  learning  the 
blacksmith's  trade  with  his  imcle,  Michael 
Bloom,  and  during  the  four  years  of  his  ap- 
prenticeship received  only  his  board  and 
clothes  in  compensation  for  his  labor.  Later 
he  worked  as  a  journeyman  in  Pennsylvania 
until  the  fall  of  1855. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  that  year,  Mr. 
flyers  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ellen  Fritz,  also  a  native  of  Franklin  county, 
and  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Fritz,  who  spent 
liis  entire  life  there.  A  week  later  they  came 
to  Kewanee.  Illinois,  where  they  rented  a 
house,  and  where  Mr.  Myers  %yorked  at  his 
trade  during  the  following  winter.  In  the 
fall  of  1856  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  Burns  township,  and  during  the  sum- 
.mer  season  devoted  his  energies  to  ts  im- 
provement and  cultivation,  while  throughout 
the  winter  he  worked  at  his  trade,     "-  imde 


hib  iiome  in  that  township  for  nine  years,  and 
then  removed  to  Atkinson  township  in 
1865. 

In  the  fall  of  that  year  Mrs.  Myers  died 
leaving  four  children :  Charles  D.  is  now  a 
painter  and  paper  hanger  of  Kansas  City. 
Clayton  \\'.  is  a  graduate  of  Hahnemann 
Medica  College  of  Chicago,  and  was  for  a 
time  engaged  in  practice  at  Kingman.  Kan- 
sas. \\"hile  there  he  was  appointed  by  Gover- 
nor Stanlev  of  that  state  as  assistant  super- 
intendent of  the  insane  asylum  at  Topeka, 
which  responsible  position  he  is  now  filling. 
Leli  Blanche  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 
Z\Iaggie  is  the  wife  of  W.  I.  Goff,  of  El  Reno, 
Oklahoma,  and  they  have  one  child,  Imogene. 

Air.  Myers  was  again  married,  in  Feb- 
ruary. 1867,  his  second  union  being  with 
Airs.  Mary  Jane  Alger,  a  native  of  Xew 
York  state  and  a  daughter  of  Theodore 
Xoyes.  Her  first  husband,  Horace  Alger, 
died  January  13,  1864.  leaving  two  children, 
namely:  Geraldine,  wife  of  B.  C.  Ogden,  of 
Lyons,  Kansas,  by  whom  she  has  one  son, 
Cordy:  and  Noyes  B.,  who  married  Pearl 
Woodford,  and  is  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  in  Wessington.  South  Dakota. 

After  his  removal  to  Atkinson.  Mr. 
Myers  conducted  a  blacksmith  shop  at  that 
place  for  nine  years,  and  then  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Atkinson  township,  to 
which  he  has  since  added  at  different  times 
tracts  of  forty,  two  hundred,  one  hundred 
and  twenty,  and  eight}'  acres,  making  in  all 
four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  rich  and 
arable  land,  which  he  has  placed  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  He  lives  in  town  but 
for  some  years  continued  to  drive  into  the 
country  and  'iversee  the  operation  of  his 
land.  At  present  he  rents  the  property  and  is 
living  retire  ■,' joying  the  fruits  of  former 
tc.'il.     In  his     "l-tical  views  he  is  an, ardent 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


585 


Republican,  but  cares  nothing  for  political 
honors.  He  has,  however,  filled  various 
school  offices,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
securing  efficient  teachers  and  good  schools. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Free  W'ill  Bap- 
tist Church  and  both  are  held  in  high  regard 
by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  their  accjuain- 
tance. 


GEORGE  HUFFMAN. 

Among  the  honored  veterans  of  the  Civil 
war  and  representative  citizens  of  Galva 
township  is  George  Huffman,  who  resides  on 
section  11.  A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  he 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  on  the  29th 
of  October,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Abram 
and  Hannah  (Bo wen)  Huffman,  also  natives 
of  the  Keystone  state,  while  the  former  was 
of  German  and  the  latter  of  English  descent. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  Mason  Bowen, 
was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812.  Coming 
west  in  1865  he  first  settled  in  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  and  purchased  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Gaiva  town- 
ship, converting  the  wild  tract  into  a  good 
farm.  He  was  always  an  active  worker  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  a  fine  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  this  county, 
and  a  half  section  of  good  farm  land  in  Min- 
nesota. This  property  was  all  acquired 
through  his  own  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment. During  his  boyhood  he  had  received 
but  a  limited  education.  He  died  at  the  home 
of  our  subject  in  1892,  and  his  wife  died 
January  4,  1901,  in  Kewanee,  aged  eighty- 
one  years. 

Of  the  twelve  children  Ixjrn  to  this 
worthy  couple  three  died  when  young.  The 
others  are  as  follows :  George,  our  subject ; 
Mason,  a  resident  of  Galva  township,  who 


was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war  and  was 
v.ounded  in  the  service;  Julia  A.,  wife  of  R. 
T.  Bryan,  a  farmer  of  Iowa;  Dilly,  wife  of 
William  Briner,  also  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war,  residing  in  Kewanee;  Eliza,  wife  of 
Joe  Johnson  of  the  same  place ;  Mary,  wife  of 
Charles  White,  of  Slayton,  Minnesota ;  John, 
a  farmer  of  Peoria  county,  Illinois;  Mahala, 
wife  of  Robert  Sprague,  of  Lake  Wilson, 
Minnesota ;  and  William  S.,  of  Peoria  coun- 
ty, Illinois. 

In  the  common  schools  of  Pennsylvania 
George  Huffman  acquired  his  literary  edu- 
cation, and  he  remained  at  home  with  his 
parents  until  after  the  inauguration  of  the 
Civil  war.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company 
K,  Fourteenth  West  Virginia  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  remained  in  the  service  until 
hostilities  ceased,  taking  part  in  the  battles 
of  Cedar  Creek,  Winchester,  Bunker  Hill, 
Boliver  Heights,  Call  Town,  Lynchburg, 
and  many  other  engagements  of  lesser  im- 
portance. At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Cumberland,  and 
arrived  home  on  the  4th  of  July,  1865.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  after 
w  orking  on  his  father's  farm  for  two  years, 
he  purchased  forty  acres  of  wild  land  in  1868 
and  began  the  improvement  of  his  farm,  on 
which  he  has  made  his  home  ever  since.  He 
now  operates  about  eighty  acres  of  land,  and 
as  a  general  farmer  is  meeting  with  well  de- 
served success. 

Mr.  Huffman  has  been  twice  married.  In 
1862  he  wedded  Miss  Catherine  Martin,  who 
died  November  23,  1865,  and  on  the  loth  of 
May.  1868,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Cassie  J.  Bowler,  who  was  born  in 
Green  county,  Pennsyh-ania,  in  1840.  Her 
mother  died  in  that  state  when  Mrs.  Huff- 
man was  onlv  twelve  rears  old,  and  in  1868 


586 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


slie  came  to  Illinois  with  her  father,  Samuel 
Bowler,  who  spent  his  last  days  at  her  home, 
he  has  two  brothers  and  two  sisters,  namely : 
Margaret,  wife  of  Jacol)  \\'ilson,  of  Galva 
twonshij);  Charit}',  a  resident  of  the  same 
township:  John,  of  Wood  county.  West  \'ir- 
ginia  :  and  George,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 
One  brother  died  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  in 
1896.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huffman  have  four 
children:  Hannah  L..  born  November  23, 
1869,  is  at  home;  Ellen,  born  May  16,  187 1, 
i:,  the  wife  of  Elmer  Wright,  of  Kewanee. 
and  they  ha\e  three  children,  Roy  E.,  Nel- 
lie P.  and  Mallei.  (  3  )  Maggie,  born  .August 
16,  1873,  married  Jnhn  Hicks,  of  Kewanee, 
and  ilied  Feljruary  25,  1896;  and  ^^'alter 
H.,  born  ^Nlarch  i,  1880,  operates  the  home 
farm. 

In  1867  Mr.  Huffman  was  accidentally 
inj-ured  in  a  threshing  machine,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  loss  of  his  foot.  Politically  he  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  re- 
ligiously he  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  L'nited  Brethren  Church.  He  is  promi- 
nent in  Grand  Army  circles  and  is  an  hon- 
ored member  of  the  post  at  Galva.  He  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  that  class  of  citi- 
zens who  lead,  ((uiet,  industrious  and  useful 
lives,  and  constitute  the  best  portion  of  a 
ccmmunitv. 


JA^IES  H.  NEWMAN. 

This  well-to-do  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 23,  Clover  township,  has  made  his  home 
in  Henry  county  since  the  spring  of  1855, 
and  now  owns  and  operates  a  valuable  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  was 
burn  in  Westchester  county,  New  York, 
June  19,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Banks  and 
Sarah  (Reynolds)  Newman,  who  were  life 


long  residents  of  that  county.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  James  Newman,  was  a  native 
of  New  York  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Westchester  county,  while  the  maternal 
grandfather.  James  Reynulds,  was  liorn  in 
Connecticut  and  was  also  an  early  settler  of 
\\'estchester  county.  New  York.  The  lat- 
ter fought  for  .\nierican  independence  in 
the  Revolutionar}'  war.  Though  reared  upon 
a  farm.  Banks  Newman  followed  the  shoe- 
maker's trade  throughout  life,  and  died  in 
the  spring  of  1843.  H's  wife  survived  him 
and  reared  their  six  children,  all  of  whom 
reached  adult  age,  namely:  Clarissa  J.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  nineteen:  Elias  G.,  who 
married  anil  located  in  New  York  city,  where 
Ids  death  occurred ;  Rachel  Ann,  a  resident 
of  Westchester  county,  New  York;  Charles 
William,  of  Staten  Island,  New  York ;  Ed- 
gar B.,  of  Westchester  county:  and  James 
H.,  our  subject,  who  is  second  in  order  of 
birth. 

James  H.  Newman  grew  to  manhood 
ir,  his  natixe  county,  anil  recei\-ed  a  good 
common-school  education.  In  early  life  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  some  time  both  in  New  York  and 
Illinois.  In  the  spring  of  1855  he  came  to 
this  county  with  his  cousin,  Alvah  Rey- 
nolds, and  togethei-  they  engaged  in  con- 
tracting and  building  in  Henry  and  Knox 
counties  for  three  years.  Mr.  Newman  then 
rented  a  farm  and  in  connection  with  its 
operation  continued  to  work  at  his  trade. 

-After  the  country  became  involved  in 
cixil  war,  he  enlisted  in  the  fall  of  1861  in 
Waterhouse'  Battery  of  Chicago,  and  as  a 
member  of  the  Western  army  was  under  the 
command  of  Generals  Grant  and  Sherman. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh, 
Tennesssee,  and  Jackson,  Mississippi,  and  in 
the  siege  of  \'icksburg.  being  present  at  its 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


587 


surrender.  He  entered  the  service  as  a  jiri- 
\ate  hut  was  made  (|uartermaster  sergeant, 
and  acted  in  tliat  capacity-  during  the  whole 
time  of  his  service.  I'or  a  time  lie  was  ill  at 
Shiloh.  and  when  his  term  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired was  honorahly  discharged  at  Louis- 
ville.  Kentucky,   December   19,    1864. 

While  at  home  on  a  furlough  Mr.  New- 
man had  purchaseil  eighty  acres  of  raw  land 
where  he  now  resides,  and  after  his  mar- 
riage in  1865  he  located  thereon  and  com- 
menced to  break  and  improve  the  land.  He 
built  a  good  small  house,  which  he  has  since 
remodeled  and  enlarged,  and  has  erected  two 
barns  and  other  outbuildings.  He  has  also 
set  out  fruit  and  shade  trees,  and  has  added 
to  his  farm  a  tract  of  sixty  acres,  and  now 
h.as  a  well-improved  and  valuable  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  has  always 
given  considerable  attention  to  the  raising 
and  feeding  of  stock  for  market,  and  is  ac- 
counted one  of  the  successful  agriculturists 
of  the  comnuinit}'.  On  coming  to  this  state 
he  was  wiihoui  capital  or  influential  friends 
and  to  his  own  untiring  labor  and  good  bus- 
iness ability  is  due  his  success. 

On  the  30th  of  November,  1865,  Mr. 
Newman  letl  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Cynthia  .\.  Hayden.  a  native  of  Montgomery 
county,  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  A.  R. 
Hayden.  an  honored  \-eteran  of  the  Civil 
war.  who  came  to  Henry  county  at  an  early 
day  and  is  now  one  of  the  substantial  far- 
mers of  Clover  townshij).  By  this  union 
were  born  two  sons,  Clark  and  Orris  H.  The 
latter  is  well  educated  and  is  now  principal 
of  a  ward  school  in  Pekin.  Illinois.  He  is 
married  and  has  two  children.  Marie  and 
James  Harold. 

Politically  Mr.  Newman  has  been  a  life- 
long Republican,  haxing  cast  his  first  presi- 
<lential  ballot  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856. 


His  father  was  an  old  time  Whig.  Our  sub- 
ject has  ever  taken  quite  an  active  and  prom- 
inent part  in  local  politics,  and  his  fellow 
citizens  recognizing  his  worth  and  aljility 
have  called  upon  him  to  fill  positions  of  pub- 
lic trust.  For  three  terms  he  was  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  honorable  county  board 
of  supervisors;  later  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  one  term,  and  has  been  a  township 
school  trustee  for  tweKc  or  fifteen  years. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  active  and  intluen- 
tial  members  of  the  Christian  Church  of  On- 
tario, and  at  the  last  district  conference  was 
elected  vice-president  of  the  Western  Illi- 
nois Christian  conference,  which  positi<in 
he  is  now  most  creditably  filling.  He  gave 
one  hundred  dollars  to  the  Union  Christian 
College  of  Merom.  Indiana,  and  the  same 
amount  to  the  Christi;ui  Biblical  School  at 
.^tamfonhille.  New  ^'ork,  and  ha:^  e\er  con- 
tributed liberally  to  all  enterprises  which  he 
believes  for  the  betterment  of  mankind  or 
the  good  of  the  community  in  w  hich  he  li\'es. 


GEORGE  J.  McCORKLE. 

Among  the  highly  respected  and  hon- 
ored citizens  of  Kewanee  who  are  spendini^ 
their  declining  years  in  ease  and  quiet  lia\ing 
previously  actpiired  a  comfortable  comjie- 
lence  through  their  diligence,  enterprise  and 
good  management,  is  George  J.  McCorkle. 
He  was  born  in  W  ilmington.  Delaware.  .Au- 
gust I,  1832,  a  son  of  George  and  Mary 
(  Penny)  McCorkle.  also  natives  of  that 
state.  The  maternal  grandparents,  Daxid 
and  Ann  (  Lodge)  Penny,  were  also  born  in 
Delaware  of  English  and  Scotch  extraction, 
and  the  ])aternal  grandfather.  William  Mc- 
Corkle. cl.'iinied  the  same  state  as  his  birth 


588 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


place.  His  ancestors  were  of  Englisli  orii^in. 
In  early  life  the  father  of  our  subject  learned 
the  harness  maker's  trade,  and  later  became 
quite  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  saddlery  and  harness,  which  he  sold  both 
at  wholesale  and  retail.  He  made  his  home 
in  Wilmington  until  1856,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Galva, 
Henry  county,  where  he  continued  in  the 
same  line  of  business  for  some  3ears. 
He  died  at  the  home  of  a  daughter  in  Bu- 
reau county,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  ninety. 
His  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  died  in  infancy.  Those 
vho  reached  years  of  maturity  were  \\'ill- 
iam,  George,  Thomas,  Henry.  Charles,  John, 
Maria  and  Sabilla,  but  William,  Thomas, 
and  Henry  are  now  deceased.  Our  subject 
is  the  only  member  of  the  family  residing  in 
Kewanee. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  George 
J.  McCorkle,  of  this  review,  attended  the 
commnn  schools  of  Wilmington,  Delaware, 
and  learned  harness  and  saddle  making, 
working  with  his  father  until  the  latter  re- 
moved to  Illinois.  In  1857  our  subject  went 
to  West  Virginia,  locating  on  the  Ohio  river 
at  what  is  now  Thompson,  four  miles  south 
of  Moundsville,  in  Marshall  county,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  coming  to 
Kewanee,  Illinois,  in  1881,  since  which  time 
he  has  practically  lived  a  retired  life. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1855,  Mr.  Mc- 
Corkle was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Aim  R.  McClean,  a  native  of  W'est  Virginia, 
and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Maria  AIc- 
Clean,  who  were  also  born  in  that  state  and 
belonged  to  one  of  its  oldest  families.  Her 
father  followed  farming  and  surveying, 
serving  as  county  surveyor  for  many  years. 
He  owned  a  large  and  valuable  farm  of  six 


hundred  acres  on  the  Ohio  river.  The 
twelve  children  burn  U>  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Corkle were  Joseph,  an  employe  in  the  roll- 
ing mills  of  Kewanee,  who  married  Lefa 
-Vdams  and  has  three  children.  Earl,  Fred- 
die and  \'erna ;  Charles,  who  wedded  Mary 
E.  Johnson  and  died  in  Lincoln,  Nebraska, 
leaving  one  child;  Eri  J.,  Peoria;  William, 
V\ho  married  Isabella  Mason,  now  deceased, 
and  li\-es  in  Lincoln,  Nebraska;  Mary,  who 
was  drowned  in  the  Ohio  river  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years ;  Henry,  a  resident  of  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah ;  Elburt.  a  farmer  of  Stark  coun- 
ty, Illinois;  Susan,  who  died  in  infancy; 
George,  who  fought  through  the  Spanish- 
American  war,  and  is  now  with  the  L'nited 
States  army  in  the  Philippines ;  Eri,  who  is 
a  traveling  salesman  for  a  clothing  house 
and  lives  in  Lincoln,  Nebraska ;  Baj-ard,  who 
died  in  infancy;  and  Marshall,  a  boiler 
maker  of  Bellair,  Ohio.  The  wife  and 
mother,  who  was  a  consistent  and  faithful 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
died  February  23,  1874,  and  was  laid  to  rest 
in  Moundsville,  West  Virginia. 

;\lr.  McCorkle  was  made  a  Mason  in 
Marshall  Union  Lodge,  No.  8,  at  Mounds- 
ville, West, Virginia,  and  has  always  affil- 
iated with  the  Republican  party,  but  hai 
taken  no  active  part  in  politics  aside  from 
voting.  He  has  made  many  friends  during 
his  residence  in  Kewanee,  and  is  held  in 
high  regard  bv  all  who  know  him. 


L.  D.  ANDERSON. 

Among  the  enterprising  and  public-spir- 
ited citizens  of  Geneseo  may  be  numbered 
L.  D.  Anderson,  who  does  a  successful  bus- 
iness in  establishing  drive  wells  and  water 
works  on  farms  throughout  the  surrounding 
countrv.     He  was  born  in  Bucvrus,  Craw- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


589 


ford  county,  Ohio,  April  7,  1847.  ^"^  i*  '^ 
son  of  Jolin  and  Mary  (Andrews)  Ander- 
son, the  father  a  native  of  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  the  mother  of  Ashland  county, 
Ohio.  In  early  life  the  father  learned  the 
tinner's  trade  and  followed  that  business  for 
a  time,  but  later  conducted  a  hotel  in  Bucy- 
rus.  Ohio.  In  1851  he  came  to  Geneseo, 
Illinois,  driving  all  the  way  from  Bucyrus. 
Ohio,  with  a  team  and  buggy.  He  embarked 
in  the  tinware  and  stove  business,  hauling 
h's  goods  to  this  place  from  the  canal  at 
I'eru,  tliere  being  no  railroad  here  at  that 
time.  In  1858  he  turned  his  attention  to 
farming  and  successfully  carried  on  that  oc- 
cupation for  twenty  years,  at  the  end  of 
Vi  hich  time  he  returned  to  Geneseo,  while  his 
sun,  James,  operated  the  farm  for  the  same 
length  of  time  before  it  was  sold.  The  fa- 
ther died  in  Geneseo  July  19,  1892,  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  eighty-four  years.  In  his 
political  views  he  was  a  strong  Republican 
and  helped  to  organize  the  party  in  his  local- 
it}-.  He  was  an  anti-slavery  man  and  favored 
tile  vigorous  prosecution  of  tlie  war.  His 
fellow  citizens  recognizing  his  worth  and 
ability,  called  upon  him  to  serve  as  sui^er- 
visor  .several  terms,  and  as  a  member  of  the 
school  l)oard  for  many  years.  His  estimable 
wife  was  a  daughter  of  Captain  Alanson  An- 
drews, one  of  the  founders  of  the  town  of 
Ashland,  Ohio,  which  was  largely  built  upon 
his  farm.  He  died  in  1850,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-six  years.  In  1876  his  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Sally  Gates,  came  to 
Geneseo,  where  most  <if  her  children  were 
living,  and  died  here  February  9.  1879.  She 
was  a  devdut  memlier  nf  tlie  Congregati  Mial 
church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  third  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  seven  children, 
the  others  being  lame:?,  a  farmer  of  Geneseo 


township:  Mary,  married  Josiah  Thomson, 
of  L'niontown.  Pennsylvania.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and 
died  in  that  faith  August  7,  1896;  Sarah  F.. 
i\ife  of  H.  A.  Ainsworth,  of  Moline,  Illi- 
nois. She  was  principal  of  the  female  col- 
lege at  Rockford,  Illinois,  several  years; 
Emily  A.,  wife  of  A.  W.  Bickel,  of  Geneseo ; 
David  P..  also  a  resident  of  Geneseo;  and 
Frank  L.,  a  farmer  of  Ruthven,  Iowa. 

The  early  life  of  L.  D.  Anderson  was 
principally  passed  in  thib  county,  and  in  the 
schools  of  Geneseo  he  acquired'  the  greater 
part  of  his  education.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years  he  started  out  to  make  hiis  own 
way  in  the  world.  He  then  enlisted  Sunday, 
January  24.  1865.  at  Geneseo,  in  Company 
B.  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry,  mustered  in  the 
L'nited  States  service  at  Peoria,  Illinois,  and 
joined  his  regiment  at  EastjX)rt,  ^Mississippi. 
They  were  mostly  engaged  in  scouting  duty 
in  that  state,  Alabama  and  Tennessee,  and 
spent  much  time  in  looking  for  rebel  cotton, 
great  quantities  of  which  they  found  secre- 
ted in  the  swamps.  The  war  having  ended, 
Mr.  .\nderson  was  honorably  discharged 
Octolier  31,  1865,  after  eleven  months  spent 
in  the  service.  He  was  mustered  out  at 
Springfield,  after  which  he  was  engaged  in 
the  grocerv  business  in  that  city  for  eight- 
een months. 

Selling  his  interests  there  Mr.  .Xnderson 
returned  to  Geneseo  and  engaged  in  farming 
for  his  father.  Shortly  afterward  he  and 
his  brother  James  went  to  Nebraska  and 
purchased  one  hundred  head  of  cattle,  which 
they  dro\e  home  and  after  feeding  through 
the  wjnter  sold  at  a  good  profit.  The  fol- 
lowing season  our  subject  returned  to  Ne- 
braska with  the  intention  of  taking  up  a 
homestead,  but  being  unfavorably  impressed 
with  the  wild  country,  he  engaged  in  team- 


590 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ing  for  tlie  railroad  company  during  the 
summer,  in  wliich  way  he  paid  all  his  ex- 
penses, returning  home  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year.  He  then  joined  his  brother  in  his 
present  business,  which  was  conducted  under 
the  firm  style  of  Anderson  Brothers  for  a 
year,  but  in  1870  he  purchased  his  partner's 
interest  and  has  since  been  alone  in  business. 
He  is  kept  busy  constantly,  and  has  met  with 
excellent  success.  In  1893  he  rented  his 
present  shop,  and  has  since  manufactured 
his  own  tanks  and  towers,  which  he  has 
found  greatly  to  his  advantage.  He  is  well 
equipped  to  do  an  extensive  business,  and 
by  fair  and  honorable  dealing  has  gained 
a  liberal  patronage.  In  1894  Mr.  Anderson 
made  an  extended  trip  in  the  west,  spending 
several  weeks  in  California. 

Mt.  Anderson  was  married  July  5.  1894, 
to  Miss  Jennie  L.  Woodruff,  a  native  of 
Ashland.  Ohio,  and  a  daughter,  of  Simeon 
and  Tacy  (Andrews)  Woodruff.  Her  fa- 
ther, who  was  a  dry-goods  merchant  of  that 
place,  met  with  a  tragic  death  October  31. 
1854.  while  riding  one  horse  and  leading 
another.  \\'hen  crossing  a  bridge  where 
men  were  repairing  a  telegraph  wire  lying 
on  the  ground,  the  horse  which  he  was  rid- 
ing— a  very  powerful  animal — became  en- 
tangled in  tlie  wire  and  was  thrown  to  the 
ground,  falling  on  Mr.  Woodruff,  whose  in- 
juries were  of  such  a  severe  nature  that  he 
died  nine  daj-s  later.  He  was  well  and  fa- 
\orably  known  throughout  his  community, 
and  was  thirty-six  years  of  age  at  time  of 
death.  His  wife  died  in  March.  1897,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two  years.  Their  children 
were  Ella,  wife  of  George  G.  !Mowry.  who 
is  engaged  in  the  agricultural  implement 
business  in  Geneseo;  Jennie  L..  wife  of  our 
subject;  and  Simeon,  who  died  !March  24. 
1900.  aged  forty-five  years.     At  the  age  of 


fifteen  he  Ijecame  a  brakeman  and  remained 
in  the  railway  service  until  1898.  twelve 
years  being  spent  in  Mexico.  He  was  a 
passenger  conductor  most  of  the  time,  and 
before  going  to  Mexico  was  in  Colorado. 
Mrs.  Anderson  taught  school  in  this  county 
for  five  years,  and  was  clerk  in  the  post- 
office  at  Geneseo  for  three  years  under  Post- 
master George  Hobbs  and  later  under  Solon 
Kendal,  and'  clerked  in  Van  \"anvalken- 
berg's  dry-goods  store  in  Geneseo  for  twelve 
years.  By  her  marriage  she  has  become  the 
mother  of  one  child,  Simeon  Duvall,  born 
April  I,  1895.  Religiously  she  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church.  Mr. 
Anderson  takes  an  active  and  commendable 
interest  in  public  affairs,  is  independent  in 
politics,  and  voted  for  both  Cleveland  and 
IxIcKinley.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth 
and  strict  integrity,  and  commands  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact  either  in  business  or  social 
life. 


GEORGE  E.   WAITE. 

Hon.  George  E.  Waite.  of  Geneseo.  Illi- 
nois, was  born  in  Stratton.  \\'indham  county, 
\"ermont :  his  parental  ancestry  is  English. 
The  name  was  originally  spelled  A\'ayte, 
later  ^\'aite  or  ^\'ait.  The  American  an- 
cestor is  Thomas  \\'ayte.  who  emigrated  to 
Massachusetts  upon  the  restoration  of 
Charles  II.  in  1660.  Thomas  Wayte  was  a 
member  of  the  Long  Parliament,  and  was 
identified  with  Hampden.  Pym,  Sir  Harry 
Vane,  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax,  Cromwell,  Ire- 
ton  and  others  in  the  great  struggle  for  free- 
dom of  conscience  and  constitutional  gov- 
ernment. He  did  not  waver  in  his  opposition 
to  the  tvrannv  of  the  King.     He  no  doubt 


GEORGE  E.  WAITE. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

UR3P.XA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


593 


saw  Cromwell  at  the  head  of  the  Ironsides, 
and  may  ha\e  been  present  at  Marston  IMoor 
and  N'aseliv.  He  sat  at  the  trial  of  Charles 
I.,  witnessed  the  matchless  prosecution  by 
Jchn  Rradshaw,  and  signed  the  deatli  war- 
rant <it  the  King.  John  Wayte,  the  grand- 
fatlier  of  the  Judge  was  a  soldier  of  the  Re\- 
olution  and  fought  at  the  battles  of  Concord. 
Le.xington  and  Bunker  Hill,  he  was  a  direct 
descendant  of  Thomas  \\'ayte.  .\fter  the 
Avar  John  W'ayte  removed  to  Stratton.  \'er- 
mont,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He 
had  five  sons,  namely :  Amasa,  Luther,  Dan- 
iel. Tyler  and  Alpheus.  Judge  W'aite  is  a 
son  of  Tyler  Waite  and  Lucia  Tyler  W'aite. 
His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
Taylor,  of  Wardsboro,  \"ermont,  and  was 
of  Scotch  origin. 

Tyler  W'aite  was  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  education  and  influence,  he  and  his  wife 
reared  and  educated  seven  children,  namely : 
Laura,  (ieorge  E.,  Lucia,  Henry  .\.,  Chas- 
tina,  Ruth  and  De.xter  W'aite. 

Judge  W'aite  attended  the  comniun 
schools  of  Vermont,  prepared  for  college, 
and  took  a  four  years'  classical  course  in  the 
Wesleyan  Lni\ersity  at  Middletown,  Con- 
necticut. He  was  especially  noted  for  his 
ability  as  a  writer  and  speaker  and  graduated 
with  honor.  He  removed  to  (ieneseo.  Illi- 
nois, in  1856,  wrjs  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1858.  and  at  once  entered  upon  a  successful 
practice  of  law. 

Judge  W'aite  is  a  Republican  in  ])iilitics: 
he  participated  in  the  organization  of  the 
party  in  1856.  and  has  without  deviation  ad- 
vocated the  ]3rinciples  of  the  jjarty  and  sup- 
ported its  candidates :  he  became  widely 
known  throughout  the  state  and  was  recog- 
nized as  an  able,  safe  and  courageous  leader. 
He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  every  ])olitical 
campaign:  he  is  a  man   for  an  emergency, 


rising  in  )X)wer  and  influence  with  the  im- 
portance i.'i  the  occasion.  .\  splendid  speci- 
men of  ])liysical  manhood,  he  challenges  at- 
tention in  any  gathering.  .\s  a  speaker  by 
voice,  word  and  action  he  appeals  with  con- 
vincing power  to  an  audience. 

Judge  W'aite  has  never  pushed  himself 
forward  as  a  seeker  after  ofifice,  but  has  by 
the  free  choice  of  the  people  held  important 
judicial,  legislative  and  other  positions,  per- 
forming the  duties  of  all  of  tlien\  with  en- 
tire satisfaction  to  the  public. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  convention 
which  framed  the  present  Constitution  of 
Illinois  and  was  chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  Retrenchments  and  Reforms.  His  report 
to  the  convention  amongst  other  things  con- 
tained a  recommendation  for  an  article  pro- 
hibiting siJecial  legislation.  He  recognized 
the  great  abuse  and  proposed  the  only  meth- 
od to  put  an  end  to  it :  his  recommendation 
was  adopted  and  incorporated  into  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  State,  and  i.s  one  of  its  wisest 
and    best    jirovisions. 

Jutlge  W'aite  has  been  a  careful  student 
of  history,  and  is  an  intelligent  observer  of 
the  passing  events  of  the  world.  He  has  well 
settled  opinions  uix)n  great  public  questions, 
and  is  a  national  leader  of  public  opinion. 
He  gave  strong  support  to  the  cause  of  the 
L'nion.  and  has  done  much  for  both  meas- 
ures and  men  of  his  party. 

On  the  9th  of  May.  1859,  at  Geneseo, 
Illinois,  Judge  W'aite  was  united  in  marriage 
with  .Miss  Hattie  X.  Wells,  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Wells,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
and  the  youngest  son  of  Thomas  Wells,  a 
scion  of  Governi>r  Wells,  of  Connecticut. 
The  Hon.  William  H.  Wells,  the  author  of 
Wells'  (irammar,  was  the  cousin  of  Mrs. 
W'aite.  Her  mother  was  Mary  B.  Ford, 
daughter    of  Dyer    and    Esther    (  I'.urnett ) 


594 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ford,  and  their  children  were  Estlier,  Dyer. 
WilHani  Averill  and  Mary  B.  The  Fords 
are  descendants  of  of  Martha  Ford,  who 
came  to  Plymouth,  ^lassachusetts,  in  tlie 
ship  "Fortune'"  in  16.21,  with  her  children. 
Mrs.  \\'aite  was  born  in  Old  Woodstock, 
Connecticut,  and  came  with  her  parents  to 
Geneseo  in  1856.  Benjamin  Weils,  her  fa- 
ther, died  in  Geneseo  in  1864,  and  her  mother 
departed  this  life  in  Geneseo  in  1886.  To 
Judge  and  Mrs.  Waite  were  given  three  chil- 
dren, Laura  X..  Hattie  M.  and  Ruth  M.  Lt 
1886  Hattie  ^L  married  Thomas  Everitt 
and  tW'O  children  were  born  unto  them — - 
George  AA'aite  Everitt  and  Thomas'  Waite 
Everitt.  The  last  named  died  in  February, 
1892.  Thomas  E\eritt,  the  husband  of  Hat- 
tie M.,  departed  this  life  in  1890.  Ruth  M. 
Waite  married  Henry  Dedrick,  of  Geneseo, 
in  1895,  and  they  had  one  child,  Henry 
\Vaite  Dedrick,  who  died  in  December,  1899. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dedrick  now  reside  in  Janes- 
ville,  Wisconsin. 


XELS  GRAXOLTST. 

The  career  of  him  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review  illustrates  most  forcibly 
the  ixjssibilities  that  are  open  to  young  men 
who  possess  sterling  busines  qualifications. 
It  proves  that  ambition,  i>erseverance,  stead- 
fast purpose  and  indefatigable  industry, 
combined  with  sound  business  principles, 
will  be  rewarded,  and  that  true  success  fol- 
lows individual  efifort  onh% 

This  w^ell-known  contractor  of  Kewanee 
was  born  in  tlie  province'of  Skone,  Sweden, 
September  17,  1856,  a  son  of  John  and  Rers- 
tine  (.Anderson)  Granquist,  also  natives  of 
that  countrv,  where  the  father  was  ensraeed 


in  contracting  and  building  for  many  years, 
but  is  now  living  retired  from  active  labor. 
His  wife  died  about  ten  years  ago.  Unto 
them  were  born  six  children,  namely :  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Peter  Pearson,  of  Sweden; 
X'^els,  our  subject;  Hannah,  who  became  the 
wife  of  August  Beck  and  died  in  Kewanee, 
Illinois;  and  three  who  died  in  infancy. 

As  soon  as  he  reached  a  sufficient  age 
Xels  Granquist  entered  school,  and  until 
seventeen  continued  his  studies,  completing 
liis  education  by  a  collegiate  course.  Thus 
well  equipped  for  life's  responsible  duties  he 
began  his  business  career  as  his  father's  as- 
sistant. \\'ith  the  hope  of  benefiting  his  finan- 
cial condition  he  came  to  the  new  world  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five  years  and  has  since 
made  his  home  in  Kewanee,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  in  the  employ  of  E.  T.  Heaps 
until  1890,  when  he  embarked  in  business 
on  his  own  account  as  a  contractor  and 
builder.  He  has  erected  many  private  resi- 
dences and  business  blocks  in  the  city,  in- 
cluding the  ]McLean  block,  the  Bennison 
building,  the  Washington  and  Irving 
schools,  the  Kewanee  Boiler  Company's> 
plant,  the  Union  X'^ational  Bank,  the  Hallin 
block,  two  new  buildings  for  the  Western 
Tube  Company,  and  at  present  is  erecting 
another  four-story  building  for  the  same 
company  at  a  cost  of  thirt}'  thousand  dollars. 

On  the  1 6th  of  December,  1886,  Mr. 
Granquist  married  Miss  Amanda  Danielson, 
who  was  born  in  Sweden  but  was  only  a 
year  and  a  half  old  when  brought  to  America 
by  her  parents,  Charles  and  Louisa  (Ander- 
son) Danielson,  locating  in  Kewanee  when  it 
was  a  mere  village.  Her  father,  who  fol- 
lowed gardening  for  many  years,  died  June 
5.  1893,  but  her  mother  is  still  living  and 
continues'  to  reside  in  Kewanee.  Of  the 
eight  children  born  to  them  only  three  are 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


595 


now  living:  namely;  Eupheniia.  wife  of  Will 
Larson,  of  Kewanee;  C.  J.,  a  grocer  of  Ke- 
wanee;  and  Amanda,  wife  of  our  subject. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graiiquist  have  become  the 
parents  of  four  children  as  follows:  Edith, 
born  February  25,  1888,  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  months;  Verner  Nels,  born  No- 
vember 5,  1890,  is  now  attending  school; 
Ralph  Clifford,  born  April  25,  1895,  and 
Inez  Amanda,  born  February  7.  1899,  are 
both  at  home. 

On  coming  to  the  United  States  Mr. 
Granquist  was  unable  to  speak  a  word  of 
English,  and  for  the  success  that  he  has 
achieved  here  he  deserves  great  credit,  it 
being  due  entirely  ti>  his  own  well-directed 
and  energetic  efforts.  He  is  one  of  'he  lead- 
ing and  influential  members  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Evangelical  Church,  of  which  he 
has  been  a  trustee  for  ten  years,  and  in  poli- 
tics he  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  served  as  a  trustee  of  Kewanee 
in  1894  and  1895,  during  which  time  he  was 
chairman  of  the  streets,  alleys  and  water 
committees,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the 
park  and  cemetery  committee.  In  the  spring 
of  1900  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  Ke- 
wanee, which  office  he  is  now  most  credit- 
ably and  acceptably  filling,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  committee  on  public  grounds  and 
buildings.  He  is  a  man  of  recognized  abil- 
ity and  sterling  worth,  and  merits  the  high 
regard  in  which  lie  is  unifurmlv  helil. 


JOHN  O.  HILBURG. 

Since  the  19th  of  June,  1868,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  has  been  a  resident  of  Henry 
county,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  has 
been  one  of  the  leading  contractors  and 
builders  of  Galva.     He  was  born  in  CJestrik- 


laud,  in  the  northern  part  of  Sweden,  May 
3,  1844.  His  father,  who  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Swedish  army  and  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
(lied  in  that  cnuntry.  as  did  also  two  of  liis 
daughters.  In  his  family  were  four  chil- 
dren, our  subject  being  the  only  son.  .\bout 
1872  the  mother  and  youngest  daughter, 
Catherine,  came  to  the  United  States  and 
settled  in  Illinois.  The  latter  became  the 
wife  of  M.  O.  Swanson  and  died  in  Galva 
in  1890,  while  the  mother's  death  occurred 
in  1893,  when  she  was  eighty-one  years  of 
age. 

y,W.  Hilburg  received  a  good  high-sclmnl 
education  in  the  land  of  his  birth.  He  was 
only  seventeen  years  of  age  when  his  father 
diied  and  the  support  of  his  mother  and  si>- 
ters  devolved  upon  him.  After  his  father's 
death  and  up  to  1868  he  followed  farming. 
Coming  djrect  to  Galva  he  soon  fovmd  em- 
ployment as  a  farm  hand,  working  as  such 
for  a  few  years  or  at  anything  he  coidd  find 
to  do.  For  a  time  he  worked  as  a  laborer 
on  the  'railroad. 

In  1869  Mr.  Hilburg  married  Miss 
Johanna  Hagstrum,  also  a  native  of  Sweden, 
who  came  to  America  about  the  same  tinio 
as  her  husband'.'  By  this  union  have  been 
born  twelve  children,  namely:  John  F..  a 
carpenter  now  engaged  in  business  as  a 
partner  of  his  father,  is  married  and  has'  one 
son,  John  M. ;  William,  a  painter  of  Galva. 
lives  at  home;  Amil  is  a  carpenter  residing 
at  home;  Jennie  is  at  home;  Clara  is  at 
home ;  Walter  is  a  painter  and  carpentei 
li\ing  at  home;  Herman  is  attending  school ; 
Ernest  is  a  farm  hand ;  and  Nettie,  Edna, 
Francis  and  Earl  are  all  attending  school. 
The  children  have  all  received  a  good  edlica- 
tion  in  the  common  and  high  schools  of 
Galva.  Mrs.  Hilburg  passed  away  Decem- 
ber 2,   1900. 


596 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


.\I1  that  he  has  Mr.  Hilburg  has  made 
liy  liard  labor.  Ha\ing'  no  capital  with 
v.iiich  to  embark  in  business  for  himself,  he 
continued  to  work  at  \arious  occupations 
until  1876,  when  he  became  connected  with 
the  building'  interests  of  Galva.  He  has 
since  done  a  large  and  successful  business 
as  a  contractor  and  builder  in  and  around 
Galva,  filling  some  contracts  in  neighboring 
tcwn.s.  In  his  shop  he  does  some  cabinet 
\\ork,  but  is  principally  engaged  in  house 
building,  and  during  the  busy  season  em- 
ploys quite  a  numl)er  of  men.  He  -is  a 
stockholder  in  the  W'estrand  Manufactur- 
ing Company  of  Gaha,  and  owns  a  pleas- 
ant home  in  that  town,  which  \vas  erected 
by  him  in  189 1.  In  political  i^entiment  Mr. 
Hilberg  is  a  Republican,  and  lis  now  ac- 
ceptably serving  Ms  second  term  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  village  boardi.  He  is  an  active 
and  prominent  member  of  the  Swedish  Lu- 
theran Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a 
deacon  for  about  twenty-three  year.s,  and 
superintentlent  of  the  Sunday-school  for  six- 
teen ^•ears. 


SW'AX    S\\'AXSOX. 

There  is  no  element  which  has  entered 
into  our  composite  national  fabric  which 
has  been  of  more  practical  strength,  value 
and  utility  than  that  furnished  by  the  sturdy, 
persevering  and  honorable  sons  of  Sweden, 
and  in  the  progress  of  our  Union  this  ele- 
ment has  played  an  important  part.  Thev 
have  also  taken  a  very  active  and  ])romi- 
nent  part  in  the  dexelopment  of  Henr\- 
county  and  rank  among  its  best  citizens. 
Chief  among  these  is  Swan  Swanson,  one  of 
the  oldest  pioneers  of  the  Bishop  Hill  col- 
ony and  the  only  surviving  member  of  its 
original  trustees. 


-A  native  of  Helsingland,  Sweden,  he 
was  born  May  28,  1825.  and  is  a  son  of 
Swan  Olson,  a  farmer  of  that  country.  There 
the  parents  and  all  the  children  of  the  family 
died  with  exception  of  our  subject  and  his 
sister  Katrina,  who  came  to  America  some 
time  after  our  subject.  During  his  boy- 
hood Mr.  Swanson  receixed  but  a  \-ery 
limited  education,  only  learning  to  read  and 
write,  but  being  a  great  reader  of  good  lit- 
erature he  ha;,  became  a  well-informed  man. 

Bidding  good-bve  to  home  and  family 
he  came  to  the  new  workl  in  1846,  making 
the  voyage  in  si.x  weeks,  which  was  consid- 
ered a  quick  trip  at  that  time.  By  canal  and 
the  Great  Lakes  he  proceeded  from  New 
York  to  Chicago,  and  from  the  latter  city 
walked  to  Bishop  Hill.  He  came  with  the 
first  party  of  colonists,  consisting  of  si.xty 
able-bodied  men,  whose  purpose  it  was  to 
prepare  homes  for  the  people  and  procure 
more  land  and  assist  in  getting  it  under  cul- 
tivation. There  were  aboiu  eleven  him- 
tlred  people  who  left  Sweden  at  that  time, 
for  Bishop  Hill,  but  had  ilied  en  route, 
and  others  died  from  exposure  during  the 
se\-ere  winter  tliat  followed,  as  the  accom- 
modations were  not  sufficient  for  the  num- 
ber. This  part  of  the  county  was  then  all 
wild  and  unimproved.  The  colonists  erected 
a  sawmill  and  began  the  manufacture  of 
lumber  for  their  houses.  Later  brick  were 
used  in  their  construction,  and  luany  of  the 
buildings  erected  at  that  time  are  still  stand- 
irig.  It  was  one  of  the  duties  of  the  trus- 
tees to  appoint  men  to  superintend  each  de- 
partment in  the  colony,  and  Mr.  Swanson 
was  assigned  to  the  mercantile  depart- 
ment, with  which  he  was  connected  for  ten 
years  while  the  colony  was  in  a  flourishing 
condition.  In  i860,  after  some  dissension 
and  the  death  of  the  leader,  the  colonv  (lis- 


SWAN   SWANSON. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


599 


solved  anil  he  embarked  in  merchandising 
on  his  own  account  in  partnership  with  Ja- 
cob Jacobson,  Sr..  successfully  conducting 
^general  store  until  1S72.  They  also  pur- 
chased land  which  was  transformed  into 
valuable  farms  w  ith  the  assistance  of  others, 
as  ^Ir.  Swanson  devotetj  his  entire  attention 
to  his  commercial  interests.  After  twent}- 
years  of  continuous  business  he  sold  his 
store  but  continues  to  engage  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  being  the  owner  of  about 
three  hundred  acres  of  well-improved  and 
highly-cultivated  land  in  Weller  township. 
He  has  been  called  upon  to  settle  many  es- 
tates, some  of  them  involving  much  proper- 
ty, and  this  together  with  his  own  business 
interests  have  fully  occupied  his  time. 

In  1848  Mr.  Swanson  married  Miss 
Christina  Gabrielson,  who  died  in  1877, 
leaving  three  sons,  namely :  C.  Walter  is  a 
graduate  of  Eastman's  Business  College, 
of  Poughkeepsie,  Xew  York,  and  is  now 
succesfully  engaged  in  the  millinery  bus- 
iness in  Galesburg.  E.  Linne  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Burlington  Business  College,  and  for 
ten  years  has  engaged  in  general  merchan- 
dising in  Bishop  Hill.  He  is  married  and 
has  one  daughter,  Evelyn  S.  John  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  common  schools  of  Geneseo,  and 
is  now  engaged  in  business  with  his  brother 
Walter  in  Galesburg.  Mr.  Swanson  was 
again  married,  in  1881,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Kate  Erickson,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Sweden,  by  whom  he  has  one  daugh- 
ter, Dorothy,  who  was  born  in  1890,  and  is 
now  attending  the  public  schools. 

Mr.  Swanson  is  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive and  has  been  a  cheerful  supporter 
of  all  enterprises  which  he  believed  would 
prove  of  public  benefit.  He  gave  liberally 
toward  building  the  Rock  Island  &  Peoria 
railroad  through  Bishop  Hill  and  the  estab- 


lishment of  a  depot  at  that  place.  While 
engaged  in  merchandising  he  was  appoint- 
ed postmaster  in  1854  and  held  that  office 
until  he  sold  his  store  in  1872.  He  also 
served  as  school  treasurer  many  ^-ears ;  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  new  school ; 
and  was  a  trustee  for  almost  half  a  cen- 
tury, retiring  from  that  office  in  1900.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  village  board  and 
served  as  its  president  some  time.  Mr. 
Swanson  has  taken  a  decided  interest  in 
maintaining  and  promoting  anything  for  the 
advancement  of  the  community  in  which  he 
lives,  and  is  a  liberal  subscriber  to  church 
wiirk.  although  not  a  member  of  any  relig- 
ious denomination.  In  his  political  views 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  quiet  and  unas- 
suming in  manner,  but  very  popular  with 
a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.- 


LEWIS   W.   SLAL'SOX. 

.\mong  the  citizens  of  Henry  county 
whose  success  in  life  is  due  entirely  to  their 
own  industry  and  business  ability  is  Lewis 
\\  .  Slauson,  a  prominent  farmer  residing 
on  section  19.  Clover  township,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Albany  county,  Xew  York,  Au- 
gust I,  1838.  His  father.  Tryanson  Slauson, 
was  born  in  the  same  county,  in  iSoS.  and 
there  wedded'  Mary  Tenyck.  also  a  native  of 
-Klbany  county  and  of  German  ancestry. 
.\s  farming  people  they  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  the  county  of  their  nati\-ity. 

Lewis  W.  Slauson  was  reared  on  the 
l-.ome  farm,  and  during  his  youth  assisted  in 
the  cultivation  of  the  fields  during  the  sum- 
mer months,  while  through  the  winter  sea- 
son he  attended  the  public  schools  of  the 
neighborhood.     On  leaving  home  in   1857. 


6oo 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  he  came  to  IHi- 
nois  with  his  sister,  arriving  in  Galesburg. 
Knox  comity,  in  Xoveniber  of  that  year. 
That  winter  he  attended  the  district  schools, 
and'  the  following  year  worked  on  a  farm 
in  Knox  county  for  thirteen  dollars  per 
month.  He  next  engaged  in  farming  for 
himself  upon  a  rented  farm,  for  a  year,  hav- 
ing traded  for  an  old  team  of  horses  to  carry 
on  his  work.  The  following  season  he  again 
worked  by  the  month,  but  the  next  year  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  then  again  was  in 
the  emplo)-  of  others.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  operated  rented  land  and  in  the  meantime 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  partially  improved 
land  in  Clover  townsliip,  and  in  connection 
with  its  cultivation  also  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  rented  property.  Selling  lus  farm  in 
1869  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  on  section  19,  Clover  township, 
V.  here  he  now  resides.  To  the  further  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  this  place  he 
devoted  his  energies  and  now  has  one  of 
the  best  farms  of  its  size  in  the  township. 
He  has  also  purchased  a  well  improved  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  a  mile  and 
a  half  east  of  \\'oodhull.  This  propert}- 
stands  as  a  monument  to  the  thrift  and  en- 
terprise of  the  owner,  whose  success  is  en- 
tirely due  to  his  own  well-directed  efforts 
and  the  assistance  of  his  estimable  wife,  who 
lias  indeed  proved  a  true  helpmate  to  him. 
In  1866  Mr.  Slauson  was  married  in 
Henry  county  to  Miss  Wilhelmina  Hough- 
ton, a  native  of  Vermont  and  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Houghton,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  this  county.  She  was  only 
eleven  years  old  when  she  came  with  the 
family  to  Illinois,  and  at  that  early  age  act- 
ed as  her  father's  housekeeper.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Slauson  were  born  six  children,  but 
only  two  are  now  living,  nanielv :  Edith  and 


Caroline,  both  at  home.  Horace  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years;  Solon  died  at  the 
age  of  thirteen ;  Ella  married  F.  Porter  Me- 
Connell  and' died  January  2~,  1899;  and  one 
son  died  in  infancy. 

IMr.  Slauson  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln 
in  i860  and  1864,  but  later  he  supported  the 
Greenback  and  Peoples  party,  and  having 
always  been  a  strong  temperance  man  he  is 
now  identified  with  the  Prohibitionists.  For 
three  jears  he  acceptably  filled  the  office  of 
townsliip  assessor,  and  was  school  director 
for  twelve  \'ears.  He  assisted  in  establish- 
ing the  ^lutual  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
and  served  as  one  of  its  directors  for  six 
3'ears.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  those  enterprises  calculated  to 
prove  of  public  benefit,  and  gi\en  his  sup- 
port to  all  measures  which  he  belie\-ed  for 
the  betterment  of  the  community  in  which  he 
li\'es.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  lodge  of  ^\"oodhull,  in  which 
he  has  passed  all  the  chairs  and  is  now  past 
sfrand. 


WILLIAM  S.  CHARLES. 

William  S.  Charles,  deceased,  was  one 
of  the  prosperous  and  substantial  farmers 
as  well  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Burns  township,  his  home  being  on  section 
2y2.  He  was  born  in  London,  England,  No- 
vember 1,  1813,  and  during  his  childhood 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Wales,  where  he 
was  reared  and  educated.  Determined  to 
try  his  fortune  in  the  new  world  w^here  he 
believed  that  better  opportunities  were  af- 
forded young  men  than  in  his  native  land, 
he  sailed  from  Liverpool  in  1830,  and  at 
length  landed  at  Sandy  Hook,  whence  he 
proceeded  to  Xew  York  City.     He  first  lo- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


60 1 


catcd  in  a  small  town  in  the  Empire  state, 
where  he  engaged  in  farnxing  for  a  Quaker 
until  1 83 J,  and  then  came  to  Illinois.  He 
first  made  his  home  in  that  part  of  Knox 
county  now  'included  in  Stark  county. 

After  living  there  for  three  years,  April 
18,  1835,  Mr.  Charles  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Esther  Stoddard,  a  native 
of  Goshen,  Connecticut,  where  she  was  born, 
in  October,  1S17,  theirs  being  the  tirst  mar- 
riage celebrated  in  Stark  county.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  live  children,  but  with 
one  exception  all  are  now  deceased.  They 
were  as  follows:  George,  born  May  14, 
1840,  was  buried  at  Galva ;  Elizabeth,  born 
March  3,  1S4J,  ib  living  in  Galva;  Frank, 
born  March  8.  1845,  is  also  buried  at  Galva; 
Rhoda,  born  February  28,  184S,  died  and  is 
buried  at  Murray,  biwa:  ;uiil  Mar_\-,  born 
May  15,  1851,  is  burietl  at  Galva. 

For  about  five  j'ears  after  liis  marriage 
Mr.  Charles  was  engaged  in  farming  upon 
rented  land,  and  then  reuKued  to  Round 
Grove,  purchasing  eighty  acres  of  what  is 
now  the  old  homestead.  To.  this  he  added 
from  time  to  time  as  his  financial  resources 
permitted  until  he  had  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  very  valuable  and  well-im- 
proved land.  He  made  his  home  thereon 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life  and  died 
July  14,  1899.  His  wife  had  passed  away 
May  5,  1879,  and  buth  were  laid  to  rest  in 
the  Galva  cemetery.  They  were  widely  and 
favorably  known  throughout  the  community 
in  which  they  lived  and  justly  merited  the 
high  regard  in  which  they  were  held.  Mr. 
Charles  always  affiliated  with  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  his  fellow  citizens,  recogniz- 
ing his  worth  and  ability,  called:  upon  liini 
to  serve  as  supervisor  two  terms,  and  school 
director  for  the  long  period  of  forty  years, 
being  actively  engaged   in   upbuilding   the 


school  interests  of  his  district,  and  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Imanl  when  the  tirst 
school  house  was  built  and  also  the  present 
more  modern  structure.  He  was  also  an  ex- 
tensive stock  raiser.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Church  of  England,  and'  led  an  honor- 
able, upright  life,  consistent  with  his  pro- 
fessions. 


MRS.  LUCY  E.  HOUGHTOX. 

Since  the  spring  of  1852  Mrs.  Lucy  E. 
llnuglUim  has  been  a  resident  of  Henry 
county,  and  has  made  her  home  in  Wood- 
hull  for  the  past  twelve  years.  She  was  born 
in  Windham  county,  Vermont,  on  the  6th 
of  December,  1825,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  Johnson,  a  uati\e  of  England,  who 
came  to  the  new  world  when  a  young  man 
and  located  in  the  (irecn  Mountain  state, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods,  carrying  mx  business  at  Ches- 
ter for  many  years.  There  he  died  alx)ut 
1835.  He  had  married  Miss  Lucy  Olcott, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  who  survived  him  a 
n.umber  of  years  anil   reared   their   f;uuily. 

r^Irs.  Houghton  passed  her  girlhood  at 
Chester  and  was  educated  in  its  schools. 
On  the  13111  of  Xovember,  1845,  she  gave 
her  hand  in  marriage  to  Calvin  C.  llougii- 
ton,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Grafton, 
Vermont,  and  was  engaged  in  business  at 
Chester  for  some  years.  In  1850  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  six- 
ty acres  of  land  in  Clover  township,  Henry 
county,  after  which  he  returned  to  Vermont, 
Init  the  following  fall  he  again  came  to 
this  coiuuy,  making  the  journey  across 
the  country  in  a  buggy.  He  erected  a  little 
shanty  upon  his  land,  and  in  the  spring 
of   1852   was  joined  by  his   wife  and   two 


602 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cliilclren  wlm  were  Ix.irn  in  Chester,  \'er- 
niunt.  Thev  lixed  in  that  house  fur  tliree 
years  and  then  reninx-ed  to  daleshurg. 
where  they  made  their  home  for  the  same 
length  of  time.  Mr.  Houghton  going  back 
and  forth  to  manage  his  farm.  .\t  the  end 
of  tliree  years  he  again  took  up  his  residence 
thereon,  and  to  the  original  purchase  added 
eighty  acres.  He  broke,  fenced  and  improved 
his  land,  and  in  its  operation  met  with 
most  excellent  success.  At  length  he  be- 
came tlie  owner  of  one  thousand  acres  in 
this  county,  and  also  had  nearly  two  thou- 
sand acres  in  Iowa.  In  connection  with 
farming  he  was  also  extensively  engaged  in 
raising  and  dealing  in  stock,  and  became 
one  of  the  most  j^rosperous  and  wealthy 
citizens  of  his  community,  as  well  as  one  of 
its  popular  and  influential  citizens.  He  was 
public-spirited  and  progressi\e  and  gave 
liis  supp(jrt  to  all  enterprises  calculated  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  his  township  or 
county.  He  died  upon  his  farm  ^lay  lo, 
1874,  and  the  community  realized  that  it 
had  lost  one  of  its  valued  citizens. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houghton  were  born 
eight  children,  namely :  Curtis  moved  to 
Jefferson  county,  Iowa,  where  he  married 
Frances  Brooks  and  engaged  in  farming  un- 
til his  death  in  1893.  He  left  three  sons. 
Paul,  Glenn  and  Earl.  Henry  E.,  a  promi- 
nent farmer  and  business  man  of  this  county, 
is  represented  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume. Fred  J.,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Chad- 
ron,  Nebraska,  married  ^Maggie  Benn  and 
has  two  children,  Inez  and  Manley.  Wini- 
fred is  the  wife  of  John  Oliver,  of  Jefferson 
county,  Iowa,  and  they  have  five  children, 
Henry,  Ned,  Clyde,  Fred  and  Ole.  Hugh, 
who  lives  on  a  ranch  in  Oelrichs,  South  Da- 
kota, married  Alice  Rebine  and  had  six  chil- 
dren :  ^^label :  Fred,  who  died  at  the  age  of 


eleven  years ;  Lucy,  Jessie,  Ray  and  Kinley. 
.\ellie  died  when  a  young  lady.  Jessie  died 
in  childhood.     Helen  died  in  infancy. 

After  Mr.  Houghton's  death  his  son 
Menr\-  took  charge  of  the  farm  and  Mrs. 
Houghton  resided  thereon  until  1888,  when 
she  built  a  pleasant  residence  in  Woodhull 
and  has  since  made  it  her  home.  She  is  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  an  active  worker  in  both  church  and 
Sunday-school.  She  is  widely  known 
throughout  the  county  where  she  has  so  long 
made  her  home,  and  is  held  in  the  highest 
resard  bv  her  manv  friends. 


SAMUEL  WATERS  ALLERTON. 

One  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  Henry 
countv,  but  who  makes  his  home  in  the  city 
of  Chicago,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who 
traces  his  ancestry  to  Isaac  Allerton,  wdio 
came  over  in  the  Mayflower,  in  1620.  Isaac 
.\llerton  was  a  native  of  England,  and  was 
born  between  the  years  1583  and  1585,  the 
exact  date  being  unknown.  He  resided  in 
London  for  some  time  prior  to  his  removal 
to  Holland  in  1609.  It  is  generally  admitted 
that  he  was  the  wealthiest  of  all  the  Pilgrims 
and  is  one  of  the  few  among  them  to  whom 
Bradford  and  other  contemporaneous  writers 
always  give  the  prefix  "Mr."  which  in  those 
days  was  used  as  an  index  of  superior  fam- 
ily or  respectability.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  three  upon  whom  the  privilege  of  citizen- 
ship w^as  conferred  by  the  city  of  Leyden.  his 
associates  in  this  honor  being  William  Brad- 
ford, afterwards  Governor  of  the  Plymouth 
colony,  and  Degory  Priest,  his  brother-in- 
law.  He  was  first  married  in  the  city  of 
Leyden,  No\ember  4,   161 1,  to  Marv  Nor- 


SAMUEL  W.   ALLERTON. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

CRBAXA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


60s 


ris.  lit  Xewhury.  England,  and  at  tlie  time  of 
tlie  sailing  ui  the  Mayflower  lie  had  four 
children.  His  wife  died  February  2^.  1621. 
In  1626,  he  married  Fear  Brewster,  daugh- 
ter of  Elder  William  Brewster.  She  was  a 
woman  of  pleasing  appearance  and  of  a  pious 
disposition,  and  was  the  mother  of  Isaac  Al- 
Icrton,  the  second  of  that  name,  from  whom 
the  .\llerton  family  is  descended.  She  died 
ill  i()34,  while  his  death  occurred  in  1659. 

Samuel  W.  Allerton  is  of  the  ninth  gen- 
eration from  Isaac  .\ilerton.  of  whom  men- 
tion has  just  been  made.  He  was  born  at 
/\menia.  Dutchess  county.  Xew  York,  and  is 
the  son  of  Samuel  W.  and  Hannah  (Hurd) 
Allerton,  the  former  also  being  a  native  of 
.\menia.  born  December  5,  1875.  -He  was 
unitetl  in  marriage  with  Hannah  Hurd. 
March  2(>,  1808.  She  was  born  in  South 
Do\er.  Dutchess  county,  Xew  York,  ard 
was  the  eldest  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and 
Rebecca  (Phillips)  Hurd,  her  father  being 
an  extensive  farmer  and  stock  dealer  in 
.\menia.  B\-  this  union  there  were  nine  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  were  living  in  January, 
1899,  at  a  combined  age  of  over  six  hundred 
and  thirty  years.  In  his  early  life.  Samuel 
W.  .Mlurton.  the  father  of  (lur  subject, 
studied  for  the  medical  profession,  Init 
changing  his  mind,  he  learned  the  tailor's 
trade  and  became  a  merchant  tailor,  while 
at  the  same  time  he  carried  on  a  country 
store.  In  1828  he  was  one  of  the  promoters 
in  building  a  woolen  mill  and  establishing  a 
factory.  In  consequence  of  the  reduction 
of  the  tariff  in  1833,  nearly  all  the  manu- 
factories in  Xew  England  were  riuned,  and 
Mr.  Allerton  lost  nearly  all  his  fortune.  In 
1837  he  came  west  to  lov.a,  with  the  hope 
of  building  up  his  ruined  fortune,  but  was 
taken  sick  and  returned  to  his  eastern  home. 
In   1842  he  removed  to  Yates  county,  Xew 


"^'ork.  where  he  rented  a  l:u-m,  and  in  1848 
bought  a  farm  in  Wayne  county,  in  the  same 
str.te,  where  he  hved  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  was  a 
Universalist  in  his  religious  belief,  and  lived 
to  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninet)--nine  3'ears  and 
eight  months. 

Samuel  Waters  Allerton,  our  subject,  was 
but  seven  years  of  age  when  his  father  failed 
in  business,  at  which  time  he  received  an  im- 
jjressioii  which  has  influenced  his  noble  life. 
While  the  sheriff  was  selling  his  father's 
]m,perty.  his  mother  shed  tears  when  two 
horses  which  had  been  highly  prized  were 
sold.  Putting  his  arms  around  his  mother's 
neck  he  told  her  that  he  would  be  a  man  and 
provide  for  her.  In  after  life  he  kept  his 
jjromise.  He  was  the  youngest  of  the  nine 
children,  and  lived  at  .\menia  until  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age,  but  commenced  to 
v.ork  for  himself  when  he  was  twelve  years 
old.  In  1842  he  went  to  Yates  county  with 
his  parents,  and  remained  with  them  until 
they  had  saved  enough  money  to  buy  the 
farm  in  Wayne  county.  With  his  brother 
Henry,  he  then  rented  a  farm  and  made  fif- 
teen hundred  dollars,  which  they  invested  in 
a  farm  in  Wayne  county,  leaving  still  three 
thousand  dollars  unpaid. 

Renting  another  farm,  Mr.  Allerton  be- 
gi»n  its  cultivation,  and  at  the  end  of  three 
)ears  had  saved  up  thirty-two  Inmdred  dol- 
lars. He  then  went  to  Xewark,  where  he 
worked  with  his  brothers  on  their  farm,  and 
traded  in  a  small  way  in  live  stock,  in  Wayne 
county.  On  his  return  from  Albany  and 
Xew^  York,  where  he  had  gone  with  some 
stock,  he  said  to  his  brother  Henry :  "I  be- 
lieve I  know  as  much  as  the  dealers  I  met, 
and  as  we  now  have  the  farm  paid  for  and 
three  thousand  dollars  in  money,  I  will  set- 
tle with  you,  you  taking  the  farm,  and  I  tak- 


6o6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


iiig  the  money."  His  brother  repHed:  "If 
you  continue  as  3'ou  are,  in  a  few  years  you 
will  own  the  best  farm  in  this  country;  but 
it  you  wish  to  try  the  Hve  stock  trade,  tall 
right.  We  will  settle  on  this  basis.  This 
if  all  the  advice  I  have  to  give  }'ou.  You 
will  run  across  smart  and  tricky  men,  but 
they  always  die  poor.  Make  a  name  and 
character  for  yourself,  and  you  are  sure  to 
win." 

The  first  hundred  cattle  Samuel  bought 
after  dissolving  partnership  with  his  brother, 
he  sold  in  New  York  at  a  loss  of  seven  hun- 
dred dollars.  This  made  him  sick,  but  calling 
on  an  elderly  uncle  who  had  made  a  success 
in  life,  he  was  told  by  his  uncle,  "Aly  boy, 
you  are  pretty  sick,  but  don't  lose  your  cour- 
age. I  never  found  but  one  dead  sure  thing, 
and  that  was  hoeing  corn  at  fiity  cents  a 
day.  If  you  make  money,  you  must  some- 
times lose  it.     Try  it  over." 

About  this  time  women  had  burned  a 
number  of  bridges  on  the  Erie  railroad  be- 
cause the  trains  would  not  stop  for  dinner. 
Going  to  Erie,  Mr.  Allerton  purchased  one 
liundred  head  of  cattle  which  he  shipped  to 
to  New  York  over  the  Erie  railroad,  and 
which  on  account  of  the  burned  bridges  had 
to  be  unloaded  and  driven  to  Dunkirk,  where 
they  were  re-shipped.  On  Ms  arrival  he 
ftmnd  the  market  short  on  cattle,  and  his 
venture  netted  him  three  thousand  dollars, 
■which  gave  him  new  courage.  He  then 
drifted  west  and  for  one  year  fed  and  raised 
cattle  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  The  finan- 
cial panic  which  swept  over  the  country  at 
this  time  willed  out  about  all  the  capital  he 
had,  aiitd  becoming  ill,  he  concluded  that  he 
could  not  stand  the  western  climate.  Re- 
turning east,  he  bought  an  interest  in  a  store 
with  his  brother  in  Newark,  New  York,  and 
for  a  short  time  engaged  in  the  mercantile 


business.  Selling  goods,  howe\-er.  was  not 
agreeable  to  him,  as  he  desired  to  deal  on  a 
larger  scale. 

\\'hile  residing  in  Illinois,  he  had  met  a 
daughter  of  Astor  C.  Thompson,  of  Fulton 
county,  that  state.  Having  regained  his 
health,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  store,  and 
gathering  together  what  money  he  had  left, 
and  borrowing  five  thousand  dollars,  he 
again  came  west,  the  young  lady  in  Fulton 
county  being  the  principal  attraction.  On 
liis  arrival  there  he  traded  a  little,  but  in 
IMarch,  iS6o.  he  went  to  Chicago,  which  has 
since  continued  to  be  his  home.  On  the  ist 
of  July,  i860,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Pamilla  ^SI.  Thompson,  at  Peoria, 
Illinois,  and  with  his  young  bride  returned 
to  Chicago,  "where  the  world  turned  around 
e\ery  twenty-four  hours,"  and  which  was 
the  proper  place  in  which  to  trade. 

On  coming  to  Chicago,  Mr.  Allerton 
commenced  to  buy  and  sell  live  stock  in  a 
small  way,  there  being  then  no  general  mar- 
ket in  the  city,  except  for  a  short  time  dur- 
ing the  winter.  Shippers  generall)-  took  their 
hve  stock  to  the  eastern  markets.  About 
this  t'me  there  was  a  decideid  break  in  the 
Chicago  market,  and  Mr.  Allerton  desired  to 
bu\-,  but  having  formed  no  connection  with 
any  bank  here,  the  question  was  how  to  get 
money.  Among  his  few  acquaintances  in 
Chicago  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Tobey, 
whom  he  asked  to  take  him  to  a  bank  and 
identify  him.  Mr.  Tobey  was  willing  to  do 
this,  but  he  said  that  he  could  not  guarantee 
anything.  He  was  assured  by  Mr.  Allerton 
that  he  only  wished  to  be  identified,  and  that 
he  would  arrange  the  balance.  He  was 
taken  to  the  bank  of  George  Smith,  and  on 
being  introduced,  said  to  Mr.  ^^'illard,  "If 
I  will  pay  for  three  telegrams,  one  to  Hal- 
stead,  Chamberlain  &  Co.,  asking  if  the}-  will 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


607 


pay  fny  draft :  one  to  your  own  correspond- 
ent, to  ascertain  if  Halsteasd,  Chamberlain 
&  Co.  are  all  right ;  and  one  to  my  own  bank 
to  assure  you  that  I  am  all  right,  can  I  come 
down  to-morrow  and  sell  you  a  sight  draft?" 
He  replied  "Yes."  Mr.  .\lleTton  went  back 
to  the  stock  yards  and  bought  all  the  hogs 
in  the  market,  and  went  down  with  a  draft 
for  eighty  thousand  dollars,  asking  Mr.  Will- 
ard  if  he  had  received  replies  to  his  telegrams. 
His  answer  was  that  he  had,  and  that  the 
replies  were  favorable.  Mr.  Allerton  handed 
him  the  draft,  and  was  told  that  they  could 
not  discount  so  large  a  draft  on  telegrams, 
and  that  he  had  supposed  that  he  would  not 
want  more  than  five  thousand  dollars.  Mr. 
Allerton  said,  "You  know  Mr.  Tobey,  and 
3-ou  certainly  do  not  think  that  he  would  in- 
troduce a  thief  to  you." 

Mr.  W'illard,  however,  would  not  dis- 
count the  draft,  and  Mr.  Allerton  found  him- 
self in  a  position  where  he  must  have  money, 
but  what  to  do  he  did  not  knov.-.  Leaving 
the  bank,  he  accidentally  met  a  man  from 
Syracuse,  New  York,  and  asked  him  if  he 
Avas  acquainted  with  any  banks  in  Chicago, 
and  was  told  that  he  knew  Aikens  &  Norton. 
He  was  taken  to  them  and  introduced.  Mr. 
Aiken  looked  over  the  telegrams  and  signi- 
fied his  willingness  to  comply  with  Mr.  Aller- 
ton's  request,  but  that  he  would  have  to 
charge  one  per  cent,  for  the  use  of  the  money. 
In  this  wa\-  Mr.  Allerton  became  a  customer 
of  Aikens  &  Norton.  The  Civil  war  broke 
out  and  the  nation  needed  money.  Con- 
gress passed  the  National  Bank  Act,  issuing 
bonds  to  secure  the  circulation.  This  was 
regarded  by  Mr.  Allerton  as  a  step  in  the 
right  direction  toward  a  national  currency, 
as  the  nation  had  never  had  anything  but 
"red  dog"  and  "bob-tailed"  currency.  To 
start  a  national  bank  would  aid  the  govern- 
ment and  give  the  people  an  uniform  cur- 


rency, but  for  some  reason  the  people  seemed 
slow  to  start  National  banks.  Mr.  Allerton 
asked  Mr.  Aikens  why  he  did  not  start  one, 
and  was  answered,  "because  he  feared  he 
could  not  get  the  stock  taken."  Mr.  .\llerton 
said  that  he,  with  five  other  men,  would  take 
ten  thousand  dollars  each.  In  this  way  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Chicago,  one  of  the 
strongest  financial  institutions  in  the  coun- 
try, was  started. 

By  his  union  with  Pamilla  W.  Tliomp- 
son,  two  children  were  born.  Kate  Ben- 
nett, born  June  10,  1863,  married  Dr.  Fran- 
cis Sydney  Papin,  October  14,  1885,  and 
after  his  death  she  married  Hugo  R.  John- 
son. Robert  Henry,  born  March  20,  1873. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died,  and  Mr. 
Allerton  later  married  her  sister.  Agnes  C. 
Thompson,  the  marriage  ceremony  being 
solemnized  March  15,  1882.  They  now 
reside  in  a  beautiful  home  on  Prairie  ave- 
nue. Chicago. 

Mr.  Allerton  has  been  a  very  successful 
business  man  and  is  well  known  throughout 
the  state  and  nation.  He  wrote  the  first 
letter  published  in  the  Chicago  Tribune  in 
favor  of  organizing  the  Union  Stock  Yards, 
so  as  to  bring  all  buyers  and  sellers  together, 
which  has  made  it  the  greatest  live  stock 
market  in  the  world,  and  also  made  Chicago 
a  money  center.  He  always  had  the  desire 
to  own  a  farm,  when  he  succeeded  in  ac- 
cumulating enough  money.  His  desire  has 
certainly  been  gratified,  and  he  is  to-day  one 
of  the  largest  farmers  in  the  country  who 
cultivates  his  own  land,  cultivating  about 
forty  thousand  acres  in  the  very  best  man- 
ner. He  is  said  to  have  a  hobby  for  pur- 
chasing poorly  productive  lands,  and  by  cul- 
tivation "makes  them  blossom  as  a  rose." 
He  has  large  interests  in  ranches  and  gold 
mines,  and  has  lands  in  Dakota.  Nebraska, 
Iowa.  Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania 


6o8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  X'ew  York,  and  has  always  been  inter- 
ested in  the  live  stock  trade,  and  continues 
to  ship  live  stock  to  Xew  York  and  Ensfland. 
Mr.  Allerton  received  his  early  political 
education  from  Henry  Clay  and  Horace 
Greeley,  and  has  always  been  a  strong  be- 
liever in  a  protective  tariff  and  free  schools. 
He  remembers  that  in  the  campaign  of  1844, 
when  Henry  Clay  was  a  candidate  for  the 
presidency,  the  issue  was,  "Shall  we  put  a 
tariff  on  iron  and  inaugurate  f^ee  schools?" 
The  Democrats  said  that  "a  tariff  would 
build  up  home  monopolies  and  free  schools 
wi mid  be  a  burden  and  a  tax  on  the  people." 
Clay  replied.  '"Give  the  people  free  schools 
so  as  to  increase  their  intelhgence,  their 
energy  and  industry,  and  home  competition 
would  reduce  the  price  of  iron."  It  was 
then  one  hundred  dollars  a  ton.  Remember- 
ing the  words  of  Henry  Clay,  and  believing 
the  tree  school  system  has  made  this  great 
nati<in.  Mr.  Allerton,  by  giving  the  land, 
has  had  school  houses  built  on  each  of  his 
farms.  Since  the  organization  of  the  party, 
he  has  been  a  stalwart  Republican  and  has 
been  mentioned  and  his  election  advocated 
by  some  of  the  best  newspapers  and  best 
citizens  of  the  state  for  the  high  office  of 
United  States  Senator.  That  he  would 
honor  the  office  and  the  people  of  the  state, 
goes  without  question.  He  once  ran  for 
mayor  of  Chicago  in  the  interest  of  civil  ser- 
vice, with  no  pledges  to  any  one.  His  desire 
was  to  give  the  city  an  honest,  clean  adminis- 
tration. The  otSce  would  have  been  no  honor 
to  him  but  he  would  have  honored  the  office. 
It  was  his  intention  to  employ  the  best  engin- 
eers in  the  country  to  settle  the  vexed  ques- 
tion of  engineering,  and  in  all  departments 
of  the  city  government  to  put  the  right  man 
in  the  right  place,  irrespective  of  politics. 
He  carried  the  north  division  of  the  citv,  and 


the  other  intelligent  wards,  but  was  beaten 
by  a  sharp  political  trick  of  his  opponent. 

Mr.  Allerton  believes  that  all  men  should 
try  to  lead  a  successful  life.  This  he  owes 
to  himself,  his  friends  and  his  people.  He 
believes  that  young  men  to-day  have  a  better 
opportunities  for  advancement  than  when  he 
was  a  boy,  and  that  they  have  better  teachers 
and  better  schools.  Labor  is  higher  and  the 
necessities  of  life  are  cheaper,  and  therefore 
the  opportunities  are  much  greater  for  suc- 
cess. His  life  is  certainly  an  object  lesson 
for  the  young  men  of  to-day,  and  he  certainly 
deserves  all  the  honor  which  he  receives. 


MILTOX   TRICKLE. 

This  worthy  citizen  oi  .\tkinson  town- 
ship, whose  home  is  on  section  27,  was  one 
of  the  boys  in  blue  who  fought  so  valiantly 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  during  the 
dark  days  of  the  Rebellion.  A  native  of  Illi- 
nois, he  was  born  in  Stark  county,  June  11^ 
1839,  and  throughout  life  has  been  actively 
identified  with  the  interests  of  this  section  of 
the  state,  his  name  being  inseparably  con- 
nected with  agricultural  affairs. 

Edward  Trickle,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Anne  Arundel  county, 
Maryland,  June  12,  1807.  and  belonged  to 
an  old  and  honored  family  of  that  state  which 
was  of  Scotch'  origin.  About  1812  the 
grandfather,  Christopher  Trickle,  removed 
with  his  family  to  Ohio,  where  he  died,  his 
remains  being  interred  in  a  fort  with  the 
soldiers.  Edward  Trickle  grew-  to  manhood 
in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  and  there  married 
Rebecca  Miller,  a  native  of  Northumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Her  father  was  also 
a  pioneer  of  Ashland  county.  Ohio. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


609 


In  1836  the  family  came  to  Illinois,  and 
remained  on  Spoon  river  in  Peoria  comity, 
one  winter,  where  the  father  made  a  living 
by  hunting.  In  1838  he  located  on  tlie 
prairie  in  Stark  county,  where  from  a  tract 
■of  wikl  land  he  developed  a  good  farm.  He 
became  the  owner  of  a  large  amount  of  land 
in  different  places,  aggregating  about  eight 
hundred  acres.  He  had  quarter-sections  on 
sections  27,  28,  33  and  34,  .Atkinson  town- 
ship, Henry  county,  includ'ing  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  where  our  subject  now  resides. 
He  continued  his  residence  in  Stark  county, 
however,  throughout  life,  and  died  on  the 
old  homestead  May  jo,  1897,  when  nearly 
ninety  years  of  age.  His  wife  departed  this 
life  in  December,  1889.  In  the  family  of 
this  worthy  couple  were  four  sons  and  ti\-e 
daughter^,  all  of  wlmm  reached  man  and 
womanhood,  and  with  the  exception  of  one 
■daughter  and  one  son  all  still  survive. 

On  the  old  homestead  in  Stark  county 
^lilton  Trickle  passed  the  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  much  the  manner  of 
farmer  boys  in  a  frontier  settlement,  aiding 
in  the  arduous  task  of  transforming  the  wild 
land  into  rich  and  i)r()iluctive  fields,  while 
he  attended  the  common  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhooil.  His  early  education  was  supple- 
mented by  one  winter's  attendance  at  the 
seminary  in  Toulon.  Feeling  that  his  coun- 
try needed  his  services,  he  enlisted  in  1862, 
in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth 
Illinois  V'olunteer  Infantry,  which  was  as- 
signed to  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  and  latei 
transferred  to  the.\rmy  of  the  Tennessee,  un- 
der command  of  General  Sherman.  His  com- 
pany was  commanded  by  Captain  Hender- 
son, who  later  became  colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment. -Mr.  Trickle  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Philadelphia,  Tennessee,  and  Campbell's 
Station,  the  siege  of  Knoxville,    and    the 


engagements  at  Bean  Station,  Kelley's  Ford 
and  Fair  Garden,  besides  many  skirmishes 
Later  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Buzzard's 
Ivoost,  and  then  joined  Sherman's  command 
in  the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  took  part  in 
the  severe  battle  at  Resaca.  Georgia,  and 
was  under  fire  almost  e\ery  day  for  some 
time.  For  a  few  weeks  he  was  confined  in 
the  hospital  on  account  of  illness,  and  on 
his  recovery  rejoined  his  regiment  in  .\orth 
Carolina,  and  under  command  of  (jeneral 
Schofield  went  to  Greensboro,  that  state, 
where  the  regiment  remained  until  the  close 
oi  the  war.  There  Mr.  Trickle  was  mustered 
out,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  Chi- 
cago. June  22.  1865. 

Returning  to  Stark  covuU_\-.  he  lived  with 
his  father  until  his  marriage.  March  11, 
i860,  when  Miss  Druzilla  Shi\vers  became 
his  wife.  She  was  horn  and  reared  in  Ohio, 
and  is  a  daughter  ui  Hopkin  Shivvers.  To 
lAir  subject  and  his  wife  were  born  four 
children,  namely:  Ruby  G.  is,  the  wife  of 
George  Taylor,  of  Toulon,  by  whom  siie  has 
one  child,  Xorris;  Jean  Edward,  who  took 
a  three  years'  course  at  the  naval  academy 
in  .\nnapolis,  Maryland,  and  is  now  serving 
a.',  assistant  postmaster  of  Easton,  Maryland, 
is  married  anil  has  a  daughter,  .\neta; 
Florence  E.  is  at  home  with  her  parents; 
and  Onaway  Earl  is  a  telegraph  operator  in 
Nebraska. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  .Mr.  Trickle  lo- 
cated upon  his  present  farm,  and  at  ouce 
began  its  improvement  and  cultivation.  He 
has  erected  thereon  a  good  set  of  farm  build- 
ings, including  a  very  comfortable  residence. 
His  fine  farm  consists  of  two  hundred  acres 
adjoining  the  corporate  limits  of  the  village 
of  Atkinson  and  is  one  of  the  most  desirable 
places  of  its  size  in  the  township.  He  con- 
tinued to  activelv  engage   in   farming  and 


6io 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


stock  raising  until  1895.  wlien  lie  rented  his 
land  and  has  since  hved  retired,  thougli  he 
still  lives  upon  his  farm  and  attends  to  keep- 
ing the  things  about  the  place. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860,  Air.  Trickle 
has  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party,  but 
has  never  cared  for  political  honors.  He  has, 
however,  efficiently  served  as  road  commis- 
sioner, school  trustee  and  school  director, 
and  has  been  a  delegate  to  county  and  con- 
gressional conventions  of  his  party.  He  is 
an  honored  member  of  the  Grand  Army  post 
at  Annawan,  and  at  one  time  held  mem- 
bership with  the  Modern  \\'oodmen  of 
America.  Having  been  a  resident  of  this 
section  (jf  the  state  for  over  sixty-one  }ears. 
Air.  Trickle  has  seen  almost  its  entire  de- 
velopment. He  well  remembers  when  large 
herds  of  deer  were  often  seen,  and  other  wild 
game  was  plenty;  when  there  were  no  rail- 
roads, telegraphs  or  telephones;  and  when 
nearly  all  the  land  was  still  in  its  primitive 
condition.  In  the  work  of  development  and 
progress  he  has  ever  l)orne  his  part,  and  is 
accounted  one  of  the  most  useful  and  \alued 
citizens  of  his  communitv. 


HON.  THOMAS  XO\\-ERS. 

Probably  no  man  in  Henry  county  is 
more  widely  known  or  occupies  a  more  prom- 
inent position  in  business  circles  than  Hon. 
Thomas  Xowers.  chairman  of  the  county 
board  of  super\-isors  and  president  of  the 
Bank  of  .\tkinson.  A  native  of  Xew  York, 
he  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  February 
12,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  De- 
cima  (Foster)  Nowers,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  England,  though  they  were  mar- 
ried in  Xew  York  state. 


In  early  life  the  father  learned  the  dry- 
goods  business,  which  he  followed  contin- 
uously until  his  emigration  to  America,  re- 
ceiving no  holidays.  It  was  in  1830  that 
he  crossed  the  Atlantic  on  a  sailing  vessel, 
landing  in  Xew  York  after  ten  weeks  spent 
upon  the  water.  After  a  short  time  spent  in 
that  city  he  went  to  Oneida  county,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  and  also  operated  a 
sawmill,  shipping  his  products  to  Albany  by 
canal  boat.  Coming  west  in  1849.  he  first 
located  in  fiercer  county,  Illinois,  which 
was  then  but  sparsely  settled,  and  there  he 
followed  farming  for  two  years.  He  next 
conducted  a  tavern  in  Moline  for  the  same 
length  of  time,  it  being  known  as  the  Moline 
House.  The  old  building  is  still  standing. 
Air.  Xowers  made  his  home  in  that  city  un- 
til coming  to  Henry  county  in  1856,  when  he 
located  on  a  farm  a  mile  and  a  half  east  of 
where  the  village  of  Atkinson  now  stands, 
and  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1862.  He  then  removed  to  the  village 
and  turned  his  attention  to  the  grain,  lum- 
ber and  mercantile  business,  which  he  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  until  his  retirement  from 
active  business  on  the  ist  of  January,  1866. 
He  was  every  ready  to  aid  any  worthy  enter- 
prise for  the  good  of  his  community,  and 
the  poor  and  needy  always  found  in  him  a 
friend.  For  several  years  he  efficiently  served 
as  supervisor  of  Atkinson  township,  and 
held  the  office  of  highway  commissioner  for 
fifteen  vears.  He  was  born  in  Kent  county, 
England.  August  24,  1805.  and  died  Alay 
26,  1888,  while  his  wife  was  born  October 
26,  1807,  and  died  March  22.  1875. 

L'nto  this  worthy  couple  were  born  nine 
children,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy,  the 
others  being  as  follows :  Thomas  is  the  old- 
est of  the  family.  John  F.  is  engaged  in 
business  a^  a  partner  of  our  subject.     Will- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


6ii 


iam  hrst  married  Helen  Scott  and  after  lier 
cieath  wedded  Elizabetli  Roberts  and  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Atkinson  townsiiip. 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  H.  L.  Lyon,  who  is 
engaged  in  general  mercantile  and  lumber 
business  in  Atkinson,  occupying  the  store 
built  by  our  subject  and  his  brother  in  the 
fall  of  1865.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Richard 
Walters  and  a  resident  of  .Vtkin^on.  Louisa 
ij  the  wife  of  \\'illiam  A.  Mussey,  a  grain 
dealer  of  Atkinson.  James  was  formerly  en- 
gageil  in  farming  in  Cornwall  township. 
but  is  now  living  retireil  in  Atkinson. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  but 
a  limited  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Vienna.  Oneida  county.  Xew  York,  but  has 
gained  a  good  practical  knowledge  by  read- 
ing and  observation  in  later  years.  At  the 
age  of  lifteen  he  began  his  business  career 
as  a  farm  laborer,  and  after  coming  to  Illi- 
nois aided  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of 
his  farm  in  Mercer  county.  While  a  resi- 
dent of  Moline  he  had  charge  of  the  lixery 
stable  which  his  father  conducted  in  con- 
nection with  his  tavern.  In  1856  he  rented 
a  farm  with  his  father  in  Atkinson  township, 
this  county,  but  after  spending  one  summer 
here  he  returned  to  ^Moline  in  the  fall  and 
accepted  a  position  as  traveling  collector  for 
a  manufacturer,  his  territory  ct>vering  twen- 
ty-sfx  counties  in  Iowa.  Three  days  was 
the  longest  he  was  out  of  the  sadtlie  for  six 
months,  doing  all  his  traveling  on  horse- 
back. He  remained  in  that  employ  for  one 
year,  and  would  often  be  on  the  road  for 
three  or  four  weeks  at  a  time,  carrying  all 
the  currency  collected  by  him  on  his  per- 
son. Later  he  was  with  the  McCormick 
Reaper  Company  as  agent  and  canvassed 
Henry.  Mercer  and  Rock  Island  counties, 
Illinois,  .\fter  three  years  spent  with  that 
liriu  he  was  taken  into  the  office,  \vhere  as 


accountant  and  bookkeeper  he  remained  the 
same  length  of  time. 

Returning  to  Atkinson  in  1863.  i\Ir. 
Xowers  entered  into  business  with  his  fa- 
ther, remaining  with  him  until  the  latter's 
retirement,  when  his  brother.  John  F.,  and 
brother-in-law.  H.  L.  Lyon,  purchased  the 
father's  interest.  Business  was  conducted 
under  the  tirm  name  of  Nowers  Brothers 
when  our  subject  ami  his  breather  sold  out 
to  Lyon  &  Ransom,  wlm  still  carry  on  the 
store.  In  connection  with  general  mercan- 
tile l)usiness  the  brothers  had  also  engaged 
in  the  implement  and  lumber  business,  and 
have  conducted  a  general  banking  business 
since  the  ist  of  April,  1881.  As  dealers 
in  live  stock  they  have  done  an  extensive 
business  since  1864  and  ha\e  shipped  as 
high  as  one  hundred  and  fifty  carloads  a 
year  and  now  average  seventy-five  carloads. 
Our  subject  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Farmers  National  Bank  of  Geneseo,  of 
which  he  was  a  director  for  ten  years.  Be- 
sides his  property  in  Atkinson  he  owns  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  adjoining  the  village, 
and  also  owns  another  eighty-acre  tract  else- 
wlierc  in  Atkinson  township. 

In  his  political  affiliations  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican  and  has  taken  a  very  prominent 
part  in  public  afifairs.  Soon  after  attaining 
liis  majority  he  was  elected  township  clerk 
in  Rock  Island  county,  and  in  1866  was 
elected  supervisor  of  Atkinson  township, 
this  county,  which  office  he  has  now  most 
creditably  filled  for  twenty-five  years.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  building  committee 
when  the  court  house  was  erected,  and  as 
chairman  of  the  board  he  appointed  the 
committee  to  erect  the  soldiers'  monument  at 
Cambridge,  which  was  completed  at  a  cost 
of  eight  thousand  dollars  and  is  a  credit  to 
the  countv.    He  was  chairman  of  the  finance 


6i: 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


committee  for  a  number  of  years,  and  for 
the  past  five  years  has  been  chairman  of  the 
board.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  state  and 
county  conventions  of  liis  party,  and  in  1883 
was  elected  to  the  state  legislature.  So  ac- 
ceptably did  he  fill  that  position  that  lie  was 
re-elected  in  1885,  and  while  a  member  of 
the  assembly  he  served  on  the  following 
committees :  township  and  county  organiza- 
tions, banking,  claims  and  militia.  One  year 
he  was  a  member  of  the  committee  on  state 
charitable  institutions  and  took  a  very  active 
part  in  its  work.  During  that  time  about 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars  were  expended 
on  enterprises.  He  was  one  of  the  five  mem- 
bers of  the  house  who  had  in  charge  the 
bill,  which  was  afterward  taken  up  by  Gov- 
ernor Fifer,  then  in  the  senate  and  two  other 
senators,  appropriating  four  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  for  the  erection  of  the  insane 
hospital  at  Kankakee,  which  is  to-day  one 
of  the  best  institutions  in  the  state.  While 
in  the  legislature  Mr.  Xowers  took  an  active 
part  in  the  passage  of  the  high  license  bill, 
and  was  also  instrumental  in  passing  the 
general  election  law  now  in  force.  His  pub- 
lic and  his  private  life  are  alike  above  re- 
proach, for  his  career  has  ever  been  one 
characterized  by  the  utmost  fidelity  to  duty, 
and  he  receives  and  merits  the  high  regard 
of  the  entire  communitv. 


PAUL  L.  JOHN  SOX. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  busi- 
ness men  of  Bishop  Hill  is  this'  well-known 
hardware  merchant,  who  was  born  at  that 
place,  June  22,  i86r,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
B.  Johnson,  one  of  the  colonists,  who  set- 
tled here  in  1850  after  a  long  and  tedious 
journey  of  three  months'  duration.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  Sweden  and  there  he 


was  first  married,  but  his  wife  and  five 
children  died  while  on  their  way  to  join 
the  colony  at  Bishop  Hill.  The  only  sur- 
viving child  was  Catherine,  who  married 
Jonas  Olson,  who  died  Xovember  18,  1898, 
aged  ninety-six.  She  resides  in  Bishop 
Hill.  On  his  arrival  here  Mr.  Johnson  fol- 
lowed his  trade  of  wagon  making  until  the 
colony  disbanded  in  i860,  when  he  com- 
menced farming  upon  the  land  which  fell 
to  his  lot,  and  to  which  he  added  until  at  the 
time  of  his  death  he  owned  a  fine  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  W'eller 
township,  which  was  improved  by  him.  He 
was  a  man  of  powerful  build  and  was  recog- 
nized as  the  giant  of  the  colony.  Religiousl)'' 
he  was  of  the  Second  Adventist  faith,  and 
politically  was  a  Republican.  He  was  in- 
terested in  maintaining  good  schools  in  his 
district,  and  eflSciently  served  as  school  di- 
rector. After  an  active,  busy  and  useful 
life  he  passed  away  in  1891,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years,  honored  and  respected 
liy  all  who  knew  him.  In  the  colony  he 
married  Miss  Britta  Jonsdotter,  who  was 
also  born  in  Sweden,  in  1827,  and  came  with 
the  colonists  to  this  country  in  1850.  By 
this  union  were  born  three  sons  and  six 
daughters,  of  whom  one  daughter  died  in 
infancy.  The  others  are  John  E.,  a  farmer 
ofWeller  township;  Olof  W.,  who  lives  on 
the  old  home  place  in  the  same  township; 
Paul  L.,  our  subject;  ^latilda,  wife  of  John 
Xordstrom  of  Weller  township;  Olive  M. 
who  lives  on  the  home  farm  with  her  mother 
and  brother;  Pauline,  wife  of  Jonas  Ber- 
gren,  of  Weller  township;  Emma  C,  wife  of 
Tonas  Linfors  of  the  same  township;  and 
Lottie  B.,  wife  of  Peter  G.  Gergren,  of 
Weler  township. 

During  boyhood   Paul    L.   Johnson   at- 
tended the  common  school  near  his  home, 


1   H'JflRY 

UNIVtKiiir  Of  ILLINOIS 


p.   L.   JOHNSON. 


MRS.   P.    L.  JOHNSON. 


MmHiii  Uf  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


617 


and  also  took  up  higher  matliematics  and 
bookkeeping  under  private  instruction,  tlius 
well  fitting  himself  for  a  business  career, 
lie  remained  at  home  assisting  his  father 
in  the  labors  of  the  farm  until  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1882,  to  ?kliss  Amanda  Jolmson,  who 
died  July  2S.  1887,  leaving  three  sons.  Ros- 
well  M..  Clarence  R.  and  LeRoy,  who  have 
since  tDund  liDUies  with  relatives.  Mr. 
Johnson  was  again  married.  December  24, 
1890,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Emma  A.  Olson,  who  was  born  in  Bishop 
Hill.  May  19.  1868,  and  was  a  student  of 
the  (jalva  high  school,  after  which  she  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  the  township  and  vil- 
lage schools.  Her  father,  Olof  Olson,  one 
of  the  colonists,  is  still  living  in  W'eller 
township.  His  otiier  children  are  Jennie  V.. 
wife  of  E.  L.  Swanson,  postmaster  at  Bishop 
Hill,  and  Henry  G.,  at  home. 

After  his  first  marriage  ?^Ir.  Juhnscj  n 
engaged  in  farming  for  himself  until  his  first 
wife  died,  when  he  removed  to  Bishop  Hill 
and  opened  a  repair  and  blacksmith  shop. 
Seeing  the  needs  of  the  people  he  in- 
creased his  business,  and  now  carries  a  full 
line  of  shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  stoves, 
ranges,  farm  macliinery,  wagons,  buggies, 
pumps,  etc.,  his  stock  being  valued  at  four 
thousand  dollars,  while  his  annual  business 
amounts  to  ten  thousand.  He  jnirchased  a 
lot  and  erected  thereon  the  building  which 
he  now  occupies.  To  his  own  diligence, 
enterprise,  and  good  management  is  due 
his  success  in  life. 

In  politics  Mr.  Johnson  has  always  been 
associated  with  the  indei)endent  party;  ha.s 
been  a  delegate  to  several  county  conven- 
tions, and  in  1888  was  a  delegate  to  the  na- 
tional convention  of  the  People's  party  at 
Cincinnati.  Two  years  later  he  was  a  can- 
didate on  the  Democratic  ticket  for  countv 


clerk,  and  was  defeated  l)y  tlie  Republican 
candidate,  who  had  a  majority  of  four  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  \-otes,  while  the  county 
usually  has  a  two  thousand  Republican  ma- 
jority. For  several  years  he  was  trustee  of 
the  village  and  is  now  president  of  the  board, 
which  oflfice  he  has  held  for  two  years.  He 
also  served  as  town' clerk  two  years.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Good  Templars,  of  which  he  was 
chief  templar  for  three  years ;  and  also  be- 
longs to  the  Modern  Woodmen  Camp,  Xo. 
1042,  of  which  he  is  veneral)le  consul,  and 
has  been  a  memljer  of  the  board  of  man- 
agers. Mr.  Johnson  assisted  in  incorporat- 
ing what  is  known  as  the  \'oluntar\-  Do- 
native Society  in  1889J  with  a  capital  of 
twelve  hundred  dollars.  The  principal  now 
amounts  to  about  fifteen  thousand  dollars 
in  notes  and  farm  propertv,  all  oi  which  has 
been  obtained  by  donations,  it  being  the  ob- 
ject of  the  society  to  su|)p<)rt  the  ix)or  of 
Bishop  Hill  and  W'eller  township.  Its  of- 
ficers are  C.  G.  Falk.  president:  Martin 
Johnson,  vice-president;  John  Soderquist, 
treasurer :  and  Paul  L.  Johnson,  secretary. 
They  ha\e  alread\-  done  an  excellent  work. 
Our  subject  is  also  president  of  the  Bishop 
Hill  Telephone  Company,  a  local  organiza- 
tion. For  seventeen  years  he  was  a  corres- 
pondent of  the  local  papers,  and  has  also 
made  contributions  to  a  number  of  city  ])a- 
pers.  He  is  one  of  the  most  intelligent  and 
best  informed  citizens  of  his  community, 
and  is  quite  popular  both  in  business  and 
social   circles. 


WILLIAM   LAXDW'EHR. 

-Among  the  most  popular  and  influential 
citizens  of  the  northeastern  part  of  Henry 
countv  is  \\'illiam  Landwehr.    one    of    the 


6i8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


leading  business  men  of  Hooppole.  A  na- 
tive of  Illinois,  he  was  born  near  Wheeling, 
Cook  county,  January  23,  1854,  and  is  a  son 
of  Diedrick  and  Louisa  (Xelker)  Land- 
wehr,  both  natives  of  Germany,  the  former 
born  in  Hanover.  July  5,  1820.  the  latter 
near  Bremen.  May  i.  1824.  On  coming  to 
America  in  1840.  the  father  first  located  in 
Syracuse,  Xew  York,  but  after  spending  a 
short  time  in  that  city  he  removed  to  Wheel- 
ing, Illinois,  after  remaining  a  short  time 
in  Chicago.  Later  he  lived  in  Des  Plaines, 
Cook  county,  until  coming  to  Henry  county, 
in  1861,  when  he  took  up  his  residence  on 
section  33,  Yorktown  township.  Five  years 
later  he  removed  to  section  32.  and  upon 
his  farm  erected  the  best  house  in  the  town- 
ship. He  successfully  engaged  in  agricult- 
ural pursuits  and  was  an  extensive  breeder 
of  cattle  and  hogs.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Evangelical  Church  and  was  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
him.  His  death  occurred  on  his  farm  in 
section  32.  Yorktown  township,  January 
2y,  1886.  and  his  wife  died  November  5, 
1893.  Their  children  were  ^largaret,  wife 
of  George  Berge,  of  Tampico.  Illinois ; 
Mary,  wife  of  George  Arnold,  of  Missouri ; 
AN'illiam,  our  subject;  and  Frederick,  who 
married  Emma  Shears  and  also  lives  in 
Tampico. 

William  Landwehr  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  Cook  and  Henry  coun- 
ties, and  remained  with  his  father  until  the 
latter's  death,  when  he  took  charge  of  the 
homestead  farm,  consisting  of  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty-three  and  a  half  acres  on 
sections  2>-  3"*^  ii-  Yorktown  township, 
and  sections  2  and  4.  Alba  township.  In 
connection  with  its  operation  he  also  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  buying  and  feeding 
stock  for  market,  usually  keeping  on  hand 


over  one  hundred  head  of  cattle.  Although 
he  still  manages  the  farm  he  removed  to 
Hooppole  in  1897,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
business  as  a  dealer  in  wagons,  buggies  and 
farm  implements.  He  is  local  agent  for  the 
Deering  Harvester  Company  and  the  Moline 
Plow  Company,  and  in  this  new  venture  he 
is  meeting  with  good  success.  Besides  his 
\  aluable  farm  he  owns  a  splendid  home  and 
two  other  large  lots  in  Hooppole. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  1879,  ^^'is  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Landwehr  and 
!Miss  Mary  Ann  Countryman,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  two  children,  namely : 
Edward,  who  was  born  February  15,  1885, 
and  died  ^lay  2,  1896;  and  Horace  A.,  born 
July  15,  1896.  Abraham  Countr}nnan,  the 
father  of  ]\Irs.  Landwehr.  was  born  in  Little 
Falls.  Herkimer  countv.  Xew  York,  Novem- 
ber 30,  1830,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Henry  and  Catherine  (Docstader)  Country- 
man, also  natives  of  the  Empire  state.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois,  by  way  of  the  Erie  canal  to^ 
Buffalo  and  the  Great  Lakes  to  Chicago, 
and  settled  in  Wheeling.  Cook  county,  being 
among  the  pioneers  of  that  region,  where  the 
father  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming. 
On  leaving  home  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
Abraham  Countryman  commenced  learning 
the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade,  and  after 
three  months'  apprenticeship  he  worked  as 
a  journeyman  for  six  months.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  began  taking  contracts,  and 
carried  on  business  for  himself  as  a  builder 
until  1867,  when  he  took  possession  of  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  sections  19  and  20,  York-: 
town  township,  Henry  county,  which  he  had 
purchased  in  1854.  He  made  all  of  the  im- 
provements upon  the  place  and  placed  the 
land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Sub- 
sequently  he  bought   more  land   adjoining 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


619 


until  he  had  one  hundred  ami  sixty  acres 
besides  property  in  Hooppole.  Politically 
he  was  a  lifelong  Republican.  He  \va^  mar- 
ried. May  5,  1855.  to  Magdalena  Miller,  a 
native  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  and  to  them 
were  born  six  children:  Mary  A.,  wife  of 
William  Landwehr;  Frank  W'.,  who  mar- 
ried Katie  Winterman.  of  Wisconsin,  and  re- 
sides in  Greene  countv.  Iowa ;  Edward,  who 
married  Lottie  Goenibel  and  lives  in  Hoop- 
pole;  William,  who  married  Sylvia  Goemble 
and  makes  his  home  in  Yorktown  town- 
ship, on  the  old  homestead ;  .\dley.  who  died 
at  the  age  of  eight  years;  and  George,  pro- 
fessor in  a  business  college  at  Dallas,  Ore- 
gon. 

Mr.  Landwehr  is  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  United  English  Evangelical  Church  of 
Hooppole.  As  a  Republican  he  takes  quite 
an  active  interest  in  local  politics,  and  gives 
a  cheerful  support  to  all  enterprises  tending 
to  advance  the  welfare  of  the  community  in 
which  he  resides.  He  is  a  very  liberal  man, 
giving  much  to  charitable  objects,  anil  is 
one  of  the  most  popular  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  Yorktown  township.  Of  unques- 
tioned integrity,  his  word  is  considered  as 
good  as  his  bond,  and  he  has  the  confidence 
of  all  who  know  him. 


JOHN   C.   CARLSON. 

For  forty  years  John  C.  Carlson  was 
])rominently  identified  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Osco  township,  Henry  county, 
and  having  acquired  a  comfortable  com- 
petence, he  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
Aurora.  Illinois.  Like  many  of  our  best  citi- 
zens he  is  a  native  of  Sweden,  born  Febru- 
ary I,  1829.  and  there  grew  to  manhood. 
He  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of  the 


home  farm  until  he  attained  his  majority, 
and  then  commenced  working  by  the  month 
ai,  a  laborer,  being  thus  employed  for  about 
two  years.  He  next  rented  laud  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  his  own  account.  His 
parents  both  died  in  Sweden,  in  which  coun- 
try his  sister,  Mrs.  Hattie  Fritof,  is  still 
living.  -Vnother  sister,  Mrs.  Carrie  W'ei- 
berg,  came  to  America  and  is'  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Nebraska.  She  has  five  children, 
who  were  assisted  in  obtaining  an  education 
by  our  subject,  these  being  Charles,  a  prom- 
inent attorney  of  Peoria ;  Eric,  general  ticket 
agent  for  a  railroad  company  at  that  place; 
Edgar,  timekeeper  for  the  Rock  Island  &  Pe- 
oria railroad,  with  home  at  Peoria;  John. who 
owns  about  four  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
Jackson  county.  Nebraska,  where  he  is  now 
serving  as  supervisor:  and  Carrie,  who  is 
now  Mrs.  Frederickson  of  Nebraska,  with 
whom  his  mother  lives.  Mr.  Carlson  is 
one  of  the  most  liberal  and  generous  of  men. 
and  has  always  assisted  his  relatives  to  the 
best  of  his  ability  until  they  could  secure  a 
start  for  themselves.  His  nephew,  Albert 
Peterson,  was  educated  by  him  at  Daven- 
port College,  and  made  his'  home  with  our 
subject  for  nine  years.  He  is  now  one  of 
the  well-known  men  of  Andover  township, 
this  county. 

W'ishing  to  better  his  condition  in  life. 
Mr.  Carlson  came  to  the  United  States  in 
i860  without  capital  and  unable  to  speak 
the  English  language.  For  a  year  he  worked 
as  a  farm  laborer  at  nine  dollars  per  month, 
in  this  country,  during  which  time  he  be- 
came familiar  with  the  customs  of  the  coun- 
try. Subsequently  his  wages  were  increased, 
and  he  was  finally  able  to  rent  a  small  farm, 
v.liich  he  operated  with  good  success  for 
three  years.  He  then  purchased  a  tract  of 
forty  acres,  which  he  improved,  and  as  fast 


620 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


as  his  financial  resources  permitted  he  added 
to  his  acreage.  For  liis  first  purcliase  he 
paid  fourteen  dollars  and  a  half  per  acre, 
and  for  the  last  seventy-five  dollars  per  acre. 
He  now  has  a  well-improved  farm  of  two 
lunidred  acres  in  Osco  township.  In  his 
labors  Air.  Carlson  has  met  with  most  ex- 
cellent success,  and  although  a  hard  working 
man  he  has  believed  in  enjoying  life  as  he 
went  along.  He  has  always  been  willing 
to  assist  any  deserving  person  and  has  gained 
an  enviable  reputation  among  his  many 
friends  and  acc|uaintances  in  his  neighbor- 
hood. When  he  purchased  his  farm  it  was 
raw  prairie,  but  he  erected  thereon  good, 
modern  buildings,  planted  trees,  and  other- 
wise beautified  the  place,  until  he  now  has 
one  of  the  best-improved  farms  in  Osco 
township.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  always  engaged  in  stock  rais- 
ing. 

Before  leaving  Sweden  ^^Ir.  Carlson  w  as 
married,  in  185 1,  to  Miss  Annie  Anderson, 
by  whom  he  hatl  one  child,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  fi\-e  years.  The-  wife  died  March  28, 
1899,  on  the  Imme  place  which  she  had 
heljied  to  build  u]).  She  was  seventy-nine 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death,  and 
was  a  consistent  and  faithful  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  of  Andover.  to 
which  Mr.  Carlson  also  belongs,  and  of 
which  he  has  always  been  a  liberal  supporter. 
His  name  is  a  s\nonym  iov  generosity  and 
benevolence,  and  is  one  of  the  men  who  are 
a  benefit  to  any  community.  An  extensi\-e 
traveler,  he  has  visited  all  through  the  north 
and  west  as  far  south  as  the  Mexican  bor- 
der of  Texas. 

Besides  his  property  in  Henry  cnuntv, 
-\Ir.  Carlson  has  made  investments  in  real 
estate  in  Mo.rgan  Park,  Chicago.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  stanch    Republican,    and  has 


worked  untiringly  for  his  party,  although  he 
has  never  aspired  to  office.  Since  1884  he 
has  practically  lived  retired  upon  his  farm 
in  Osco  township,  while  he  has  rented  the 
land,  and  in  1900  moved  to  Aurora,  where 
he  expects  to  spend  his  remaining  days  in 
ease  and  comfort,  enjoying  a  well-earned 
rest.  His  has  been  a  Useful  and  honorable 
career  and  he  can  well  afiford  to  lay  aside 
all  business  cares.  Few  men  are  better 
known  in  the  community  where  he  has  so 
lung  resided,  and  he  is  held  in  high  regard 
by  all. 

In  Aurora,  Mr.  Carlson  makes  his  home 
with  Mrs.  Alma  Almgreen,  who  was  born 
in  Sweden,  November  2t^,  1866,  and  there 
received  a  good  education  in  the  languages, 
also  taking  a  thorough  business  course.  With 
a  sister  she  came  to  America  in  1887,  and 
the  following  year  married  Charles  Alm- 
green, now  deceased,  who  was  a  mechanic 
of  Chicago.  Her  son.  Archer,  born  in 
1889.  has  made  a  trip  to  Sweden  to  visit 
his  grandparents,  who  are  well-to-do  people 
of  that  country.  She  has  two  sisters :  Beda, 
wife  of  Albert  Shultz,  who  is  foreman  ma- 
chinist of  the  Automatic  Machine  Company 
of  Aurora;  Edith,  an  employe  in  the  depart- 
ment store  of  Scott  &  Pease  of  the  same 
place ;  and  one  brother,  Temer.  who  is  also 
with   the   AutLimatic   ?i[achine   Company. 


JOHN  LEM  JEXXIXGS. 

This  well-known  and  prominent  farmer 
of  Burns  township,  and  an  honored  veteran 
of  the  Ci\il  war,  was  born  on  Christmas 
tlay.  1840,  at  Sheppardstown,  Virginia,  while 
his  mother  was  there  on  a  ^•isit.  his  parents 
being  Levi  and  Susan  H.   (Sheppard  )  Jen- 


J.   L.  JENNINGS. 


IIRRARY 

UNIVERSIiy  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


623 


niiigs.  nati\es  i.il  \'iroinia  ami  Ohio,  respec- 
lively.  Tliey  removed  to  Illinois  about  1834 
and  I^I•^l  located  in  Peoria  county,  but  in 
J  850  came  to  Henry  county.  Tlie  father  first 
purchased  fi\e  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  in  Cambridge  township,  consisting  of 
the  east  half  of  section  u;  the  east  half 
<if  the  east  holf  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
^ection  u:  and  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
linn  13.  li  was  all  under  fence  with  excep- 
tion of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  12, 
and  upon  this  place  he  made  his  iiomestead ; 
later  he  bought  section  1  nt  Cambridge 
township;  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on 
section  13,  consisting  of  the  east  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  and  the  northeast  quarter 
of  the  southwest  quarter;  and  also  bought 
two  hundred  acres  on  sections  8  and  9,  in- 
cluding various  timber  tracts.  ]\Iuch  of  this 
was  government  land.  Mr.  Jennings  also 
purchased  the  west  half  of  the  northwest 
<iuarter  of  section  6,  Burns  township;  all  of 
.--ection  7  with  exception  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter;  the  west 
half  i)i  tlie  northeast  quarter,  the  north  half 
of  the  southeast  quarter,  and  the  southeast 
quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  18, 
Burns  township;  the  northwest  quarter  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  17,  the  same 
township ;  and  the  north  half  of  the  southeast 
(]uarter  of  section  13,  Cambridge  township. 
To  this  proi)erty  his  widow  afterward  added 
two  hundred  acres.  At  one  time  Air.  Jen- 
nings owned  several  thousand  acres  in  Peoria 
and  Iroquois  counties,  but  sold  most  of  this 
liefore  coming  to  Henry  county.  ^About 
1854  or  1855  he  went  to  Cass  county,  Iowa, 
and  purchased  ten  thousand  acres  of  land. 
He  broke  and  improved  a  large  amount  of 
land  in  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  was  one 
of  its  most  prosperous  agriculturists,  as  well 
as  one  of  its  honored  pioneers  and  highly 


esteemed  citizens.  At  the  time  of  his  deatlv 
he  owned  ])robably  tweKe  thousand  acres  of 
land  in  Iowa  and  Illinois.  When  our  sub- 
ject was  six  years  old  his  father  was  thrown 
from  a  wagon  and  seriously  injured.  In  a 
will  made  at  that  time  he  requested  that  all 
of  his  real  estate  be  sold  before  his  son  at- 
tained his  majority,  and  when  the  land  was 
finally  sold  in  the  fall  of  1861  it  was  dis- 
posed (if  at  a  great  sacrifice.  The  father, 
however,  recovered  from  the  injuries  above 
referred  to  and  lived  to  be  sixty-five  years 
of  age,  dying  on  the  28th  of  December, 
1859  at  Henderson,  JNIinnesota.  He  was  a 
man  of  broad  and  liberal  views  and  was  a 
great  reader.  He  not  only  had  a  large  libary 
for  his  own  use,  but  kept  a  free  library  for 
the  benefit  of  the  people  of  his  community. 
His  wife  died  on  the  1st  of  February,  1888. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  were  born  four 
children,  of  whom  John  L.  is  the  third, 
the  others  being  as  follows  :  Ann  V.,  born  in 
Illinois,  in  1836,  married  James  Bush,  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  who  is  now  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  .Adair  county,  Iowa;  Mary  Jane,  born 
in  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  is  now  the  wife  of 
X.  B.  Gould,  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Cambridge;  and  Ella,  born  in  Henry 
county,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

John  L.  Jennings  spent  the  first  nine 
years  of  his  life  in  Peoria  county,  Illinios, 
and  began  his  education  under  the  direction 
of  a  private  tutor.  He  then  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  this  county, 
and  here  attended  the  public  schools  near  his 
boyhood  home,  but  completed  his  education 
at  Lombard  Universitv,  in  Galesburg.  where 
he  was  a  student  for  two  years.  In  the  fall 
of  1859  he  went  with  his  father  on  a  trip 
through  the  north,  and  while  at  Henderson, 
Minnesota,  the  father  died. 

Mr.   Jennings  remained  with  his  mother 


624 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


until  liis  first  marriage  in  i860  to  Miss  Mary 
Jane  Collins.  In  1867  he  wedded  Miss  Alary 
Jane  Beck.  Mr.  Jennings  has  two  sons,  John 
L.,  Jr.,  liorn  July  7,  1871  :  and  Roy  F.,  burn 
September  j8,  1874.  The  latter  is  now 
marrieil  and  has  two  children,  William  B. 
and  Daisy  J.  For  his  third  wife  Mr.  Jen- 
nings married  Miss  Sarah  E.  Pratt,  their 
marriage  being  celebrated  January  28,  1875. 

When  the  country  became  involved  in 
Civil  war  Mr.  Jennings  laid  asijle  all  personal 
interests  and  entered  the  service,  enlisting 
August  15,  1862,  in  Company  H,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, as  color  sergeant  of  the  regiment,  which 
was  assigned  to  the  Arm\'  of  the  Ohio.  He 
participated  in  the  engagements  at  Monti- 
cello,  Kentucky;  Calhoun,  Philadelphia, 
Campbell  Station,  Knoxville,  Bean  Station^ 
Dandridge  and  Kelley's  Ford,  Tennessee; 
Resaca,  New  Hope  Church,  Pine  Mountain, 
Utoy  Creek,  Rough  and  Ready,  Jonesboro, 
and  Atlanta,  Georgia ;  Columbia,  Franklin 
and  Nashville,  Tennessee;  and  Fort  Ander- 
son, Town  Creek  and  Wilmington.  North 
Carolina.  Mr.  Jennings  was  in  twenty-three 
general  engagements  and  about  one  hundred 
skirmishes.  In  the  East  Tennessee  campaign 
he  was  under  the  command  of  General  A. 
E.  Burnsides;  under  General  Sherman  in 
the  Atlanta  campaign  of  the  fall  and  winter 
of  1864;  and  Major  General  Scofield  in  the 
North  Carolina  campaign  of  the  spring  of 
1865.  He  was  wounded  in  the  battles  of 
Knoxville,  Utoy  Creek,  Franklin  and  Re- 
saca, and  at  Franklin  was  left  on  the  battle-i 
field  for  dead.  WHien  the  war  was  over  and 
his'  services  were  no  longer  needed,  he  was 
mustered  out  at  Greensboro,  North  Carolina, 
June  20,  1865,  and  discharged  at  Chicago. 

After  almost    three    years    of  arduous 


and  faithful  service  in  the  south,  Mr.  Jen- 
nings returned  to  his  home  in  Burns  town- 
ship, where  ])rior  to  entering  the  army  he 
!iad  begun  to  build  the  first  fine  house  in 
the  township.  It  is  still  one  of  the  best,  hav- 
ing double  walls,  while  hte  doors  and  fin- 
ishings are  of  a  very  superior  qiiality,  being 
from  two  to  four  inches  in  thickness.  His 
fine  farm  consists  of  the  west  half  of  section 
7,  and  he  has  made  most  of  the  improvements 
found  thereon.  One  of  its  chief  attractions 
is  a  large  grove  which  he  planted,  there  be- 
ing not  a  shrub  upon  the  place  in  the  spring 
of  1866.  In  connection  with  his  farming 
operations  Mr.  Jennings  has  successfully 
engaged  in  stock  raising,  having  for  many 
years  kept  a  fine  herd  of  short  horn  cattle 
and  Berkshire  hogs.  For  ten  years  he  was 
also  a  traveling  salesman  for  the  Western 
Wheelscraper   Company  of  Aurora. 

Mr.  Jennings  is  absolutely  independent  in 
politics.  He  is  one  of  the  representative  citi- 
zens of  his  community  who  is  as  true  to  his 
duties  of  citizenship  in  days  of  peace  as  in 
time  of  war,  and  as  a  whole-souled,  genial 
gentleman  he  makes  many  friends.  Through- 
out life  he  has  made  a  special  study  of  geol- 
ogy and  is  recognized  as  a  geologist  in  the 
International  Scientific  Directory.  He  now 
has  over  five  hundred  labeled  specimens  of 
minerals,  fossils,  etc.,  and  also  owns  a  fine 
private  library  containing  the  works  of  the 
best  authors.  He  is  a  writer  of  considerable 
ability,  and  has  contributed  many  able  ar- 
ticles to  the  press  both  along  the  lines  of  road 
work  and  fiction.  His  writings,  however, 
ha\'e  been  principally  on  economic  subjects 
for  county  and  city  papers,  and  have  met 
with  favorable  comment,  showing  conclu- 
sively that  he  thoroughl}-  understands  the 
topic  of  which  he  treats.      He  has  visited 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


625 


nearly  e\  ery  state  lying  Ijetween  Xew  Eng- 
land and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  including 
Canada  and  Manitoba,  and  consequently  is 
somewliat  of  a  traveler. 


JOHN  E.  ODEMAX. 

Among  the  leading  business  men  and 
prominent  citizens  of  Annawan,  Illinois,  is 
John  E.  Odeman,  a  blacksmith  and  wagon- 
maker,  who  was  born  in  the  city  of  Borros, 
Orsos,  Sweden.  October  16,  1854.  His  fa- 
ther, Emanuel  Hanson,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  place,  his  birth  occurring  there  July 
15,  18 1 2.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer. 
On  the  17th  of  November,  1843,  'i^  married 
Lovisa  Peterson,  who  was  born  in  Frolunda. 
Sweden,  August  10,  181 7,  and  died  April 
27,  1882,  while  he  passed  away  October  13, 
1884.  They  never  came  to  the  new  world. 
In  their  family  were  eight  children,  name- 
ly:  Ingolissa,  born  December  6,  1843,  died 
January  15,  1844;  Emma  Laurentine,  born 
December  6,  1844,  died  October  9,  1855; 
John  Aaron,  born  October  ij,  1847,  died 
April  28,  1848;  John  Aaron  (second),  born 
July  31,  1849,  died  October  19,  1854;  Jo- 
hannah  Louisa,  born  October  22,  185 1, 
died  October  8,  1854;  John  Erick,  our  sub- 
ject, is  next  in  order  of  birth;  Ida  Amanda, 
born  June  11,  1857,  died  September  27, 
1857;  and  Andrew  Peter,  born  March  8, 
1859,  died  April  4,  1864. 

John  E.  Odeman,  the  only  survivor  of 
this  family,  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth 
in  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  on  completing 
his  literary  education  served  a  three  years' 
apprenticeship  to  the  blacksmith's  trade  in 
Guttenburg,  Sweden,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  was  ranked  as  a  journc\nian  me- 


chanic. With  the  hope  of  benefiting  his 
financial  condition  he  emigrated  to  America 
at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  landing  in 
Xew  York  on  Thanksgixing  day.  X^ovem- 
ber  6,  1879.  After  spending  three  months 
v.orking  at  his  trade  in  Xew  Britain,  Con- 
necticut, he  came  to  Annawan,  Illinois,  in  the 
spring  of  1880,  and  found  employment  as  a 
journeyman  blacksmith  with  Joseph  A. 
Hilding,  for  whom  he  worked  six  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  period  he  bought  out  his 
em])loyer,  who  returned  to  Sweden,  and  has 
since  conducted  business  at  his  present  lo- 
cation. He  does  all  kinds  of  high  class  work, 
and  also  handled  farm  machinery,  imple- 
ments, buggies,  wagons,  etc..  until  1898. 

On  the  6th  of  Xovember,  1885,  Mr. 
Odeman  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Caro- 
lina W'inblad,  who  was  liorn  in  Kalva,  Elfs- 
burg,  province  of  Guttenburg,  Sweden,  De- 
cember 12,  1853,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of 
seven  children.  Her  parents,  .Andrew  and 
Catherine  (Everson)  X'eilson,  b(jth  died 
when  she  was  very  young.  The  father  was 
born  Xovember  11,  1802.  died  May  i,  1858; 
the  mother  was  born  December  28,  18 10, 
and  died  December  21,  1853.  Two  of  her 
brothers  came  to  .\merica :  John  M.,  born 
March  2i.  1840.  died  October  12,  1896; 
and  Xicholas  W'inblad.  The  latter  is 
now  engaged  in  the  tailoring  business 
in  C'hicago.  He  was  born  October  10. 
1837.  The  other  members  of  the  family 
were  Joseph,  born  July  24,  1835,  a  resident 
of  Halsted,  Sweden:  Carl  J.,  born  March 
13,  1842,  who  died  in  that  country  April 
19,  1845;  .\nna  Maria,  born  December  9, 
1844,  a  resident  of  Halsenberg,  Sweden; 
and  Johannah,  born  February  11,  1849,  ^^''''^ 
died  in  Stockholm.  Mrs.  Odeman  came  to 
America  October  6,  1885,  and  has  since 
made  her  home  in  .\nnawan,  Illinois.    Three 


626 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


children  ble:>se(I  the  uninn  of  our  subject 
and  his  wife:  Agnes  Eh'era.  born  August 
13,  1886:  Carl  Leonard,  who  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 15.  i88q,  and  died  l\Lirch  28.  1890; 
and  Clara  Le\ina,  born  May  12,  i8gi. 

2^1r.  Odenian  gi\'es  his  political  support 
to  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republica.n 
party,  and  his  fellow  citizens,  recognizing 
his  worth  and  ability,  have  called  upon  him 
to  ser\-e  as  mayor  of  Annawan  one  term 
and  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  two 
terms.  Fraternally  he  is  an  honored  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  Hiime  Forum  and  the  ^Modern 
\\'oodmen  of  America.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  belong  to  the  Eastern  Star  Chapter  of 
Masonry  and  she  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Home  Forum.  In  early  life  they  held  mem- 
bership in  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church, 
but  are  now  identified  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  and  are  among  the  most 
hiehlv-esteemed  citizens  of  their  community. 


JOSEPH  H.  ANDERSON. 

The  world  instinctively  pays  deference 
to  the  man  who  has  arisen  above  his  early 
surroundings,  overcome  the  obstacles  in  his 
path  and  reached  a  high  position  in  the  bus- 
iness world.  Throughout  life  Mr.  Ander- 
son has  made  the  most  of  his  advantages, 
and  through  his  own  well-directed  efforts 
has  steadily  prospered  until  he  is  now  one 
of  the  substantial  farmers  of  Oxford  town- 
ship, his  home  being  on  section  9. 

He  was  born  in  Sweden,  February  16, 
1837,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated 
until  1852.  when  he  emigrated  to  America 
with  his  parents,  Henry  and  Hannah  An- 
derson.    On  landing  in  Boston,  they  imme- 


diately started  for  Illinnis.  their  \iestina- 
tion  being  Heiu'y  count}',  but  while  passing 
through  La  Salle  county,  two  miles  north  of 
La  Salle,  the  father  was  taken  ill  with  chol- 
era and  died.  There  Mrs.  Anderson  and  her 
sons  dug  a  grave  and  laid  him  to  rest.  This 
sad  task  completed  they  proceeded  on  their 
way,  walking  the  entire  distance  from  La 
Salle  to  Andover,  Henry  county.  Later 
they  located  in  Lynn  township,  where  the 
two  sons  grew  to  manhood.  For  over  thirty 
years  ^Irs.  Anderson  made  her  liome  with 
our  subject,  but  died  in  1892  while  -visiting 
her  son  Swanty  in  Red  Oak,  Iowa. 

After  coming  to  this  country  Joseph  H. 
Anderson  attended  the  common  schools  for 
a  few-  winters,  but  is  mostly  self-educated. 
On  starting  out  to  earn  his  own  livelihood 
he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month  for 
five  years,  and  then  operated  rented  land 
for  several  years.  In  1862  he  purchased 
sixty  acres  where  he  now  resides,  which  at 
that  time  was  entirely  imimproved.  He 
erected  a  small  house  thereon,  and  to  its 
further  improvement  and  cultivation  has 
since  devoted  his  energies  until  he  now  has 
a  valuable  farm.  He  has  extended  its  boun- 
daries from  time  to  time  until  they  now  en- 
close three  hundred  acres ;  has  enlarged  and 
remodeled  his  residence,  tiled  the  land,  and 
set  out  shade  trees.  Besides  this  valuable 
place  he  owns  a  tract  of  nine  hundred  and 
sixty-three  acres  near  Holdrege,  Nebras- 
ka, all  of  which  is  well  improved. 

In  Andover,  Mr.  Anderson  was  mar- 
ried, September  13,  1862,  to  Miss  Matilda 
Christina  Shult,  who  was  born  in  Sweden 
and  came  to  the  new  world  when  thirteen 
years  of  age.  She  is  a  sister  of  Hons  Shult, 
whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page'  of 
this  \-olume.  They  have  seven  children  liv- 
ing, namelv:     Emma  C,  now  the  wife  of 


UmvtRSllY  OF  ILLINOIS 
URfiA^A 


J.   H.   ANDERSON. 


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  -^^H 

W'^W' 

^^K^'^ 

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^^^  ^ 

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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^■flwM 

*W|^^^^^^^| 

*  1 

MRS.  J.   H.   ANDERSON. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


631 


C.  K.  Jnlmsiin.  a  fanner  of  rheli)>  ci'uuty, 
XeljrasUa  :  Anna  S..  wife  of  Joliii  K.  W'ester- 
laiid  1)1  l-\'nn  tnwiishi]).  this  county:  Hilma 
C.  wife  of  William  W'inquist  of  Phelps 
county,  Xehraska :  and  Joseph  Oscar,  Ida. 
\'ictoria  and  Lilla.  all  at  home.  Three  sons 
and  one  tlaughter  tlied  in  childhood :  kla 
Jl..  Oscar  K..  Henry  Theoilore  and  Hen- 
ry L. 

The  Republican  jiarty  has  found  in  .Mr. 
.Anderson  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  princi|)les 
since  he  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Abraiiam  Lincoln  in  i860.  Many  years 
ago  he  served  two  terms  as  constable,  and 
has  been  an  efficient  member  of  the  school 
board  and  clerk  of  the  district  fcir  a  number 
of  years,  but  has  never  cared  for  political 
honors.  I'raternally  he  is  a  Knight  Templar 
Mason,  and  is  now  serving  as  secretary  of 
O.xford  lodge.  .\o.  367.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  New 
Windsor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chapter 
at  Rio  and  Commandery  at  Galesburg.  In 
religious  belief  he  is  a  Lutheran,  while  his 
wife  and  children  hold  membership  in  the 
Piaptist  Church.  His  career  proves  that  tlie 
only  true  success  in  life  is  that  which  is  ac- 
complished by  jjersonal  effort  antl  consecutive 
in.dustry.  It  proves  that  the  road  to  success 
is  tipen  to  all  young  men  who  have  the  cour- 
age to  tread  its  pathway,  anil  tlie  life  record 
of  such  a  man  should  serve  as  an  inspira- 
tion to  the  young  of  this  and  future  genera 
tions,  and  teach  by  incontrovertiljle  facts 
that  success  is  ambition's  answer. 


JOHX  W.  SHETLER. 

One  of  Clover  township's  most  prosper- 
ous and  influential  citizens  is  John  \V.  Shet- 
ler,  who  is  now  a  memljer  of  the  honorable 
board  of  supervisors.  His  home  farm,  con- 
sisting of  two  hundred  and  fiftv-eight  acres 


of  land,  is  pleasantly  located  two  and  a  half 
miles  north  of  Woodhull.  <in  section  18. 
and  besides  this  valual)le  pro])erty  he  owns 
other  well-impro\ed  farms  elsewhere.  He 
i.--  one  of  the  most  successful  agriculturists 
and  stock  raisers  and  dealers  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Slietler  was  born  July  13.  1S40.  in 
I-'ranklin  county.  Pennsylvania,  of  which 
his  parents.  William  and  Martha  (Wolf) 
Shetlcr,  were  also  natives.  The  Shetlers 
were  of  German  descent  and  among  the 
original  settlers  of  the  Keystone  state.  The 
parents  of  our  subject  spent  their  entire  lives 
in  Franklin  county.  His  maternal  grandfa- 
ther. David  Wolf,  was  from  Lancaster  coun- 
ty. Pennsylvania. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  John  W. 
Shetler  was  reared  in  much  the  usual  manner 
of  farmer  boys  of  his  day.  his  education 
being  accpiired  in  the  local  schools.  In  i86() 
when  a  yoimg  man.  he  came  to  Henry  coun- 
tv,  Illinois,  and  joined  some  Pennsylvania 
acquaintances  who  had  located  in  Wood- 
iiull.  .\fter  working  for  a  short  time  by  the 
month,  he  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account.  Three  years  later 
ne  purchased  his  first  land,  consisting  of 
eighty  acres  in  Oxford  township,  which  he 
at  once  began  to  improxe  and  cultivate,  mak- 
ing his  home  thereon  until  1873,  when  he 
sold  the  place  and  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  his  present  farm.  He  has 
since  greatly  improved  the  place  by  the  erec- 
tion of  a  good  residence  and  substantial 
barns  and  outbuildings.  He  has  also  tiled 
the  land  and  set  out  trees,  which  add  great- 
ly to  the  attractive  appearance  of  the  ])lace. 
He  has  extended  the  boundaries  of  his  farm 
until  tliey  now  include  two  hundred  and  fift\  - 
eight  acres,  and  also  owns  a  well-improved 
farm  of  one  hundred  acres  on  section  7, 
Clover  township,  another  of  one  hundred  and 


632 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sixty  acres  in  Andover  towiisliip.  and  three- 
(juarters  of  a  section  of  land  in  Barton  coun- 
ty. Kansas,  as  well  as  Chicago  property. 
This  property  has  all  been  acquired  through 
his  own  industry,  perseverrmce  and  good 
management,  as  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  empty-handed. 

In  the  spring  of  1869  Mr.  Shetler  was 
married  in  Woodhull  to  ^liss  Xancy  Knox, 
who  was  born  in  Juniata  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  coming  to  Illinois  in  childhood 
was  principall}^  reared  here.  Her  father, 
John  Knox,  died  in  Pennsylvania,  and  later 
the  mother  married  James  Barton,  who 
brought  the  familv  to  Illinois,  in  1864,  be- 
coming one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Henry 
county.  Air.  and  Airs.  Shetler  have  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children,  namely :  William,  who 
is  married  and  follows  farming  in  Clover 
township;  Fred  C,  a  successful  school 
teacher  of  this  county;  Edith  AI.,  wife  of 
W.  G.  White,  a  farmer  of  this  and  Knox 
county;  Grace  AL,  wife  of  Harry  M.  Thayer, 
also  a  farmer  of  Henry  county;  and  Laura 
Belle,  who  is  engaged  in»teaching  here.  All 
of  the  children  have  been  well  educated,  be- 
ing graduates  of  the  high  school  of  Wood- 
hull,  and  have  successfully  followed  the 
teacher's  profession. 

Politically  Mr.  Shetler  has  been  a  life- 
long Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  George  B.  McClellan  in  1864. 
In  1890  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  Clover 
township,  and  served  as  such  one  term,  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  town  accounts  commit- 
tee. In  the  spring  of  1900  he  was  re-elected 
to  the  same  office,  and  is  now  a  member  of 
the  county  accounts  committee.  He  has 
been  a  delegate  to  numerous  conventions  of 
liis  party,  and  has  always  taken  an  active 
and  commendable  interest  in  public  aflfairs. 
For  years  he  has  served  on  the  school  board 


and  was  clerk  of  the  district  for  some  years. 
His  wife  and  children  hold  membership  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Woodhull,  and 
while  he  is  not  a  member  of  any  religious 
denomination,  he  attends  church  with  them, 
and  contributes  liberally  to  its  supjxirt.  He 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge  at  Woodhull,  in  which  he  has  filled  all 
the  chairs,  and  is  now  past  grand  and  treas- 
urer of  the  lodge.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
G.  A.  R.,  at  Woodhull,  as  long  as  the  post 
was  in  existence,  having  been  one  of  the 
bovs  in  blue  during  the  Civil  war. 


MRS.  MATTIE  E.  BROWX. 

Airs.  Alattie  E.  Brown,  one  of  the  highly- 
esteemed  ladies  of  Osco  township,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois,  her  birth  having  occurred 
in  Farmington  township,  Fulton  count}',  on 
the  15th  of  June,  1848.  Her  father,  Henry 
Alyers,  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. Xovember  2,  181 3,  and  there  grew 
to  manhood,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  subscription  schools  of  that  day.  He 
was  the  son  of  \"alentine  Alyers.  who  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Franklin  coun- 
ty, where  liis  death  occurred  when  his  son 
was  about  ten  years  of  age.  His  wife,  who 
tore  the  maiden  name  of  Catherine  Crill, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren. 

In  1837,  Henry  Myers  married  Aliss 
Marie  Eshelman,  daughter  of  John  and 
Martha  (Horsh)  Eshelman.  who  were  also 
natives  of  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  of  an  old  family  in  that  state.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  Horsh  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  Germany.     In  the  family  of  John 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


633 


and  Martlia  Eshelmaii  w  ere  eiglit  cliildren — 
Samuel,  John.  Marie,  Daniel,  Abraham, 
Martha,  Michael  and  Catherine.  After  their 
marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  lived  in  Penn- 
sylvania for  thirteen  years,  during  which 
time  five  children  were  born  unto  them.  In 
1848  they  decided  to  build  up  a  new  home 
in  the  prairie  state  and  came  west  from 
Pittsburg  by  river,  landing  at  Copperas 
creek,  Fulton  county,  in  the  latter  part  of 
April.  Mr.  Myers  then  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Farmington  township,  which 
he  afterwards  sold.  From  time  to  time, 
however,  he  purchased  land,  and  at  one  time 
was  the  owner  of  one  thousand  acres.  He 
helped  his  boys  to  get  a  good  start  in  life, 
and  all  now  have  comfortable  homes  and  arc 
well-to-do  people. 

To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  thirteen 
children,  as  follows:  Isaac  Newton,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Elliott,  now  deceased.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Company  G, 
One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  was  kiiled-j#r  the  battle  of 
Kenesaw  Mountain.  '  John  Wesley  married 
Helen  X'ittum  and  resides  in  Champaign, 
Illinois.  Joseph  C.  wedded  Mary  Switzer 
and  lives  in  Canton,  Illinois.  David  M. 
married  Kate  Burrows  and  is  engaged  in 
farming  near  I^ushnell,  Illinois.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  enlisted  in  the  same  company 
that  his  brother  was  a  member,  and  with  his 
command  took  part  in  many  hard  fought 
battles.  William  Henry  married  Mida  Kess- 
ler  and  is  now  a  retired  farmer  of  Canton. 
Daniel  A.  married  Anna  Xagley  ami  is  a 
retired  farmer  of  Farmington.  Henry  Will- 
iam died  in  infancy.  Mary  C.  died  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years.  Mattie  E.,  our  sul)- 
ject,  is  next  in  order  of  birth.  Adeline  B. 
is  the  wife  of  William  Norton,  a  farmer  of 
Fairview  township,  Fulton  cnunty.     Susan 


E.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Mull,  a  farmer 
living  near  Wichita,  Kansas.  Amanda  J. 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Cheek,  a  farmer  near 
Bushnell.  Illinois.  Nancy  M.  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years. 

Mr..ilyer-  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  Church,  and  like  those  of  the  same 
faith,  his  life  was  simple,  straigh.t forward 
and  unpretentious.  He  was  a  thoroughly 
good  man,  kind  and  charitable  towards  all, 
and  his  unswerving  honesty  v.as  a  marked 
feature  of  his  character.  He  was  an  un- 
compromising temperance  man.  and  was  in 
hearty  sympathy  with  the  Prohibition  move- 
ment. In  early  life  he  was  a  Whig,  and 
cast  his  vote  for  ^^'illiam  Henry  Harrison. 
His  death  occurred  in  1895.  His  good  wife, 
who  w  as  also  a  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist Church,  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
in  December,  1896.  They  were  both  buried 
in  the  Dunkard  cemetery  at  Farmington^ 
Illinois. ■ — "         ' 

Mrs.  Brown  was  reared  in  the  county  of 
her  nativity  and  received  her  education  in 
its  public  schools.  There  she  became  ac- 
quainted with  James  M.  Brown,  and  in  Far- 
mington they  were  married  January  25, 
187.'.  He.  too,  was  a  native  of  Fulton 
county,  born  in  Fairview  township,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1834,  and  was  a  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Kirkpatrick)  Brown.  The  father 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  of 
Irish  ancestry,  and  the  mother  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  e.xtraction.  In  their  family  were  five 
sons  and  one  daughter,  namely :  T.  Scott 
was  first  sergeant  of  Company  G,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Third  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry, 
during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  He  lost 
his  right  arm  at  the  shoulder  in  an  en-' 
gagement  at  Congree  Creek,  South  Car- 
olina. February  15,  1865.  .He  partici- 
])ate(I     in     many     a     historic     battle     and 


634 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


has  a  record  equalled  by  few.  He  enlisted 
August  9,  1862.  and  his  service  ended  with 
his  disability.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  Cam- 
bridge. Illinois.  C'.eorge  C.  is  a  retired  far- 
mer of  Osco.  this  county.  John  G.  married 
Anna  ^l.  Hegley  and  resides  in  Marsiiall- 
town.  Iowa,  in  summer  and  in  Daytona, 
Florida,  in  winter.  He  served  throughout 
the  Civil  war  as  a  sergeanf  major  in  the  Fif- 
ty-fifth Illinois  regiment,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  was  a  member  of  the  state  legisla- 
ture of  Iowa.  ^lary  L.  is  the  wife  of  Walter 
Hitchcock  of  Greenfield.  Iowa.  James  M. 
was  the  next  of  the  family.  One  son  died 
in  infancy. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  James  M. 
Brc^wn  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
n.ative  township,  and  early  acquired  an  ex- 
cellent knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits. 
He,  too,  was  one  of  the  boys  in  blue  during 
the  dark  davs  of  the  Rebellion,  enlisting  in 
Compan}-  B.  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first 
Illinois  \olunteer  Infantry.  Febuary  7.  1865. 
Soon  after  entering  the  service  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  sergeant,  and  partici- 
pated in  several  hotly  contested  engage- 
ments, being  discharged  January  24.  1866. 
with  an  honorable  military  record.  He  then 
returned  home  and  turned  his  atention  to 
agricultural  pursuits.  On  the  5th  of  Feb- 
ruary. 1872.  he  cams  to  Henry  county,  and 
f(ir  two  or  three  years  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing near  the  village  of  Osco,  in  Osco  town- 
ship. He  then  purchased  his  father's  farm 
■  f  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  to  which  he 
subsequently  added  eighty  acres.  He  died 
!May  4.  1893.  after  one  year's  illness.  He 
was  a  highlv  esteemed  citizen,  and  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  his  community. 

Mrs.  Brown  has  three  children :  Mae  E  . 
born  February  13.  1874.  resides  with  her 
m(»ther  in  Osco;  Roy  Scott,  born  January 


5,  1 88 1,  is  attending  the  Geneseo  Collegiate 
Institute  and  is  livine  in  that  city ;  and  Frank 
H.,  born  July  29,  1883.  is  also  a  student  of 
that  school  and  resides  with  his  mother  in 
Osco.  ]\Irs.  Brown  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  as  was  her  husband  also 
during  his  life. 


AXDREW  J.  SOLID.W. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  nf  the 
representative  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of 
Yorktown  township,  his  hime  being  on  sec- 
tion 31.  He  is  a  native  of  Henry  county, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Yorktown  town- 
ship, ^larch  16,  1861.  His  father,  Andrew 
Soliday.  was  born  in  Alsace.  Germany.  Jan- 
uary 7.  1830,  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Mar- 
garet Soliday.  Having  lost  his  father  in 
infancy  he  came  to  America  with  his  mother 
at  the  age  of  six  years  and  first  located  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  spent  a  few 
months.  There  she  married  Jacob  Grose,  a 
native  of  Rhenish  Bavaria.  In  rebuary, 
1837.  the  famil\-  removed  to  Allegany  coun- 
ty. Xew  York,  where  Mr.  Grose  died  five 
years  later.  The  mother  and  her  ciiildren 
continued  to  reside  there  and  in  Livingston 
county.  Xew  York,  until  1853.  Mr.  Soliday 
supporting  the  family  by  day  labor.  He 
came  west  on  a  prospecting  tour,  and  in  1854 
brought  his  mother  and  two  half  sisters, 
Sophia  and  Elizabeth  Grose,  to  Henry  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  having  decided  to  locate  here. 
For  two  years  he  rented  a  farm  in  Loraine 
township  belonging  ot  his  uncle,  Jacob  Shu- 
ler.  and  so  successful  was  he  in  its  opera- 
tion that  in  1855  he  was  able  to  purchase 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  19.  Yorktown 
township,  buying  the  pre-empted  claim  of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


635 


Michael  Shumaker  for  fifty  dollars.  This 
Mas  entirely  unimproved,  but  after  erecting 
thereon  a  hewed  log-  cabin,  he  located  on  his 
larni  in  Janu;u-y.  iS^f).  and  commenced  to 
break  jiis  ))]ace.  He  traded  a  yoke  of  oxen 
and  two  Cows  for  a  team  of  horses,  and  with 
characteristic  thrift  and  enterprise  began 
the  dexelopment  of  his  land.  At  that  time 
Vorktown  township  was  nearly  all  swamp 
l.and.  and  Mr.  .Solidav  got  up  a  sub.^cription 
t(..  improve  the  road,  while  he  himself  hauled 
brush,  wood  and  dirt  to  make  what  was 
known  as  the  une  hundred  acre  grade.  On 
.selling  his  first  farm  he  secured  annther  <in 
section  31.  the  same  townshi]).  which  is  >t:ll 
the  homestead  of  the  family.  1  le  lirsi  Ixiughl 
iiue  hundred  and  sc\ent\-ti\e  acres,  but  has 
since  added  to  it  and  now  has  1  me  <'i  the 
be:jt  farms  in  that  part  of  tlie  count \.  com- 
prising two  hundred  and  seventy-si.x  acres. 
His  mother  resided  with  him  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  March  5.  1873.  ^"  early 
life  he  was  a  \\  hi.g  but  since  the  organizatinn 
of  the  Repulilican  party  has  been  cme  of  its 
stanch  supporters.  He  has  filled  the  ofiices 
of  assessor.  cnn>table.  highwa}'  commis- 
sioner and  school  director,  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  most  valued  and  useful  citi- 
zens of  his  community. 

On  the  14th  of  June.  1856.  .\ndrew  -Snj- 
iday,  the  father  of  our  subject.  w;is  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Baker,  wIm  was 
burn  in  W'.arren  county,  I'ennsyKania.  .Vpr:! 
I.  1839.  a  daughter  of  Barnharl  and  Mar\ 
(Smith)  Baker.  Her  father  was  also  burn  in 
the  Keystone  state  of  German  ancestry,  and 
followed  the  butcher  business.  In  1841  he 
started  with  a  drove  of  sheej)  to  Philadel- 
])hia.  and  being  never  heard  of  again  is  sup- 
])iised  to  have  been  waylaid  and  murilered. 
His  wife  was  a  native  of  Alsace.  Germany, 
-and  came  to  this  countrv  with  .her  parents. 


locating  in  Pennsylvania,  .\fter  the  death 
of  her  husband  she  came  west  with  her  fam- 
ily, and  was  again  married  in  Chicago,  her 
second  hu.sband  l)eing  iM-ank  Summers.  In 
1856  they  came  to  Henry  county,  and  I0-. 
cated  on  a  farm  in  Loraine  l<iwnshi]).  By 
this  union  there  were  three  children:  Ed- 
ward, a  resident  of  LtM'aine,  married  Xancy 
Bollan,  and  they  ha\e  nine  children,  Cora, 
Ered.  Erank,  John,  Bernard,  Letitia.  Nettie, 
I-llmer  and  Edith.  Sarah,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  Edward  Ott.of  Kansas,  and  they  had 
two  children,  .\lmoud  and  Hazel.  Peter 
n-.arried  .Sarah  Dietz  an<l  they  have  four  chil- 
dren. Ada.  liurt,  Ora  and  I-"lorencc.  The 
mother  of  these  children  tlied  in  184J.  By 
her  first  marriage  she  had  two  children,  of 
whom  .Mrs.  Soliday  is  the  older.  She  resides 
on  the  home  farm  in  Vorkti)wn  township. 
Jacob  enlisted  in  the  Ninth  Uilnois  Cavalry 
during  the  Civil  war  and  died  in  the  service 
at  Helena,  .\rkansas. 

Andrew  I.  Soliday.  of  this  review,  is  the 
third  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  seven 
children,  the  others  being  as  follow.--:  I  1) 
Marv  l-'llen  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Minch.  a 
farmer  of  \'orktown  township,  and  they 
have  five  children,  Jessie,  Ray,  Lizzie,  Clay- 
ton and  Catherine.  (2)  Jacob,  a  resident  of 
Rhodes,  Iowa,  married  Ida  Urban,  and  they 
have  two  children.  Ethel  and  Clayton.  (4) 
Esther  E.  is  the  wife  of  John  X'etter,  a  far- 
mer of  .\tkinson  township,  this  county,  and 
they  have  four  children,  Lloyd,  Marie.  Er- 
ma  and  Roland.  (5)  Ida  S.  is  the  wife  ot 
William  Johnston,  of  Jasper  county.  Iowa, 
and  they  have  one  child,  llarland.  (6) 
Hannah  .\.  is  at  home.  (  7  I  Charles  .\.  is  a 
resident  of  Rhodes.  Iowa. 

In  earlv  life  our  subject  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  near  his  boyboinl  home,  and 
aided   in  the  work  of  the  farm,      -\fter  his 


636 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


father's  death.  Fel^ruary  lo,  1897,  he  took 
full  control  of  the  place,  and  in  its  operation 
has  met  with  most  gratifying  success.  He 
raises  horses  and  cattle  for  both  breeding  and 
market  purposes,  and  also  keeps  an  exten- 
sive flock  of  sheep  and  a  fine  herd  of  Poland 
China  hogs.  This  branch  of  his  business 
has  proved  quite  profitable,  and  in  all  his 
undertakings  he  has  steadily  prospered.  On 
the  5th  of  January,  1893.  Mr.  Soliday  was 
united  in  marriage  with  ]vliss  Tillie  Shin- 
lebber,  and  they  now  have  one  child,  Mildred, 
born  March  18,  1897.  ?^Irs.  Soliday's  father, 
Frederick  Shinlebber.  was  born  in  Germany, 
and  on  coming  to  America  when  a  young 
man  he  settled  at  Deerfield,  near  Chicago, 
Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  a 
time.  He  served  through  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion as  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
later  was  engaged  in  farming,  near  Hoop 
Pole,  this  county.  He  died  in  October, 
1900,  and  was  buried  at  that  place. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Barbara  Spath,  was  born  in  Peoria,  and  is 
still  living  near  Hoop  Pole.  Of  their  three 
children  Mrs.  Soliday  is  the  oldest ;  Wesley 
now  manages  the  homestead  farm  for  his 
mother :  and  Ida  is  also  at  home. 


HEXRY  E.  HOUGHTON. 

The  prosperity  of  a  community  depends 
upon  its  business  activity  and  the  enterprise 
manifest  in  commercial  circles  is  the  founda- 
tion upon  which  is  builded  the  material  wel- 
fare of  town,  state  and  nation.  The  most 
important  factors  in  public  life  at  the  present 
day  are  therefore  the  men  who  are  in  control 
of  successful  business  in  terests.  and  such  a 


one  is   Henry   E.    Houghton,    an    extensi\e 
stock  dealer  nf  \\'iiinlhull,  Illinois. 

He  was  born  in  Chester,  Vermont,  June 
16,  1849,  '"itl  is  a  son  of  Calvin  C.  and  Lucy 
E.  (Johnson)  Houghton,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  work.  In  1852,  'he 
was  brought  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  by  his 
parents,  and  grew  to  manhood  upon  the  home 
farm  in  Clover  township.  His  primary  edu- 
cation was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  of 
that  locality,  and  later  he  attended  the  aca- 
demic department  of  Knox  College,  Gales- 
burg,  antl  the  high  school  of  Abingdon,  Illi- 
nois. He  aided  his  father  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm  until  the  latter's  death,  and  later  suc- 
ceeded, to  the  old  homestead,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  1896.  During  that 
year  he  erected  a  commodious  and  pleasant 
residence  in  W'oodhull,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home,  his  time  and  attention  being 
devoted  to  the  buying  and  shipping  of  stock 
and  to  the  management  of  his  farm  property, 
for  he  is  now  the  owner  of  three  valuable 
and  well-improved  farms  of  six  hundred  and 
twenty-fi\e  acres  in  Clover  township.  He 
is  one  of  the  most  successful  stock  dealers 
hi  the  county,  and  annually  ships  about  one 
hundred  carloads  of  stock  to  the  city  mar- 
kets in  partnership  with  J.  \\\  Shelter.  With 
W.  C.  Stickney  and  F.  F.  Bell  he  organized 
the  company  which  are  the  present  owners 
of  the  \\'oodhull  Electric  Light  plant,  which 
was  erected  and  put  into  operation  in  Sep- 
tenil)er,  1900. 

On  the  25th  of  November,  1896.  Mr. 
Houghton  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Laura  May  Woods,  who  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, but  was  reared  in  Henry  county, 
being  a  daughter  of  R.  I.  Woods,  of  Wood- 
hull.  B)-  this  union  has  been  born  one  cb.ild, 
Helen  Isabel. 

Politicallv   ^Ir.    Houghton   is  an   ardent 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


637 


Republican,  having  affiliated  with  that  party 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
General  U.  S.  Grant  in  1872.  Being  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  his  community  he  lias 
been  calleil  upon  to  fill  official  positions  of 
honor  and  trust,  the  duties  of  which  he  has 
most  capably  and  satisfactorily  discharged. 
He  has  been  a  ilelegate  to  the  county,  con- 
gressional and  state  conventions  of  his  party. 
and  for  four  consecutive  years  was  an  in- 
lluential  member  of  the  county  board  of  su- 
pervisors, serving  on  the  committee  on  claims 
during  that  entire  time.  His  wife  holds 
menibershi])  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


1).  O.  LOV 


D.  O.  Loy,  a  worthy  representative  of  the 
industrial  interests  of  Henry  county,  as  well 
as  a  poet  and  autlmr  of  ability,  is  now  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
brick  and  tile  at  .\tkinson,  and  also  operates 
a  coal  mine  at  the  same  place.  He  was  born 
in  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  September  9,  1855. 
but  in  early  childhood  removed  to  Hancock 
county,  this  state,  with  his  parents,  George 
and  Margaret  (Cusic)  Loy,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania.  The  father  died  when 
our  subject  was  onl\-  five  years  old.  By  oc- 
cupation he  was  a  farmer,  and  followed  that 
pursuit  in  both  Morrow  and  Hancock  coun- 
ties, Ohi<j,  at  the  same  time  operating  a  saw 
mill.  In  his  family  were  five  children,  name- 
ly :  Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph  Barnhill,  ex-county 
treasurer  of  Marion,  Iowa ;  Martin  and  Me- 
lissa, both  residents  of  McComb,  Ohio;  D. 
O.,  our  subject;  and  Ella,  deceased.  For  her 
second  husband  the  mother  married  Robert 
Poe,  and  by  that  union  had  two  children, 
one  iif  wlinm  is  still  living. 


During  his  boyhood  and  y(nith  Mr.  Loy 
atended  the  country  school  in  the  winter, 
while  the  summer  season  was  devoted  to 
work.  On  coming  to  Illinois,  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  years,  he  located  in  Piatt  county, 
where  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  one  year, 
and  then  was  engageil  in  the  clothing  busi- 
ness with  Jose])b  Kuns.  at  Champaign,  for 
a  time.  Later  lie  followed  farming  in  Cham- 
paign county,  one  year,  and  then  cominenced 
learning  the  business  of  manufacturing 
brick.  Subsequently  he  embarketl  in  that 
business  for  himself  at  ^lonticello,  where  he 
built  the  first  steam  tile  factory  in  that  local- 
ity. Selling  his  plant  in  1883  he  removed  to 
Carthage,  where  he  was  successfully  engaged 
in  the  same  business  for  a  year,  and  then 
went  to  Eldora,  Iowa,  and  bought  an  old 
terra  cotta  factory,  which  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1885.  .\ltliough  his  plant  was  unin- 
sured he  immediately  rebuilt  and  resumed 
business,  lie  linally  returned  to  Illinois  and 
purchased  a  factory  which  had  formerly  1)een 
run  in  opposition  to  his  own,  and  a  year 
later  bought  his  old  plant,  operating  the  two 
together.  In  the  meantime  he  went  to  Ash- 
kum,  Iro(|uois  county,  and  built  a  very  fine 
tile  and  brick  factory,  which  he  carried  on 
until  the  hard  times  of  1893,  when  he  closed 
out  his  business. 

In  the  winter  of  1893-4  Mr.  Loy  took  the 
picture  of  the  Illinois  Model  Fartn,  made  of 
grains  and  grasses,  to  the  Midwinter  I-'air 
at  San  h'rancisco,  and  placed  it  in  the  horti- 
cultural building.  For  two  years  he  exhibited 
the  same  on  the  Pacific  coast.  He  also  pub- 
li.>,hed  a  book  of  poems,  profusel}-  illustrated, 
entitled  Poems  of  the  (iolden  State  Mid- 
Winter  Fair,  and  another  entitled  Poems 
'of  the  White  City.  Returning  to  Illinois  in 
189^).  he  litcated  in  .\tkinson,  and  again  em- 
barked in  the  manufacture  of  brick  and  tile. 


63S 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Althougli  he  was  witlmut  a  dullar  on  reacli- 
ing  tliis  place,  lie  possessed  the  strung  deter- 
mination to  sncceed.  and  the  prosperity  that 
ha>  since  come  to  him  is  due  entirely  to  his 
own  intlustry.  persexerance  and  godd  man- 
agement. At  present  he  is  also  oi)erating-  a 
coal  mine  and  in  hoth  nndertakings  is  meet- 
irig  with  good  success. 

In  religious  belief  Mr.  Loy  is  a  Presb}'- 
tcrian,  and  in  politics  is  a  Republican,  taking 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  The  art 
of  composition  has  always  come  naturally  to 
him,  and  he  has  written  many  beautiful 
poems  and  songs.  A  number  nf  these  were  on 
topis  connected  with  the  Spanish-American 
war.  and  he  has  also  written  many  stirring 
campaign  songs.  He  still  has  many  poems 
of  merit  that  have  never  been  published,  and 
deserves  to  be  ranked  among  the  leading 
poets  and  authors  of  the  west.  For  twenty 
years  he  has  been  connected  with  the  Clay 
Workers"  Association,  and  has  written  and 
recited  a  number  of  odes  in  its  honor,  and  has 
ali-o  done  the  same  for  the  Annual  Fire 
Chiefs'  Association. 


MRS.   :MARV  J.   STITT. 

One  of  the  most  highly  respected  ladies 
oi  Oxford  township  is  Mrs.  Marv  J.  Stitt. 
who  has  lived  on  the  farm  on  section  27. 
where  she  now  resides,  for  thirtv-one  }-ears. 
She  is  a  native  of  Knox  county,  Ilinois,  and 
a  daughter  of  D.  J.  Paden,  who  was  born  in 
Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  Decem- 
ber. 1825,  while  the  birth  of  her  paternal 
grandfather,  Isaac  Paden,  occurred  in  Fav- 
ette  county,  the  same  state,  in  1800.  Her  an- 
cestors were  of  Scotch  origin  and  earlv  set- 
tlers of  those  counties. 

In  the  county  of  liis  nati\-ity  D.  J.  Paden 


was  reared  and  educated,  and  with  his  par- 
ents came  to  Illinois  about  1842.  locating  in 
Kno.x  count}',  where  he  married  Lucinda 
!McCaA\',  a  nati\e  of  Indiana  county,  Penn- 
s}l\ania.  and  a  daughter  of  William  Mc- 
Caw,  who  was  born  in  Scotland  and  died  in 
the  Keystone  state.  Throughout  his  active 
business  life  Mr.  Paden  followed  the  car- 
penter's and  joiner's  trade.  In  1870  he  re- 
moved to  Page  county,  Iowa,  and  located  on 
a  farm.  He  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-fi\e  years,  and  now  makes  his  home  with 
a  son  in  that  county,  his  wife  haxdng  died 
Decemlier  20,    1890. 

I\Irs.  Stitt  was  reared  in  Henry  county, 
and  received  a  good  common-school  educa- 
iton,  wdiich  enabled  her  to  successfully  en- 
gage in  teaching  for  about  five  vears  prior 
to  her  marriage.  On  the  19th  of  August, 
1 869,  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  James 
Stitt,  who  was  l^orn  in  Franklin  countv, 
Pennsyh-ania,  (October  4,  1827.  and  there 
grew  to  manhood.  He  was  the  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Margaret  (  Harmonni )  Stitt.  his 
father  being  a  farmer  in  Franklin  countv, 
and  of  Irish  descent,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject  coming  from  county  Down,  Ireland, 
about  1 79 1.  William  Stitt  continued  to  en- 
gage in  farming  in  Franklin  county,  Penn- 
s_\-h-ania,  until  his  coming  to  Oxford  town- 
shii),  Henry  comity .  Illinois,  in  1856.  He 
made  liis  home  near  his  st.m.  and  there  died 
in  Februar}-,  1873.  His  wife  was  also  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  of  German  parent- 
age. She  made  her  home  with  her  son  James 
prior  to  her  death  in  1879.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  early  life,  James  Stitt,  our  subject, 
learned  the  tailor's  trade.  In  1850  he  made 
an  overland  trip  to  California  with  a  wagon 
train,  and  spent  two  years  in  prospecting 
and  mining  in  the  gold  fields,  returning  home 


JAMES  STITT. 


UNIVERSlir  Uf  ILLINOIS 
URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD.  641 

l)y  wa}-  of  the  Isthiims  Dt  raiiania  and  Xcw  L.,  wlio  carry  mi  the  limne   farm   for  their 

York  city,      lii    1S53   lie  was   first  inarrieil  iiiotlier.  since  tlie  death  ot"  their  father:  Lii- 

to  Elizalieth    IlaiiinKnid.    in    i'ennsyl\-ania.  cia.  one    of  tlie  successful    teachers    of  the 

and  then  reino\-e(l  to  Stockbridsje.  Michigan,  countv,   roiding-  at    hniiie;   and    llarr\-   W  .. 

V  here  he  engag-ed  in  farniino-  and  working  w  Im   is  attending    the    State   L'niversity    at 

at  his  trade  for  a  short  time,  luit  the  follnw-  C'liamiiaigii,    Illinois. 

iiig- year  came  ti>  lienry  cuniity.  Illinois,  ar-  L'i)"n  his  farm  .Mr.  .Stitt  erected  a  cmn- 

riving  here  on   the  4th  of  Jnl_\\    '•'^54.      He  inoilinus  and  snlistantial  residence,  and  made 

inirchascd  the  farm  mi  section  2;-.  Oxford  man}- other  permanent  improvements,  st)  that 

township,    where     his    family    still    reside,  the  farm  is  now  one  of  the  most  desiral)le 

though  at  that  time  it  was  a  tract  of  one  linn-  in  the  locality.     Besides  this  property  he  had 

clred   and   sixty   acres  of   unhrnken    prairie,  also  owned  land  in  Iowa.  Nebraska  and  Kan- 

wliicli  he  at  unce  began  to  inipro\e  and  cnb  sas.      He    was   one   of   tlie    most    successful 

ti\ate.  farmers  and  stock  raisers  nf  his  community 

In  iSdj  .Mr.  .Stitt  joined  the  boys  in  l)lue  as  well    as  an    extensixc    stuck    buyer,  and 

of  L'oni])aiiy  D.  Hue  Hundred  and  Twelfth  these  industries  are  still  carried  mi  in  a  ]ir(n'- 

lilinois  \"c>lnnteer  Infantry,  and  was  chosen  itable   manner   b_\'    bis    sons,    whn    annuall\- 

corporal  of  his  compain-.     lie  was  in  active  ship  from  three  to  five  carloads  of  cattle  and 

ser\ice  for  three  vears,  and  participated  in  a  hogs  to  the  city  market.s.     roliticallx'  he  was 

number  of  important  engagements,  inclu(Hng  icientilied  with  the  Republican  party  for  some 

the  battles  of  Knoxville,  Re.saca,  the  .\tla.nta  years,  but  being  a  strong  temperance  man  he 

campaign,  the  battles  of  Franklin.  Xash\-ille  finally  gave    bis  sup]5ort    to  the    men   and 

and    Wilmington,  and    the  ICast    Tennes.sce  measures    of    the    Proliibitinn    party,      lie 

raid.     I  le  was  also  in  a  large  number  of  skir-  ser\ed    fm-   some  years   a>   township   scbi»'l 

niishes    and    lesser    fights,  and    was    twice  trustee,  and  filled  other  local  offices  of  honor 

wounded,  first  at   Knox\ille.  'fennessee,  and  and  trust.'    l"or  o\er   forty  years  he  was  a 

serimisly    at    Wilmington,    .X'irlli    Carolina,  consistent  and  faithful  niember  df  the  Metbo- 

Jlis   term  of  enlistment   having  expired   he  (list   I^piscpal  L'hurch.  and  hi>  u])right  and 

was  honorably  discharged  June  20,  1865.  honorable  life  gained  for  him  the  ci'iifidence 

.Mr.    Stitts  first  wife  died   in  Januarv,  and  esteem  of  all  whc)  knew  him.     lie  died 

i86y,  leaving  li\-e  of  the  seven  children  born  upon  bis  farm  .\])ril  25,  1896,  and  was  laid 

to  them,  namely:  Lawrence,  who  is  married  to  rest   in   .Suniniit    Level  cemetery.      Since 

and    li\es   in    C'dluradu;    brank    I'..,    who    is  hih  death  Mrs.  Stilt  and  her  sons  have  suc- 

married    and    li\es    in  Cuin.    I'age    county,  cessfulK- managed  the  business  affairs  of  tlie 

Iowa:  .\manda  became  the  wife  of  W.   C.  family,      and      she      has     displayed      excel- 

Cole.    December  9,  1885.   and    died    .Se])teni-  lent  business  and  executive  ability.     She  i.s 

her  ij.  i8(y):  Wesley  K..  will  I  is  married  and  well   and    fa\drably  known   tlin>ugbout   this 

resides  in  \'iola.  Illinois :  and  b.lmer  M..  win)  section  of  the  cmuity.  and  her  fanhl_\-  is  muc 

makes  his  bmne  in  Montana,     'flie  children  of  ])rmninence  in  the  cmnmnnity  where  they 

b(irn  of  the  second  marriage  are  as  follows:  reside.     For  thirty-four  years  she  has  also 

Charles,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  Bar-  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 

ton  countv.  Kansas:  fames  II.  and  William  Cliurcb. 


642 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


CHARLES  R.  LORY. 

Charles  R.  Lory,  the  leading  photog- 
rapher of  Kewanee,  was  born  in  Platteville. 
^^'isconsin,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1856. 
and  was  only  eight  years  old  when  he  first 
came  to  Kewanee.  His  father,  Richard 
Lory,  was  born  in  Cornwall.  Englaiul.  in 
1831.  and  was  there  reared  and  educated, 
being  nineteen  years  of  age  when  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  with  his  parents.  ]Mr.  and  ^Irs. 
John  Lory.  The  family  located  in  Platte- 
\ille.  \\  isconsin,  where  Richard  Lorv  mar- 
ried Miss  Eliza  Trenery.  also  a  nati\-e  of 
Cornwall,  England,  who  as  a  child  had  como 
to  this  country  with  her  parents  and  settled 
in  Platteville.  There  they  continued  to  maks 
their  home  until  their  removal  to  Kewanee 
in  1864.  Here  Mr.  Lory  was  engaged -in 
the  coal  business  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred August  25,  1877.  Hi^  widow  still 
survives  him  and  is  a  member  of  the  Primi- 
tive Methodist  Church. 

During  his  boyhood  and  _\outh  Charles  R. 
Lory  pursued  his  studies  in  the  public  and 
high  schools  of  Kewanee.  after  which  he 
was  variously  employed  for  a  time.  In  1877 
he  commenced  learning  photography  in  a 
gallery  in  that  city,  and  for  a  time  followed 
his  chosen  occupation  at  Eldorado,  Kansas, 
but  in  1892  returned  to  Kewanee,  where  he 
opened  a  studio  of  his  own.  He  was  alone 
in  business  until  1897,  when  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  George  M.  Strong,  a  prom- 
inent business  man  of  this  place,  but  the  ful 
lowing  year  purchased  his  partner's  interest 
and  has  since  conducted  the  business  alone. 
He  is  widely  recognized  as  one  of  the  best 
and  most  artistic  photographers  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state,  and  therefore  receives  a 
liberal  share  of  the  public  patronage. 

On  the  19th  of  August,  1888,  Mr.  Lory 


was  united  in  marriage  with  }^Iiss  Mary  J- 
Thompson,  a  daughter  of  Robert  S.  and 
Xancy  (Callender)  Thompson.  bi:)th  natives 
of  Allegheny  countv.  Pennsvhania.  The  fa- 
ther's early  life  was  spent  upon  a  farm  near 
Pittsburg,  where  he  continued  to  make  his 
home  until  coming  to  Kewanee,  Illinois,  in 
1883.  Here  he  died  May  5.  1892.  His  wif«. 
had  departed  this  life  on  the  20th  of  June, 
1 881.  Mrs.  Lory  is  a  member  of  the  Prim- 
itive Methodist  Church,  which  her  husband 
attends  and  supports. 

For  some  time  Mr.  Lt)rv  has  been  a  direc- 
tor of  the  Kewanee  public  library  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  purchasing  committee.  He  has 
also  served  as  secretary  of  the  same  for 
eight  years,  and  to  his  untiring  efforts  much 
of  the  success  of  the  library  is  due.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Py- 
thias and  the  ^lodern  Woodmen  of  America, 
and  he  has  been  secretary  of  Camp,  Xo.  84, 
for  three  years.  He  occupies  a  prominent 
position  in  musical  circles,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  has  been  leader  of  the  Kewanee  Mil- 
itary Band,  which  is  one  of  the  finest. bands 
in  this  locality.  He  is  also  very  fond  of  lit- 
erature and  art.  and  has  one  of  the  best,  se- 
lected private  libraries  in  this  section  of  the 
state.  In  1899  he  built  a  beautiful  home  on 
Prospect  street,  in  one  of  the  finest  residence 
portions  of  the  cit}'.  and  it  has  Ijecome  a 
favorite  resort  of  a  cultured  societv  circle. 


JOHX  REARDOX. 

For  many  years  John  Reardon.  who  is 
now  deceased,  was  one  of  the  leading  agricul- 
turists of  Munson  township,  and  the  fine 
farm  which  he  there  improved  is  still  in 
possession  of  his  widow.     He  was  born  in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


643 


county  Cork.  Ireland.  July  4.  i8_'5.  and  was 
a  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Fitzgerald)  Rear- 
don,  also  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  where 
they  continued  to  make  their  home  through- 
out life.  In  their  family  were  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  all  of  whom  came  to  tha 
United  States  and  are  no  wdeceased. 

It  was  in  1847  that  our  subject  emigrated 
to  .\merica.  sailing  from  Cork.  Ireland,  and 
landing  in  Quebec.  Canada.  After  working 
tor  a  time  as  a  farm  hand  in  the  Dominion, 
lie  went  to  Micliigan,  and  later  to  Toledo, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  employed  on  the  docks. 
While  there  he  was  married,  !May  2,  1854, 
tti  Miss  Margaret  Clare,  who  was  also  born 
in  Ireland.  September  30,  1826,  and  came  to 
America  in  April.  1847, — the  year  of  the  big 
emigration.  She  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight 
children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  who 
on  coming  to  this  country  settled  in  Kings- 
ton, Canada,  but  soon  became  scattered.  Mrs. 
Reardon's  brothers  are  now  deceased ;  one 
sister  resides  in  Toledo,  Ohio.  Our  subject 
and  his  wife  had  one  child,  Marj-,  born  De- 
cember 31,  1855.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Au- 
gust Johnson,  a  native  of  Sweden,  who  now 
operates  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Mun- 
son  township,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Sherman,  John,  Mary  and  May. 

For  one  year  after  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Reardon  continued  to  reside  in  To^ 
ledo,  Ohio,  and  in  1859  removed  to  Bloom- 
ir.gton,  Illinois,  near  which  place  he  engaged 
in  farming  for  George  Hill  for  four  years. 
The  following  three  years  were  spent  in 
Galva,  where  Mr.  Reardon  was  employed  as 
section  foreman  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Ouincy  Railroad.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of 
land  in  Munson  township,  this  county,  from 
P.  P.  Allen.  The  land  was  all  broken,  Inr. 
he  erected  the    house    and    liarn  and  made 


many  other  improvements  which  added 
greatly  to  the  value  and  attractive  appear- 
ance of  the  place.  For  twenty  years  he  con- 
tinued to  successfully  engage  in  farming, 
but  in  1888  purchased  a  good  home  in  Gen- 
eseo,  where  he  lived  retired  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  April  24,  1890.  His  remains 
were  interred  at  Geneseo.  His  widow  has 
since  sold  the  house  at  that  place  and  erected, 
a  more  convenient  cottage  for  herself,  where 
she  delights  to  entertain  her  many  friends. 
She  rents  her  farm  to  her  son-in-law.  Mr. 
Reardon  always  took  an  active  and  com- 
mendable interest  in  public  affairs,  and  for 
three  years  efficientl}"  served  as  road  master 
in  ^lunson  township.  In  r-eligious  belief  he 
was  a  Catholic,  to  which  church  his  wife  and 
daughter  also  belong.  The  family  are  high- 
ly respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
them. 


FRANK  II.  EDWARDS. 

This  prosperous  and  well-known  farmer 
residing  on  section  10,  Western  township, 
is  a  man  whose  sound  common  sense  and 
vigor,  able  management  of  his  aflfairs  have 
been  important  factors  in  his  success,  and 
with  his  undoubted  integrity  of  character 
iiave  given  him  an  honored  position  among 
his  fellow  men. 

3*Ir.  Edwards  was  born  in  Moline.  Ri-ck 
Island  county,  August  2,  1857,  and  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  honored 
pioneer  families  of  this  state.  His  father, 
Herbert  Edwards,  was  born  in  Brattleboro, 
\'ermont,  about  1827,  and  was  a  son  of 
William  Edwards,  who  in  1835  brought  his 
famih'  to  Green  county  and  one  year  later 
to  Illinois,  becoming  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Moline  and  opening  up  a  farm  which  is 
now  within  tlie  citv  limits.     There  Herbert 


644 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Edwards  grew  to  maniiood.  and  in  Rock 
Island  county  marrietl  Harriet  Godon,  a  na- 
tive of  Michigan  and  a  daughter  of  Amos 
Gordon,  who  was  also  a  pioneer  of  that  coun- 
ty. Throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  ac- 
ti\e  business  life  Herbert  Edwards  followed 
tlie  plasterer's  trade,  but  in  1867  he  removed 
til  Henry  county  and  located  on  a  farm  in 
\\'estern  township,  following  agricultural 
pursuits  until  his  death,  December  21,  1872. 
His  widow  has  married  again  and  now  re- 
sides in  Geneseo. 

Reared  in  Henry  count)-,  Frank  H.  Ed^ 
wards  acquired  his  early  education  in  its 
district  schools,  and  later  pursued  his  studies 
for  a  few  terms  under  Professor  Comstock, 
of  Colona.  He  remained  on  the  farm  with 
his  nu)ther  and  operated  a  part  of  the  place 
imtil  twenty-five  years  of  age.  On  the  ,23d 
of  January,  1883,  near  Flanagan,  Livings- 
ton county,  Illinois,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Anna  ^l.  Smith,  a  nati\e 
of  Maryland,  and  a  daughter  of  Charles  A. 
Smith,  who  removed  from  that  state  to  Liv- 
ingston county,  where  Mrs.  Edwards  was 
principally  reared  and  educated.  By  this 
union  were  born  four  children:  Ella  B.,  H. 
Royce.  Ethel  H.  and  Elwood  Glenn,  all  at 
iTOme. 

Charles  A.  Smith  was  born  in  Germany, 
and  when  young  came  to  the  United  States, 
landing  in  Xew  York  and  going  from  there 
to  ^Maryland,  where  he  married  Elizabeth 
Hays,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  who  was 
brought  by  her  parents  to  this  country  when 
she  was  two  and  a  half  years  old,  the  family 
locating  in  Cumberland.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  removed  to  Living.ston  county, 
Illinois,  locating  near  Long  Point,  but  later 
moving  to  a  farm  near  Flanagan,  where  Mr. 
Smith  now  lives.  His  wife  died  December 
5,  1898. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards  began  their  dr>- 
mestic  life  upon  the  farm  in  \\'estern  town- 
ship where  they  still  continue  to  reside.  In 
its  operation  he  has  met  with  marked  suc- 
cess, and  to  the  original  tract  he  has  added 
from  time  to  time  until  he  now  has  five  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  which  he  has  placed 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The  well 
tilled  fields  are  made  to  yield  a  golden  trib- 
ute in  return  for  the  care  and  labor  bestowed 
upon  them,  and  everything  about  the  place 
betokens  thirft  and  prosperity.  The  build- 
ings are  neat  and  substantial,  and  the  pleas- 
ant home  is  the  abode  of  prosperity  and  good 
cheer.  In  conection  with  general  farming- 
Mr.  Edwards  raises  and  feeds  considerable 
stock.  The  Republican  party  has  always 
found  in  him  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  prin- 
ciples, but  he  has  never  cared  for  political 
preferment,  desiring  rather  to  give  his  undi- 
vided attention  to  his  business  interests.  He 
and  his  wife  are  active  and  prominent  mem- 
bers of  the  English  Lutheran  Church  of  Mor- 
ri.stown,  with  which  he  is  now  officially  con 
nected.  and  they  are  people  of  prominence 
ii:  the  communitv  where  thev  reside. 


\\  ILLIAM  FORGY. 

One  of  Clover  township's  most  substan- 
tial and  successful  agriculturists  is  William 
Forg)',  who  dates  his  residence  in  Henry 
county  from  the  2nd  of  April,  1854,  and  to- 
day owns  and  occupies  a  fine  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  8,  two 
and  a  half  miles  from  \\'oodhull.  He  was 
bom  in  what  is  now  Morrow  county,  Ohio, 
May  27,  1826.  and  is  a  grandson  of  Robert 
Forgy,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  the 
new  world  at  an  earlv  dav  and  settled  in  ^lif- 


WILLIAM   FORGY. 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URSA>\A 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


647 


rtin  county,  Pennsyhaiiia.  where  lie  oi)ene<l 
up  and  iniprovetl  a  farm.  There  tlie  lallier. 
John  Forgy,  was  horn  in  1799.  On  reacli- 
ing  nianliood  he  wab  married  in  Washing- 
ton county.  Pennsylvania,  to  Miss  Jane  Mil- 
ler, a  native  of  that  county,  her  fatlier  dying 
}ijung.  In  early  life  John  Forgy  engaged  in 
school  teaching  for  some  years,  and  in  1825 
removed  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  hecoming 
one  of  its  first  settlers.  There  he  entered 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  timljer  land 
and  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness  improved 
a  farm,  upon  which  he  reared  his  family. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  who  was 
the  mother  of  our  suhject,  he  married  again 
and  removed  to  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  where 
lie  purchased  a  place  and  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  days,  dying  February  14.  187J. 

In  the  county  of  liis  nativity  William 
1-Virgy  passed  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  much  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
boys,  aiding  in  laliors  of  field  and  meadow, 
and  attending  the  district  schools  for  a  few 
weeks  during  the  winter  season  when  his 
services  were  not  needed  at  home.  In  1849 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  he  went 
to  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  and  the  following  year 
crossed  the  plains  to  California  with  an  ox 
team,  landing  in  Bear  \'alley.  He  spent  two 
years  in  gold  mining  on  the  Feather  and  Yu- 
ba rivers  and  making  some  money  when  his 
health  permitted,  but  he  lost  considerable 
time  on  account  of  illness.  In  1852  he  return- 
ed to  his  old  home  in  Ohio  by  way  of  the  Nic- 
aragua route  to  Xew  York.  In  1853  he 
cameto  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  purchased 
land,  but  .stxjn  returned  to  Ohio  to  take  care 
of  the  crops  which  he  had  planted.  In  the 
spring  of  1854,  howe\er,  he  located  upon  his 
land  in  this  county,  and  at  once  began  the 
work  of  improvement  and  cultivation  until 
he  now  has  one  of  the  best  farms  of  its  size 


in  the  townshi]).  lie  jjurchased  more  land 
from  time  to  time  until  he  had  four  hundred 
acres,  ami  throughout  his  business  career  has 
successfully  engaged  in  gener.il  farming  and 
stock-raising. 

liefore  leaving  Ohio,  Mr.  Forgy  was 
married,  February  21.  1854.  to  Miss  Eva 
Moody,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Stockdale)  Moody,  wlio  was  born  in  the 
same  neighborhood  as  her  husband.  Their 
wedding  journey  was  the  trip  to  this  county, 
which  was  made  by  team  and  lasted  twenty- 
seven  days.  They  became  the  parents  of  five 
children  who  reached  years  of  maturity, 
namely;  .Mien  T..  a  resident  of  Galesburg, 
a  graduate  of  Hetlding  College,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  has  two  children,  Herman  C,  and 
Flora;  Xellie  J.,  also  a  graduate  of  Hedding 
College,  wife  of  J.  F.  Carnes.  by  whom  she 
has  one  daughter.  Kate  E. ;  Ralph  Judd,  a 
farmer  of  Union  county,  Iowa,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  has  tme  child,  aud  ;  William  H..  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years ;  and 
l\obert  J.,  who  is  now  operating  the  home 
farm.  All  the  children  were  offered  good 
educational  advantages.  The  wife  and 
n:other  passed  away  January  12,  1899,  and 
was  laid  to  rest  in  Clover  Chapel  cemetery. 
She  was  a  consistent  and  faithful  memlier  of 
the  Woodhull  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
to  which  Mr.  Forgy  belongs.  He  cast  hi> 
first  presidential  vote  for  Franklin  Pierce  in 
1852,  and  has  since  been  identified  with  the 
Democracy,  being  a  stanch  supporter  of  its 
principles,  although  he  has  voted  for  pro- 
hibition. He  was  the  first  collector  in  Cloven 
township,  anil  for  three  terms  most  cred- 
itably and  satisfactorily  served  as  supervi- 
sor. He  also  filled  the  office  of  school  direc- 
tor for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  and  has 
servetl  as  district  clerk  and  president  of  the 
board,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  advance  the 


648 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


educational  interests  of  the  community.  Fra- 
ternally he  has  atfiliated  with  the  Grange  and 
has  served  as  master  of  the  local  Grange.  He 
ij.  an  enterprising,  public-spirited  citizen  and 
i:-  ever  ready  to  advance  those  interests  for 
the  public  good. 


O.  \V.  LAGER. 


O.  W.  Lager,  of  the  firm  of  Lager  & 
Company,  is  proprietor  of  "the  Leader"  of 
Annawan,  and  is  one  of  the  most  progressive 
business  men  of  that  thriving  little  town. 
His  ability,  enterprise  and  upright  methods 
have  gained  for  him  an  enviable  reputation 
in  business  circles,  and  although  he  is  still  a 
young  man  his  popularity  is  established  on  a 
firm  basis — that  of  his  own  well-tested  merit. 

Mr.  Lager  was  born  on  a  farm  east  of 
Stockholm,  Sweden.  January  i,  1877,  and  is 
a  son  of  Alfred  and  Emily  Lager,  natives  of 
the  same  locality,  who  brought  their  family 
to  America  in  1882.  when  our  subject  was 
five  years  old,  and  located  in  Geneseo.  In 
his  native  land  the  father  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  which  he  still  continues  to  follow 
at  Geneseo. 

Our  subject  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth 
in  a  family  of  eight  children.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  Geneseo,  and  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  began  his  business  career 
as  clerk  in  the  dry  goods  store  of  Bickel  & 
Cook,  of  Geneseo,  in  whose  employ  he  re- 
mained for  eight  years.  In  March,  1898, 
the  firm  of  Lager  &  Company  was  formed 
and  purchased  the  department  store  of  J.  L. 
&  L.  T.  Dow  at  Annawan.  They  carry  a 
large  and  well  assorted  stock  of  dry  goods, 
boots,  shoes,  groceries,  queensware,  carpets 
and  clothing,  in  fact  everything  found  in  a 
first  class  department  store.      By   fair  and 


honorable  dealing  they  have  built  up  an  ex- 
cellent trade  and  now  furnish  employment 
tc  four  clerks.  Mr.  Lager  is  also  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  C.  W.  Lager  &  Company,  at 
Atkinson,  the  store  at  that  place  being  under 
the  management  of  his  older  brother,  C.  W. 
Lager.  Both  establishments  are  conducted 
on  a  strict!}^  cash  basis,  and  to-day  are  the 
leading  business  houses  of  the  towns  in  which 
they  are  located.  Religiously  our  subject 
i;  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church. 


DANIEL  MALOXEY. 

Among  the  agriculturists  of  Henry  coun- 
ty who  have  met  with  marked  success  in  their 
life  work  and  are  now  able  to  lay  aside  all 
business  cares  and  spend  the  sunset  of  life  in 
ease  and  retirement  is  Daniel  Maloney,  a 
well-known  and  honored  citizen  of  Geneseo. 
He  was  born  in  county  Limerick.  Ireland, 
on  the  17th  of  Nevember,  1823,  and  was 
baptized  at  Sologhead  by  Rev.  Thomas 
Dwyer,  his  sponsors  being  Thomas  Hewitt 
and  Maria  Crowe.  His  parents  were  Daniel 
and  Catherine  (Croak)  Maloney,  also  na- 
tivs  of  county  Limerick,  who  spent  their  en- 
tire lives  on  the  Emerald  Isle,  where  the  fa- 
ther followed  the  occupation  of  farmng.  In 
their  family  were  nine  children,  of  whom  two 
sons  and  three  daughters  came  to  America, 
while  the  others  remained  in  Ireland. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  county  Tip- 
perary,  Ireland.  It  was  in  1851  that  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic  from  Liverpool  on  the 
W'est  Point,  a  sailing  vessel,  which  was  eight 
weeks  and  three  days  in  making  the  voyage 
at  that  time.  On  landing  in  New  York,  he 
went  to  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  where  he 
worked  on  a  farm  two  years.  He  then  came 
west  and  spent  four  years  in  Kewanee,  Illi- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


649 


nois,  wliere  he  met  anil  mnrried  Miss  Mary 
Downey,  wlio  was  born  in  county  Kilkenny, 
Ireland,  in  1837.  a  daughter  of  Patrick  and 
Elizabeth  (  Phalen )  Downey.  At  an  early 
age  she  emigrated  with  her  parents  to  Can- 
ada, where  they  spent  seventeen  years,  and 
later  resided  for  three  )-ears  in  Michigan 
before  coming  to  Kewanee,  Illinois.  Her  fa- 
ther, who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  died 
in  1866,  and  was  buried  in  Galesburg,  Illi- 
nois, while  her  mother  died  in  1868  in 
Leavenworth.  Kansas.  Of  their  ele\en  (-hil- 
dren  all  but  two  were  born  in  Canada. 

Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Maloney  are  the  parents  of 
ten  children,  namely:  William  B.,  born  Jan- 
uary 19.  1859,  married  Nettie  Fritz  and  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  Bureau  county,  Illi- 
nois; Patrick  H.,  born  March  17,  i860,  and 
died  Deceml)er  14,  1878;  Elizabeth,  born 
September  27,  1862,  and  Louis  Michael,  and 
died  January  26,  1898,  leaving  two  children, 
Josie  and  Helen,  who  now  reside  with  our 
subject;  John  T.,  born  November  25,  1864, 
married  Hattie  McCullough,  and  is  a  re- 
tired farmer  of  Atkinson;  Oscar  D.,  born 
June  25,  1867,  is  also  a  resident  of  Atkin- 
son; Joseph  S.  S.,  born  September  16,  1869, 
was  drowned  while  sw'imming  near  (jeneseo, 
June  14,  1892;  Francis  L.,  burn  June  14, 
1872,  is  a  resident  of  Atkinson;  James,  born 
April  28,  1875,  Mary  E.  P.,  born  November 
I,  1877.  and  Edward  \'.,  born  November 
15,  1879,  are  all  at  home  with  their  parents. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  ^Ir.  Maloney 
lived  in  what  is  called  the  Scott  settlement 
near  Kewanee,  and  was  working  on  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad.  Later 
he  rented  a  farm  in  Cornwall  township, 
where  he  resided  for  twehe  years,  and  then 
purchased  eighty  acres  on  section  12,  the 
same  township.  On  selling  that  place  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  acres 


in  Shabbona  Grove,  which  he  operated  until 
1888,  and  also  owned  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  Loraine  township,  all  of 
which  property  he  acquired  through  his  own 
industry,  perseverance  and  good  manage 
ment.  In  1888  he  removed  to  .\tkinson, 
where  he  made  his  home  for  ten  years,  and 
then  came  to  Geneseo,  building  a  large  house 
fitted  with  all  modern  improvements,  where 
he  expects  to  spend  his  remaining  days.  In 
his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat,  an  1  he 
and  his  family  are  all  members  of  the  Catho- 
lic Church.  In  looking  back  through  the  past 
we  see  a  young  man  who  came  to  the  new 
world  empty-handed  in  search  of  home  and 
fortune,  and  at  present  we  see  his  ambitious 
dreams  realized,  for  he  is  now  one  of  the 
most  substantial  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Geneseo,  and  well 
deserves  mention  in  the  history  of  his 
adopted  country. 


THOMAS  HUDSON. 

Probably  no  man  in  this  section  of  thu 
state  is  more  widely  known  than  Thomas 
Hudson,  who  for  man_\-  years  has  efficiently 
serx'ed  as  state  inspector  of  coal  mines  for 
the  second  inspection  district.  He  has  made 
his  home  in  (ialva  since  1883,  it  being  about 
the  center  of  his  district.  .\  native  of  Eng- 
land, he  was  born  in  the  county  of  Northum- 
berland on  the  22nd  of  May,  1846,  and  is  a 
son  of  George  and  Margaret  (Robinson) 
Hudson,  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  thac 
country  as  agriculturists.  Thomas  is  the 
older  of  their  two  children,  the  other  being 
Robert,  who  is  still  a  resident  of  the  mother 
country.  There  the  father  died  when  our 
subject  was  a  small  boy,  and  the  mother  later 
became  the  wife  of  Thomas  Smiles,  by  whon» 


650 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


slie  had  a  daugliter  wlio  died  in  Pennsylva- 
nia. ]\Ir.  Smiles,  who  was  a  miner  by  occu- 
pation, came  to  America  and  fi)llo\ved  that 
pursuit  in  Pennsylvania  for  a  time.  Later 
he  spent  some  time  in  Te.xas  and  then  re- 
turned to  the  Keystone  state. 

During  his  boyhood  Thomas  Hudson 
pursued  his  studies  in  the  common  schools 
vi  his  native  land  until  thirteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  commenced  work  in  the  mines  of 
England  as  a  trapper,  and  gradually  worked 
his  way  upward  to  his  present  responsible 
position.  He  came  to  the  new  world  in  1871, 
his  destination  being  Henry,  Illinois,  where 
he  had  friends  living,  and  after  a  short  time 
spent  near  that  city,  he  became  a  resident  of 
Galva.  \\here  he  engaged  in  coal  mining  for 
six  months.  Subsequently  he  followed  the 
same  occupation  at  Streator  for  ten  years, 
and  served  as  pit  boss  for  a  time. 

In  Marshall  county,  Illinois,  Air.  Hud- 
son was  married  in  1871  to  Miss  Eleanor 
Fairbairn,  also  a  native  of  England,  who 
died  about  a  year  after  their  marriage,  leav- 
ing one  daughter,  Bella,  now  the  wife  of  Le 
Roy  Miller,  a  carpenter  of  Galva,  by  whom 
she  has  two  children,  Virginia  and  Helen. 
Airs.  Miller  is  a  graduate  of  the  high  school 
of  Galva  and  prior  to  her  marriage  success- 
fully engaged  in  teaching  school  for  a  time. 
In  1877,  Air.  Hudson  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Aliss  Lizzie  Hug- 
gans,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey  but  was 
only  two  years  old  when  she  removed  with 
her  parents  to  Streator,  Illinois.  Of  the 
seven  children  born  of  this  marriage  the  two 
daughters  died  in  early  childhood.  The  sons 
survive,  and  are  Fred,  a  barber  of  Galva. 
Charles  B. ;  Harry,  James  Edward,  and  Will- 
iam McKinley.  All  are  at  home,  and  have 
been  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Galva. 

Mr.  Hudson  was  appointed  mine  inspec- 


tor l)y  Gmernor  Hamilton  in  1883,  having 
passed  an  examination  as  to  his  competency 
ill  mining  affairs  on  such  iinix)rtant  matters 
as  mining  engineering,  mining  machinery 
and  appliances;  operation  of  coal  mines; 
ventilation ;  geology  and  chemistry.  He  is  a 
self-educated  man,  having  had  no  opiX)rtu- 
nity  to  attend  school  since  thirteen  years  of 
age,  but'  is  well  informed  on  general  topics 
and  especially  proficient  on  subjects  pertain- 
ing lo  his  chosen  calling.  Since  first  pertain- 
mine  inspector  of  the  second  district  of  111- 
nois,  he  has  filled  that  position  under  every 
governor  except  Altgeld.  passing  the  re- 
quired examination  every  two  years.  His 
long  retention  plainly  indicates  his  efficiency 
and  trustworthiness.  Galva  being  centrally 
located  in  his  district  he  has  since  made  it  his 
h-ome,  and  has  been  called  upon  to  serve  as 
a  member  of  the  town  board  of  trustees  of 
the  village  for  six  years.  In  politics-he  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  has  been  a  member 
of  the  township  Republican  central  commit- 
tee. In  the  mining  industry  he  is  one  of 
the  most  competent  men  of  the  city,  and  has 
made  a  thorough  study  of  the  two  hundred 
mines  now  in  operation  in  his  district.  He  is 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  Homestead  & 
Loan  Association  of  Galva.  He  owns  the 
property  which  he  has  made  his  home  since 
his  return  to  Galva  in  1883.  Fraternally 
Air.  Hudson  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  belong- 
ing to  the  blue  lodge  of  Galva  and  the  chapter 
of  Kewanee,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Court  of  Honor  of  Galva,  of  which  he  is  a 
trustee. 


L.  T.  DO\\'. 


This  well-known  hardware  merchant  of 
Anna  wan,  was  born  in  that  town  on  the  ist 
of  April,   1866,  and  for  the  past  six  years 


CAPT.  JOHN   L.   DOW^. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


65J 


lias  been  a  leading  reiircsentative  of  its  busi- 
ness interests.  His  father,  Captain  Jolni  L. 
Dow,  was  born  in  Canterljury,  Xew  Hamp- 
shire, May  6,  1830,  and  came  west  in  1846 
witii  his  father,  Tristram  Dow,  who  settled 
at  Buda,  Bureau  county.  Illinois.  The 
house  the  grandfather  erected  at  that  place 
is  still  standing.  There  he  took  up  a  tract 
of  imbroken  prairie  land  from  the  govern- 
ment and  to  its  improvements  and  cultivation 
devoted  his  time  and  energies  until  1854, 
when  the  family  came  to  Annawan.  On 
coming  west  the  journey  was  made  by  the 
Erie  canal  to  Buffalo,  the  Great  Lakes  to 
Chicago,  and  by  wagon  the  remaining  dis- 
tance. The  family  consisted  of  the  following 
children :  Joseph  conducted  a  hotel  and 
livery  stable  at  ilorris,  Illinois,  for  some  time 
and  later  ran  an  elevator  at  \\'iIton  Junction, 
Iowa,  for  several  .years.  From  there  he  re- 
moved to  Bedford,  Taylor  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  died  in  1893.  Tristram  T.  removed 
to  Davenport,  in  1870,  and  died  there  in 
1882.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  and  during  his  service  was  promoted 
to  major.  I-'Iniira  married  Ezra  Atistin,  of 
Buda,  Illinois,  and  died  several  years  ago. 
Josiah  is  a  resident  of  Davenport,  Iowa. 
John  L.,  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  next 
of  the  famil}'.  Mary  became  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Miller  and  died  in  Princetown,  Illi- 
nois, in  1895,  and  Lyman,  now  deceased. 

John  L.  Dow  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  remained' 
with  the  family  until  after  their  removal 
to  Annawan,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business  with  his  two  brothers,  Tris- 
tram T.  and  Josiah,  for  about  ten  years. 
They  next  turned  their  attention  to  the  grain 
business,  owning  the  old  elevator  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  They  were  also  very  ex- 
tensive land  owners  in  this  localitv.     Sub- 


scc|uentl\'  John  I..  Ddw  built  the  elevator  now 
conducted  by  Mr.  Dewey.  In  1882  he  re- 
moved to  Daxenport,  Iowa,  where  he  was 
interested  in  an  elevator  and  also  in  the 
Crescent  Mills,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
l)(i\v.  (iilman  &  Hancock.  He  was  connect- 
eii  with  the  hardware  business  at  .Anna- 
wan. but  throughout  life  devoted  his  time 
principall}'  to  the  grain  business.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  Davenport,  July  5,  1899,  hon- 
iired  and  resjiected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
October  1,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  musician  in 
a  regimental  band.  When  the  regimental 
bands  were  discontinued  and  only  one  band 
for  each  brigade  retained  he  was  discharged 
and  in  August.  1862,  re-enlisted  in  Co.  A, 
One  Hunilre<l  and  Twelfth  Illinois  \'olun- 
teer  Infantr)-.  Cpon  the  organization  of  the 
company  he  was  elected'  second  lieutenant 
of  his  company  by  a  unanimous  vote.  He 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service 
at  Peoria,  Illinois,  September  20,  1862,  and 
])romoted  to  first  lieutenant  April  13,  1863, 
to  take  effect  February  i,  1863.  On  Novem- 
ber 18,  1863.  Captain  Asa  A.  Lee  was  killed 
in  action  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  and  JMarch 
5,  1864,  First  Lieutenant  John  L.  Dow  was 
promoted  to  Captain,  his  commission  taking 
effect  Xovember  18,  1863,  the  day  of  Cap- 
tain Lee's  death.  John  L.  Dow  remained 
with  his  regiment  from  the  time  of  his  enlist- 
ment until  the  close  of  the  year,  excepting 
when  detailed  to  other  special  service.  As  a 
soldier  and'  an  officer  he  always  knew  his 
duty  and  did  it.  In  action  he  was  always  on 
the  front  line  of  danger  with  his  men,  in 
camp  he  was  ever  solicitous  of  the  welfare 
and  comfort  of  his  comrades.  October  8, 
1862,  his  command  left  Peoria  and  went  to 
Covington,  Kentucky.  From  there  they 
went  to  Lexington,  arriving  at  the  latter 
place  October  24.     Here  his  company  was 


654 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


engaged  in  scouting-  and  skirmishing,  against 
^lorgan.  Subsequently  he  was  engaged  in 
Zslonticello,  Kentucky.  During  this  ser- 
vice his  regiment  was  mounted,  doing  cav- 
alry service.  He  also  participated  in  Gen- 
eral Saunder's  raid,  Franklin,  Tennessee,  and 
Xashville,  Tennessee.  He  was  wounded  in 
action  at  Kelley's  Ford,  Tennessee,  January 
28,  1864.  On  July  15,  1863,  he  was  detailed  . 
as  assistant  inspector  general  and  provost 
marshal  until  January  i,  1864,  and  April  3, 
1865,  he  was  again  detailed  as  provost  mar- 
shal of  the  Twenty-third  Ami}-  Corps  in 
which  capacity  he  served  until  mustered  out 
af  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  commission  appointed  to  carry  out  the 
terms  of  the  militar}-  convention  of  the  Fed- 
eral and  Confederate  armies.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  returned  to  Annawan. 

He  married  Miss  ]^Iaggie  Lamb,  October 
4,  1862,  a  native  of  Galashiels,  Scotland, 
born  July  15,  1841,  and  came  to  America 
with  her  parents  in  1850,  settling  in  Anna- 
wan.  Illinois.  The  marriage  took  place  when 
I\Ir.  Dow  was  encamped  with  his  regiment 
at  Peoria,  Illinois.  She  now  makes  her 
home  in  Davenport.  Our  subject  is  the 
oldest  of  the  five  children  born  of  this  union, 
the  others  being  Mary,  wife  of  Charles 
Pasche,  cashier  of  the  Iowa  National  Bank 
of  Davenport:  J.  H..  who  is  engaged  in  the 
stock  business  at  ^\'interset,  Iowa;  George, 
time-keeper  for  the  Johnson  Construction 
Company  of  Davenport :  and  Jennie,  at  home 
with  her  mother. 

The  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life  L.  T. 
Dow  passed  in  his  native  town,  and  then 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal 
to  Davenport.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
of  both  places,  and  acquired  a  good  practical 
education  which  has  well  fitted  him  for  busi- 
ness life.     On  starting  out  in  life  for  him- 


self he  was  first  engaged  in  the  grain  business 
at  Winterset,  Iowa,  for  four  years  and  in 
1894  returned  to  Annawan,  becoming  pro- 
prietor of  the  hardware  store  which  he  has 
since  conducted.  He  is  an  energetic  and 
progressive  business  man.  and  is  meeting 
with  well-merited  success.  He  was  married 
on  the  4th  of  February,  1895,  to  Miss  ^^lyrtle 
Sweet,  of  Stuart,  Iowa,  a  daughter  of  John 
L.  Sweet,  now  deceased.  They  are  quite 
popular  socially  and  enjoy  the  hospitality  of 
the  best  homes  of  Annawan. 


PERRY  THEODORE  LEWIS. 

Among  the  young  and  enterprising  farm- 
ers of  Cornwall  township,  who  are  meeting 
with  success  in  this  chosen  calling  is  Perry 
T.  Lewis,  who  owns  and  operates  a  well  im- 
proved and  highly  culti^•ated  farm  of  eighty 
acres  on  section  6.  A  native  of  Henry  coun- 
ty, he  was  born  in  Cornwall  township,  June 
16,  1874,  and  is  one  of  the  four  sons  of  ^^'ill- 
iam  J.  and  Eliza  (,Cla}-pool)  Lewis,  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  on  another  page  of  this 
volume. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  our  sub- 
ject attended  the  local  schools,  and  made 
his  home  with  his  father  until  twenty  years 
of  age.  A\'hen  not  in  school  his  time  and  at- 
tention was  devoted  to  the  work  of  the  home 
farm,  and  in  this  way  he  acquired  a  good 
practical  knowledge  of  the  occupation  which 
he  now  follows.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  devotes  considerable  time  to  the 
raising  of  stock,  his  specialty  being  Hereford 
•cattle,  which  he  raises  for  breeding  purposes. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  1895.  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Lewis  and  Miss 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


655 


Hilda  Btirkgren,  a  native  of  tliis  county,  and 
a  daughter  of  Ciiarles  and  Mary  (Sell) 
Borkgren.  who  were  born  in  Sweden  and 
came  to  America  in  1866,  locating  in  this 
county.  Her  ])arents  are  still  residents  of 
Cornwall  township,  where  the  father,  is  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  their  family  are  six 
children,  namely:  Theodore,  born  October 
30,  1872,  married  EfRe  Willard  and  lives 
in  Munson  township,  Henry  county;  Hilda, 
born  October  29.  1874,  is  the  wife  of  our 
subject;  Frederick,  born  February  3,  1877; 
Martin.  lx")rn  X'ovember  9,  1880;  Raymond, 
born  December  28,  1886;  and  Mabel,  born 
May  21,  1 89 1,  are  all  at  home.  Mr.  and 
!Mrs.  Lewis  are  the  parents  of  two  chikfren : 
Kyle  Raymond,  born  December  2,  1895.  and 
Ora  Marie,  born  June  23,  1899. 

Mr.  Lewis  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party  and  its  ])rin- 
ciples,  and  he  takes  a  commendable  interest 
in  public  affairs.  He  is  a  meml:)er  of  Xo.  201, 
Mystic  Workers,  a  beneficiary  organization, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  young  men 
of  his  community. 


WILLIAM  R.  WIXTER. 

William  R.  Winter,  a  representative  far- 
mer of  Cornwall  township,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 24.  is  one  of  Henry  county's  native  sons, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Annawan  town- 
ship, on  the  1st  of  March,  i860.  His  father, 
George  Winter,  was  born  in  Lincolnshire. 
England,  in  1833.  He  was  one  of  a  family 
of  twelve  children,  four  of  whom  came  to 
this  country  and  three  are  still  living, 
namely :  Jane,  who  married  Robert  Broad- 
bent  and  resides  in  Cornwall  township; 
Sarah  married  J.  Little  and  resides  in  Bureau 


county:  Charles,  who  lives  in  Iowa.  The 
other  brother.  John,  was  killed  in  the 
Civil  war. 

There  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Gash,  a  native  of  the  same  place, 
by  whom  he  has  one  child.  In  1858  he  emi- 
grated to  America,  the  voyage  from  Liver- 
pool being  made  on  a  sailing  vessel.  He 
landed  at  Castle  Garden  and  after  spending 
two  days  in  New  York  proceeded  to  Chicago, 
where  he  staid  over  night,  and  then  came 
direct  to  Annawan.  Henry  county.  For  one 
vear  he  was  in  the  employ  of  various  far- 
mers in  that  locality,  then  rented  land  fi>r 
five  years:  and  at  the  end  of  that  jieriod  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  par- 
tially improved  land  in  Cornwall  township, 
to  which  he  subsequently  added  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres.  He  placed  his  land  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  made  many 
improvements  thereon.  Having  come  to  this 
country  in  limited  circumstances  he  has  ever 
made  the  most  of  ht'fe  opportunities  and 
through  his  own  unaided  efforts  accumulated 
a  handsome  property,  his  life  illustrating 
what  can  be  accomplished  through  industry, 
perseverance,  good  management  and  a  deter- 
mination to  succeed.  He  died  on  the  23d' 
of  September,  1899,  and  was  buried  in  Fair- 
view  cemetery.  His  wife  who  was  born  Oc- 
tober 3,  1818.  is  still  living,  making  her  home 
with  our  subject. 

Reared  upon  the  home  farm  William 
Winter  acquired  his  literary  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and 
early  obtained  an  excellent  knowledge  of  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  He  is  now  the  owner 
of  the  old  homestead'  and  is  successfully  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock-raising. 
On  the  1 8th  of  February.  1891.  he  led  to 
the  marriage  altar  Miss  F'riscilla  Plumtree, 
a  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Sophia  (Bowler) 


656 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Pliimtree,  now  residents  nf  Kewanee.  Her 
fatlier  was  born  in  Laml)ridgeshire,  England, 
and  came  to  the  new  world  in  1849.  while 
the  mother  was  born  in  London,  England, 
and  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  this  conntry  in 
1848.  ilr.  and  ]\Irs.  Winter  have  had  three 
children :  William,  who  was  born  February  9, 
1892,  and  died  in  infancy;  Ethel  Jane,  born 
February  17,  1893:  and  Elijah.  lx)rn  June 
30,  1897.  In  his  political  affiliations  Mr. 
Winter  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  capably 
filled  the  office  of  school  director  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  is  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive and  takes  a  commendable  interest 
in  ever\i:hing  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of 
his  communitv. 


LEWIS  HUXT. 

Among  the  leading  representatives  of 
the  agricultural  interests  of  Cornwall  town- 
ship is  Lewis  Hunt,  whose  home  is  on  sec- 
tion 25.  For  almost  sixty  j-ears  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  the  county,  and  has  therefore 
witnessed  almost  its  entire  development. 
\Mien  he  located  here  in  1842  Morristown 
was  the  county  seat,  and  the  court  house  was 
a  frame  structure  eighteen  by  twenty-four 
feet.  The  following  year,  however,  this 
building  was  converted  into  a  school  house, 
as  the  county  seat  v>as  removed  to  Cam- 
bridge. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  born  in  the  town  of  Led- 
ger, Cayuga  count}'.  Xew  York.  January  6, 
1829,  his  parents  being  Thomas  and  Electa 
(Erwin)  Hunt,  both  natives  of  Roxbury, 
Connecticut.  In  early  life  the  father  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  a  cloth  dresser  and  also 
engaged  in  farming  to  some  extent.  He 
lived  for  a  time  in  Canada,  about  one  hun- 


dred and  seventy-five  miles  east  of  Detroit 
and'  from  that  place  removed  to  Iowa,  it  re- 
quiring twenty-two  days  to  make  the  jour- 
ney. After  two  weeks  spent  in  that  state, 
however,  he  came  to  Illinois.  In  coming 
down  the  ^lississippi  the  boat  on  which  he 
was  a  passenger  was  frozen  in  the  river  and 
they  crossed  that  stream  on  the  ice  April  11, 
1842.  Three  days  later  the  ice  in  the  river 
was  two  feet  thick,  that  being  one  of  the 
coldest  winters  known  in  this  section  of  the 
country.  Our  subject's  brother  purchaseti' 
two  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  raw  prairie 
land  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Colona 
Station,  and  our  subject  aided  in  its  develop- 
ment. In  early  days  he  mowed  grass  where 
the  station  how  stands,  and  ai  that  time  knew 
almost  every  man  in  the  county.  He  is  the 
second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  famih'  of  three 
children.  His  brother.  Charles,  was  born 
in  Xew  York,  in  18 19.  and  was  married  in 
Canada  to  Elizabeth  Knight.  By  trade  he 
was  a  shoemaker.  He  died  and  was  buried 
at  Geneseo,  this  county.  The  sister,  Eliza- 
beth, was  born  in  Xew  York  in  1838. 

Lewis  Hunt  made  his  first  purchase  of 
land  in  1851,  consisting  of  eighty  acres  of 
unbroken  prairie  land  one  mile  south  of  An- 
nawan, which  he  placed  under  cultivation  and 
afterward  traded  for  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty acres  of  partially  improved  land  on  section 
25,  Cornwall  township,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. To  this  he  has  since  added  a  tract  of 
sixty  acres,  and  now  has  a  .well  improved 
and  highly  cultivated  farm,  whose  neat  and 
tlirifty  appearance  is  an  evidence  of  his  care- 
ful supervision  and  good  business  ability.  In 
connection  with  general  farming  he  is  also 
engaged  in  stock  raising. 

In  i860  ^Ir.  Hunt  was  united  in  marriage 
v.ith  Miss  Sarah  Rooney,  a  native  of  Tus- 
cara  was,  Ohio,  and  one  of  a  familv  of  nine 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


659 


children.  She  came  to  this  county  in  1854 
with  her  parents,  Gabriel  and  Fannie  (Baltz- 
ly)  Rooney,  the  family  locating  in  Cornwall 
township.  Unto  IMr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt  were 
born  five  children,  namely:  Leonidas,  born 
December  28,  1S61,  died  in  childhood;  John, 
born  February  19,  1863,  is'  at  home;  Edgar; 
Edward,  born  March  5,  1865,  married'  Al- 
mira  Bishop,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  in  Cornwall  township, 
and  Clarinda,  born  February  19,  1871,  is  at 
home.  The  wife  and  mother  died  March  iS. 
1898,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Fairxiew  ceme- 
tery, where  the  children  have  also  been 
buried". 

Mr.  Hunt  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  General  Scott,  the  Whig  candidate,  and 
is  now  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church,  and  is  a  man  who  commands  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact  either  in  business  or  social 
life. 


JESSE  E.  BIEBIXGER. 

As  manager  of  the  Allerton  farm, 
comprising  four  thousand  acres  of  land  in 
Loraine  township,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
has  become  widely  known  throughout  Henry 
county  as  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  bus- 
iness ability  and  keen  discrimination.  A  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  he  was  born  near  Portsmouth, 
Scioto  county,  September  23,  1863,  but  al- 
most his  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  the 
Prairie  state. 

John  Biebinger,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Germany  and  was  si.K  years  old 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States  with  his 
father,  Conrad  Biebinger,  who  settled  in 
Scioto  county,  Ohio,   where  he  made    his 


home  until  his  death.  He  followed  farming 
both  in  his  native  land  and'  in  this  country. 
John  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in  his 
family  of  five  children,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  home  farm,  his  education  being 
acquired  in  the  local  schools.  On  the  27th 
of  January,  1861,  he  was'  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Naomi  Ellen  Cockrell,  who  was 
born  in  Sciota  county,  a  daughter  of  Jesse 
and  Anna  (Marsh)  Cockrell,  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Pennsylvania,  respectively.  The 
marriage  of  her  parents  was  celebrated'  in 
Sciota  county,  Ohio,  where  her  father,  with 
two  brothers,  located  in  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  He  took  up  government 
land  and  became  an  extensive  land  owner. 
In  his  family  were  twelve  children,  and  with 
one  exception  all  reached  years  of  maturity, 
Mrs.  Biebinger  being  the  youngest  of  the 
family.  Her  father  died  when  she  was  but 
nine  years  old. 

After  his  marriage  John  Biebinger  car- 
ried on  farming  in  his  native  state  until 
January,  1865,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating near  Monticello,  Piatt  count}-,  where 
he  purchased  land'  and  engaged  in  the  same 
pursuit  with  good  success.  He  is  now  the 
owner  of  a  well-improved  and  valuable  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  near  that 
place.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  he 
has  been  elected  to  a  number  of  local  of- 
fices. Religiously  he  is  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Christian  Church,  and  socially  is  a  Royal 
Arch  Mason.  In  his  family  are  six  children, 
namely:  Anna  Laura  is  the  widow  of  Will- 
iam Kinder  and  a  resident  of  Piatt  county, 
Illinois';  Jesse  E.,  our  subject,  is  the  next  of 
the  family;  David  A.  married  Daisy  Stroble, 
and  is  in  the  employ  of  the  John  Deere  Plow 
Company  at  J^Ioline;  Isaac  Newton,  a  resi- 
dent of  Piatt  county,  takes  a  very  active  and 
prominent  part  in  county  and  state  politics. 


66o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  was  one  of  the  presidential  electors  of 
Illinois  in  1900;  Marguerite  and  Leo  are 
both  at  home.  The  daughters  have  all  been 
school  teachers  of  Piatt  county. 

After  attending  the  common  schools'  for 
some  years  Jesse  E.  Biebinger  entered  Union 
Christian  College  at  Merom,  Sullivan  coun- 
t}-,  Indiana,  where  he  completed  his  educa- 
tion. Later  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Wabash  Railroad  company  as  brakeman  for 
three  years  and  was  then  engaged  in  farming 
for  Samuel  Allerton,  near  Monticello,  for 
three  years.  Subsequently  he  spent  a  year  and 
a  half  in  this  county,  constructing  the  levee 
on  the  Allerton  place  in  Loraine  township, 
and  aiding  in  its  improvement,  as  it  was  orig- 
inally all  swamp  land.  After  this  he  again 
spent  three  years  near  ^lonticello,  but  since 
1897  has  acted  as  manager  of  Mr.  Allerton's 
farm  in  Henry  county,  and  has  most  credit- 
ably and  acceptably  filled  that  responsible 
position.  He  has  from  ten  to  fifty  men  in 
his  employ  and  raises  about  two  thousand 
three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  com,  while 
the  remainder  of  the  four  thousand  acres  is 
devoted  to  oats  and  pasture.  His  corn  crop 
amounted  to  about  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  thousand  bushels  in  1900.  Stock  raising 
claims  considerable  of  his  attention  and  he 
ships  annuall}-  about  one  thousand  head'  of 
cattle  and  eight  carloads  of  hogs.  He  is  a 
very  progressive  and  enterprising  farmer, 
and  is  a  man  of  sound  business  judgment. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1890,  Mr.  Bie- 
binger was  united  in  marriage  with  jMiss 
Mary  Le  Fevre,  a  native  of  Piatt  county,  and 
a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Annie  (Peck)  Le 
Fevre,  who  were  born  in  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio,  respectivel)',  and'  in  early  life  removed 
to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  where  Mr.  Le  Fevre 
followed  farming.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
l^.ave  two  children,  ^'ena  and  ^'era,  twins. 


born  November  11.  1900.  In  his  political 
aflfiliations  Mr.  Biebinger  is  a  Republican, 
but  cares  nothing  for  political  honors.  He 
takes  an  active  part  in  those  interests'  de- 
signed to  promote  the  general  welfare,  and  is 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  his  community. 
On  }klarch  i,  1901,  Mr.  Biebinger  re- 
signed his  position  as  manager  of  the  Aller- 
ton estate  and  accepted  a  position  as  super- 
intendent of  the  shipping  department  of  the 
John  Deere  Plow  Compan}-,  of  Moline,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  has  one  hundred  and  fifty  men 
under  him. 


JOSEPH  WELLS. 

Among  Henry  county's  most  prosperous 
and  influential  citizens  are  many  whose  earlj' 
home  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic. 
Joseph  Wells,  now  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturists of  Cornwall  township,  is  a  native 
of  England,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Billinghay,  Lincolnshire,  in  1836.  His  par- 
ents, William  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Bee)  Wells, 
were  life-long  residents  of  that  country.  In 
their  family  were  seven  children. 

Bidding  good-by  to  home  and  native  land 
in  1 86 1,  ^Ir.  Wells  took  passage  on  the 
North  Britain,  a  steamer  of  the  Allen  line, 
and'  after  a  voyage  of  eleven  days  landed  in 
Portland,  Maine.  From  that  place  he  went 
to  Rochester,  New  York,  and  after  remain- 
ing there  for  two  weeks  came  to  Henry  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  taking  up  his  residence  in  At- 
kinson township  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine. 
For  three  years  he  worked  on  a  farm  and 
tlien  went  to  Montana.  He  was  three  months 
in  making  the  trip,  traveling  five  hundred 
miles  over  a  new  road,  and  spending  the  4tli 
of  July,  1864,  on  the  banks  of  the  Yellow- 
stone river.    One  night  Indians  attacked  the 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


66 1 


camp  anil  stole  about' liftv  horses  and  one 
man  was  shot  in  the  siioukler  witii  a  bow  and 
arrow.  .\t  anotlier  time  a  party  en  route  to 
California  was  a  short  distance  in  advance 
of  the  train  our  subject  was  with,  and  had 
over  a  hundred  head  of  horses  stolen.  For 
five  years  he  was  successfulh-  engaged  in 
prosjjecting  and  mining  for  gold  in  that  state, 
and  then  returned  to  this  county.  He  pur- 
chased 'inc  hundred  ami  twent}'  acres  of  par- 
tially inii)ro\ed  land  on  section  9.  Cornwall 
town.sliip.  and  to  its  further  improvement 
and  culti\ation  has  since  devoted  his  energies 
with  most  gratifying  results.  He  has  also 
adtled  eighty  acre?  of  cultivated  land  to  the 
original  tract,  while  his  landed  possessions 
in  Cornwall  township  now  aggregate  three 
hundred  and  thirty-three  acres  of  very  val- 
uable and  productive  land,  all  of  which 
pro])erty  has  been  acquired  through  his  own 
ii'dustry,  indefatigable  energy,  and  good 
l)usiness  ability,  guided  by  sound  judgment. 

In  his  piilitical  \iews  ^Ir.  \\'ells  is  a  stal- 
wart l<e))ublican.  and  he  takes  a  commend- 
able interest  in  the  atYairs  of  his  adopted 
country.  In  .\ugust,  1874.  he  returned  t'» 
England  on  a  visit,  sailing  from  New  York 
on  the  7th  of  that  month,  and  landing  at  Liv- 
erpool after  a  very  pleasant  voyage  of  ten 
days.  He  remained  in  his  native  land  until 
March,  1875.  and  then  returned  to  this  coun- 
try on  the  steamer  Republic  of  the  ^^'hite 
Star  line.  The  weather  was  quite  stormy 
coming  back. 

With  Mr.  Wells  resides  his  nephew.  John 
W'ells.  who  was  al.so  born  in  Billinghay,  Lin- 
colnshire. Englaml,  Octolier  2.  i860,  a  son 
(■f  James  and  .\nii  (  Parker)  W'ells,  natives 
of  the  same  cunty.  where  the  father  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  a  farmer  throughout 
life.  John  is  one  of  fourteen  chiklren,  and 
has  two  brothers  who  came  to  .\merica  after 


he  located  hero.  It  was  in  1879  that  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic  from  Liverpool  to  Xew 
York,  and  came  inimetliately  to  Atkinson, 
Illinois.  Since  then  he  has  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  this  comity,  and  now  makes  his  home 
with  his  uncle.  On  the  20th  of  February, 
1890,  he  married  Miss  Francinia  Barber,  a 
daughter  of  C.  S.  llarher.  an  old  settler  of 
Burns  township,  and  tliev  now  ha\e  one 
child,  Charles  1 'arkei-,  who  was  horn  March 
2/,  1892.  John  W'ells  is  also  a  Repulilican 
ir  politics,  and  has  efficiently  filled  the  office 
of  school  director. 


geor(;e  fcxk. 

I'rouiinent  among  the  farmers  and  stiick 
raisers  of  Cornwall  tiuvnship.  is  George 
Funk  whose  valuable  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  is  iileasantly  located  on 
seclitjn  31.  A  native  of  Virginia,  he  was 
born  in  Rockingham  county,  on  the  loth 
of  January,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  .Vhraham 
and  M.'itilila  (  Arnienlrout )  Funk,  also  na- 
tives of  the  Old  JJominion,  the  birth  of  the 
former  occurring  October  i,  1807,  the  latter 
December  26,  181 1.  They  were  married 
January  23.  1834.  and  became  he  parents 
of  eight  children,  namely:  David,  born  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1835.  married  .\nna  Xeff  and  lives 
in  Missouri;  Malinda.  born  June  9,  1836, 
is  the  widow  of  Thomas  W'alsh  and  resides 
near  Cambridge,  Illinois;  Susannah,  liorn 
h'ebruary  17.  1839,  married  John  Weaver 
and  died  in  Hamilton.  Caldwell  county, 
^lissouri ;  .Marx,  born  .\'o\ember  9.  184G, 
married  11.  I'.  Weaver,  nf  I'reckenridge, 
Mis.souri,  and  is  now  deceased;  Christian, 
born  Xovember  10,  1842,  married  L.  Jekins 
and  lives  near  Sclunler.  Cdlfax  countw  Xe- 


662 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


braska;  Catlieriiie,  born  June  2.  1844,  is  tlie 
wife  of  G.  S.  Will  and  lives  near  Brecken- 
ridge,  Caldwell  county.  Missouri :  George, 
our  subject,  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  and 
Ji)hn,  lx)rn  December  23.  1850.  died  in 
childliQixl.  The  mother  died  in  A'irginia, 
July  j8.  1 85 1,  and  was  laid  to  re.st  at  Tres- 
se!  church.  Rockingham  county.  The  father 
was  again  married.  July  24.  1861,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Rebecca  T.  Shue,  who 
was  also  born  in  Virginia,  August  13,  1813. 
He  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  and 
stone  cutter  in  his  native  state  until  1864, 
when  he  came  to  Henrj^  county,  Illinois,  ar- 
riving here  on  the  13th  of  January,  that 
year.  He  had  traded  his  property  in  \*ir-. 
ginia  with  William  Reherd  for  four  lum- 
dred  acres  of  imjiroved  land  in  Caldwell  and 
ilunson  townships,  and  upon  this  farm  he 
silent  the  remainder  of  bis  life,  dying  there 
April  ^9.  1875.  His  remains  were  interred 
ai.  Liberty. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  George 
Funk  accpiired  his  early  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools,  and-  during  his  youth  assisted 
his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  He 
came  with  the  family  to  this  county,  and  on 
attaining  his  majority  started  out  in  life  for 
liimself  as  an  agriculturist.  After  his  fa- 
ther's death  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  the  old  homestead  and  to  it 
has  added  from,  time  to  time  until  he  now 
has  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Corn- 
wall and  Munson  townships,  all  under  culti- 
vation. His  present  pleasant  i-esidence  was 
erected  in  1893,  and  he  has  made  many 
other  improvements  upon  the  place  until  it 
is  now  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  locality. 
The  well  tilled  fields  and  the  neat  and  htrifty 
appearance  of  the  place  testify  to  his  care- 
ful supervision  and  good  business  abilit\-. 
In  addition  to  general   farming  he  carries 


on  stock  raising  quite  extensivelv,  and  shijjs 
three  or  four  carloads  to  the  city  annually. 
Mr.  Funk  was  married  on  the  12th  of 
February,  1874,  to  Aliss  Rebecca  Funk,  and 
they  have  become  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  ngw  living,  namely : 
Abram,  born  November  23,  1874,  aids  in 
the  operation  of  the  home  farm;  and  Amy 
A.,  born  January  24,  1876,  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  S.  Sears.  Politically  Mr.  Funk  affil- 
iates with  the  Republican  party,  and  for 
seventeen  years  has  most  creditably  filled 
the  office  of  school  director.  Religiously 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  is  a  man  in  whom  the  com- 
munity places  the  utmost  confidence. 


CASPER  OTT. 

This  gentleman  is  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Illinois,  and  has  been  an  important  factor 
in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  Henry 
county,  where  he  has  now  made  his  home 
for  almost  half  a  century.  In  1868,  he  lo- 
cated upon  his  present  farm  on  section  21, 
Yorktown  township,  and  now  has  the  best 
impro\"ed  and  most  highly  cultivated  place 
in  that  locality. 

A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Ott  was 
born  in  Warren  county,  October  29,  1836, 
and  is  a  son  of  Casper  and  Elizabeth  (Trier) 
Ott.  He  was  the  oldest  of  their  nine  chil- 
dren, the  others  being  Louisa,  who  married 
A.  Hick^y,  of  Geneseo.  Illinois,  and  died  in 
March,  1877;  David,  who  became  a  member 
of  Company  F,  Xinth  Illinois  Cavalry,  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war,  and  died  at  St.  Louis  after 
one  year's  service; Adam,  deceased,  who  mar- 
ried Louisa  Sand,  the  present  wife  of  our 
subject;  Sophia,  wife  of  Louis  Sand,  of  Mo- 
line.  Illinois:  Rosana.  wife  of  Jacob  Rose,  of 


^K                                              \^i>I^^^^^^^^^^^H 

^      «'«iii.v;^^^H 

^Bk       i  wf  Hill^^^^^^H 

^^^^^^^^Hi^Hm^H 

CASPER   OTT. 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

UKBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


665 


(leneseo;  Henry,  whci  married  Catherine 
W'oli  and  lives  in  Geneseo;  Adolpli,  wlio 
married  Lizzie  Waltz  and  resides  in  the 
same  place :  anil  Jaci)l).  w  h( >  died  at  the  age  of 
nine  years. 

When  (>nl\'  six  months  old  Casper  Ott 
accompanied  his  ])arents  on  their  reino\-al 
ti  Lake  county.  Illinois,  being  carried  in  his 
mother's  arms  from  Pennsylvania  to  Chi- 
cago. There  were  several  families  in  the 
]>arty  and  the  journey  was  made  in  covered 
wagons,  then  known  as  prairie  schooners. 
There  the  father  worked  as  a  journeyman 
tailor,  while  the  famih'  made  their  home  in  a 
log  cabin.  Our  subject  had  no  educational 
advantages,  never  attending  school  but  one 
day  when  twelve  years  of  age.  He  worked 
with  his  father  until  he  attained  his  major- 
ity, and  together  they  came  to  Henry  coun- 
ty, in  1853.  The  latter  purchased  a  tract 
<if  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
I-oraine  township,  which  our  subject  assist- 
ed in  placing  under  cultivation. 

()n  the  _>oth  of  October.  iXdi.  in  that 
township.  Mr.  Ott  was  united  in  marriage 
v.ith  Mary  Elizabeth  Rapp.  by  whom  he 
had  the  following  children:  .\mos.  born 
Juh'  I.  i«'^'i,V  in  Lorainc  towuship.  ni;irried 
]!eck\-  Ilimmel.  and  has  three  children. 
]  larr\  V...  .\manda  and  David  L.  I  le  is  now 
engaged  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking 
business  in  Pro])hetstown,  Illinois.  David, 
born  Xovember  T.  1865,  died  October  i, 
1893.  Sarah,  born  March  14,  1867,  is  also  a 
resident  of  Proplietstown.  Calvin,  born  July 
10.  1869.  married  Minnie  Sanderson,  and 
li\es  in  the  same  place.  Leonard,  born  Jan- 
iiar\-  30,  1873,  makes  his  home  with  his 
i'.rother  .\iuos.  Cora  E..  born  December  14, 
1876,  is  teaching  school  in  .\lba  township, 
this  county.  Mrs.  Ott  died  .  l!)ecember  30, 
1876. 


Mr.  Ott  was  again  married  August  7, 
1877,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs. 
Louisa  Ott.  the  widow  of  his  brother,  Adam, 
and  a  dau.ghter  of  Ludwig  and  Dorothy 
(  Lehmann )  Sand,  who  were  natives  of  Al- 
sace, (jermany.  and  early  settlers  of  Gen- 
eseo, Illinois,  where  both  died.  By  occu- 
Ijation  the  father  was  a  farmer.  Of  his  eleven 
children  two  died  in  infancy,  the  others  being 
Lewis,  who  married  So])hia  Ott  and  resides 
in  Moline,  Illinois:  Philip,  who  died  in  the 
army  during  the  Ci\il  war;  Louisa,  wife  of 
our  subject:  Samuel,  who  wedded  Mary 
Heinz  and  died  in  Kansas;  .\melia,  wife  of 
Jacob  Ofi'erle.  of  Warren.  Pennsylvania; 
Olied.  who  married  Lillie  Brown  anil  li\-es 
in  northern  Iowa;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Law- 
rence Offerle.  of  Offcrle.  Kansas;  Benjamin, 
who  ni.'U'ried  Louisa  I'rban  and  resides  in 
Geneseo.  Illinois:  and  Solomon,  who  died  in 
.\rizona.  By  her  tirst  marriage  ]\Irs.  Ott  had 
the  following  children:  .Anna  B..  born  Xo- 
vember g,  1867,  is  the  wife  of  Irvin  Luther, 
of  Walnut.  Illinois,  and  has  three  children, 
Eugene  .\..  Mary  L,  and  Ruth;  and  Carrie, 
born  December  26,  1870,  is  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Zinser.  of  Yorktown  township,  this 
county  and  lias  three  children,  .\rthur  E., 
Xulford  E.  and  Milan  K. 

.\fter  his  tirst  marriage  Mr.  Ott  leased 
forty  acres  of  land  of  his  father,  and  later 
rented  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  owned  by  him  in  Yorktown  township, 
li".  i8C)8  our  subject  made  his  first  purchase 
of  land  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  21.  the  same  township,  l)e- 
longing  to  his  father,  and  has  since  added  to 
it  a  tract  of  forty  acres,  so  that  he  now  owns 
a  Fine  farm  of  twn  hundred  acres,  which  he 
has  placed  under  excellent  cultivation.  In 
1889  he  erected  one  of  the  liest  residences 
in  the  township,  has  also  built  a  large  barn. 


666 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ard  has  supplied  the  place  with  all  the  con- 
veniences and  accessories  found  upon  a  model 
farm  of  the  present  day.  In  addition  to  his 
farm  work  ilr.  Ott  has  engaged  in  house 
moving  and  is  agent  for  the  Home  Insurance 
Company.  He  is  an  excellent  harness  maker 
and  in  all  his  undertakings  has  been  quite 
successful,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the  well-to- 
do  and  substantial  citizens  of  his  community. 
Although  he  had  no  educational  privi- 
leges Mr.  Ott  fully  realizes  the  advantages 
of  a  good  education,  and  for  twenty-eight 
years  has  efficiently  served  as  school  trustee 
in  his  district.  He  has  also  held  the  offices 
of  constable  and  road  commissioner,  filling 
the  latter  position  eleven  years.  He  and  his 
family  are  active  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Association  in  which  he  has  served  as  class 
leader  for  years. 


ABRAM    TACKSOX    LEWIS. 

^^'ith  the  agricultural  interests  of  Corn- 
wall township,  Abram  J.  Lewis  has  been 
closely  identified  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
is  now  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  on 
section  9.  He  was  born  near  Chillicothe, 
Ohio,  on  the  17th  of  February,  1851.  His 
father.  John  Lewis,  was  born  April  1 7,  i  S20, 
in  Indiana  township,  Indiana  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  when  young  removed  to  Ohio 
with  his  parents,  William  and^  Elizabeth 
Lewis,  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  state. 
He  grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm  in  Rich- 
land township,  Jackson  county,  Ohio,  and 
on  the  4th  of  iMay,  1847,  wedded  ]\Iiss  Mary 
Cozad,  of  that  county.  On  first  coming  to 
Illinois,  in  1851,  John  Lewis  located  in  Ful- 
ton county,  but  the  following  year  took  up 
his  residence  in  Cornwall  township,  Henry 


count}-,  where  he  purchased  a  soldier's  claim 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
21.  In  his  farming  operations  here  he  met 
with  remarkable  success,-  and  added  to  his 
landed  possessions  from  time  to  time  until 
he  had  eleven  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
well  improved  land,  most  of  which  was  un- 
broken when  it  came  into  his  possession,  but 
being  industrious,  energetic  and  enterprising 
he  became  the  owner  of  one  of  the  most  valu- 
able estates  in  this  county.  In  religious  belief 
he  was  a  Baptist  and  in  politics  a  Democrat, 
and  was  a  man  highh^  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all  who  knew  him.  He  died 
March  5,  1900,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
July  26,  1 898,  the  remains  of  both  being  in- 
terred in  the  Libertj'^  Church  burying  ground 
in  Cornwall  township. 

To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  fourteen 
children  as  follows:  ^\'illiam  J.  married 
Eliza  J.  Claypool  and  is  now  deceased; 
Abram  J.,  our  subject,  is  next  in  order  of 
birth:  Samuel  F.  married  Susan  J.  Rogers 
and  follows  farming  in  Atkinson  township, 
this  county ;  John  H.  married  Delia  Keppler 
and  lives  in  Geneseo;  James  Andrew  mar- 
ied  Elizabeth  Bentley  and  makes  his  home 
in  Atkinson  township;  George  W.  married 
Florence  De  Bloie,  and  resides  in  Jasper 
county,  near  Xewton,  Illinois;  Francis  M. 
married  Luzetta  Williamson  and  is  engaged 
in  farming  near  Peoria ;  Charles  A.  married 
Lillian  Carnc}-  and  lives  in  Kansas  City; 
Charity  A.  is  the  wife  of  James  Fell,  a  resi- 
dent of  Geneseo,  this  county;  Stephen  A. 
married  Charit}'  Cozad  and  is  engaged  -n 
agricultural  pursuits  in  Cornwall  township, 
section  20;  Alfred  married  Jennie  Ole  and  in 
a  farmer  of  Munson  township;  Albert  T.^ 
a  twin  of  Alfred,  died  in  infancy;  Robert 
lives  in  Kansas  City;  and  ilary  is  the  wife 
of  George  Hudson,  of  Indian  Territory. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


667 


The  subject  <>i  lliis  sketch  was  only  a 
year  nld  when  lnought  by  his  parents  to 
Henry  county,  lUinois.  and  in  the  school  of 
Iiis  lionie  district  he  secured  tlie  greater  part 
of  his  education,  thougli  he  attended  school 
at  Atkinson  one  term.  During  his  boyhood 
antl  youth  he  assisted  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm  and  early  ac(|uired  an  excellent  knowl- 
edge of  agricultural  pursuits  which  has  been 
of  great  benefit  in  his  life  wnrk.  He  is  now 
the  owner  of  a  well  improxcd  and  highly 
cultivated  farm  of  two  hundred  ancf  eighty 
acres.  His  political  support  i?.  always  given 
the  Democracy,  and  he  capably  tilled  the 
office  of  constable  one  term,  but  has  never 
cared  for  political  honors. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1876.  Mr.  Lewis 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Catherine  Reese,  a  native  of  Xew  York 
state,  who  died  March  14.  iSSi.  Of  the 
two  children  bom  of  that  iniion.  one,  Lotta, 
married  Warren' Dunham,  and  resides  in 
Geneseo  townsliip.  The  other.  Roland,  died 
aged  one  year  and  ten  months.  Mr.  Lewis 
was  again  married.  April  14.  1S85,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  .Miss  .Martha  J.  Mc- 
l-'arland,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Mamie 
Blanch,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Lewis"  parents  are  John  and 
Samantha  (Julian)  McFarland,  both  natives 
of  northeastern  Ohio,  the  former  born  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1829,  the  latter  .\ugust  22,  1832. 
They  are  now  residents  of  .Missouri.  The 
names  and  dates  of  birth  of  their  children 
are  as  follows:  Henry  .\..  December  29, 
1852;  Mary  E.,  .March  24.  1854;  Sophia 
and  Cynthia,  twins,  March  12,  1856;  Will- 
iam S.,  February  i,  1858;  .Martha  J.,  De- 
cember 12,  1859;  Joseph  .\.,  July  25,  1861 ; 
Robert  S.,  February  J^.  1863;  Cora  B., 
I^Iarch  29,  1865;  Emma  V.,  December  25, 
1866;  Tony  B.,  .\pril  Jj.  1869;  Leonard, 
July   14.   1871;  and  Agnes.  April  2-,.   1873. 


.\11  are  living  with  the  exception  of  Leonard, 
who  died  July  if).  1872.  The  father  removed 
to  Missouri  l\\  enty-seve.i  years  ago,  and  has 
followed   farming  throughout   life. 


JOHX  S.  F.VKXAM. 

One  of  the  active,  prominent  and  enter- 
prising citizens  of  Cornwall  township  is  the 
.gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
and  who  is  successfully  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  on  section  15.  He  was  born 
in  Xew  Hampshire,  Ajjril  26,  1833,  and 
comes  of  good  old  New  England  stock,  his 
parents  being  Jonathan  and  Phebe  (Stevens) 
Farnam,  also  -natives  of  the  Granite  state 
and  pioneers  of  Illinois.  By  trade  the  father 
was  a  carpenter,  but  becoming  a  minister  of 
the  Christian  Church  he  devoted  consider- 
able time  to  religious  work.  ]  le  died  in  this 
county  March  28,  1875,  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  1  lis  estimable 
wife  passecf  away  in  1852,  aged  thirty-seven 
\ears.  They  were  the  parents  of  si.x  chil- 
dren, of  whom  John  S.  is  fourth  in  order  of 
birth.  Sarah,  born  in  1825,  is  a  resident  of 
Nebraska  and  the  widow  of  Randall  Sar- 
gent, a  farmer  by  occupati(jn.  Hannah  C. 
is  also  living  in  Nebra.ska.  Lucv  married 
N.  C.  Bosworth,  a  farmer  of  Califorma. 
now  deceased.  George  W.  enlisted  dining 
the  Civil  war  in  the  First  Kan.sas  Cavalrv, 
and  was  killed  in  his  first  battle,  at  (iunni- 
son,  Colorado,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years,  his  remains  being  interretf  at  Kansas 
City.  Luthera  is  the  wife  of  b^dwin  Bos- 
worth. a  farmer  of  California. 

John  S.  Farnam  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  east,  and  was  eighteen  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  was  first 
emi)loyed  at  farm  work  near  Tiskilwa.  Bu- 
reau ctumty.     His  first  purchase  of  land  con- 


668 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sisted  of  eighty  acres  nt  unl)rMkcn  jirairie 
near  that  place,  uhicli  he  cultixated  and  im- 
proved. On  dispiising  (if  tliat  jji'iipert}'  he 
came  to  Cornwall  township.  Henry  cimnt)', 
in  1856,  and  hought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  to  which  he  subsequently  add- 
ed forty  acres.  He  also  owns  eighty  acres 
in  Alineral  township,  Bureau  county,  all  of 
which  is  under  cultivation  with  the  excep- 
tion of  forty  acres  of  timlier  land.  He  broke 
the  land  and  erected  the  buildings  there- 
on, and  to-day  has  one  of  the  liest  im- 
proved farms  in  Cornwall  township.  In 
early  life  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
with  his  father,  and  has  built  a  number  of 
bridges  in  this  county,  besides  moving  and 
constructing  many  houses. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  ^Ir.  Farnam 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Tompkins,  a  native  of  Illinois  and  one  of  a 
family  of  six  cliildren.  Her  father,  Martin 
Tompkins,  died  in  this  county  in  1891,  at 
the  home  of  our  subject.  Of  the  ten  chil- 
dren Ixirn  to  our  subject  and  his  wife  the 
first  four  died  in  childhood;  John  is  at 
home;  George  W.  married  Jennie  Lane,  a 
native  of  Henry  county;  Laura  is  the  wdfe 
of  Oliver  Nicholson;  Nellie  is  at  home: 
Mabel  is  the  wife  of  \\'alter  Sleaford ;  and 
Martin  married  Sarah  Cosner  and  li\es  at 
home. 

During  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion 
Mr.  Farnam  manifested  his'  patriotism  b\' 
enlisting  in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry^  and 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service 
at  Peoria  as  a  private,  but  in  six  months  was 
promoted  commissary  sergeant  and  later  to 
line  sergeant.  He  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Resaca,  New  Hope  Church,  Pine 
Mountain,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Utoy  Creek, 
Rough  and  Ready,  Jonesboro  and  Atlanta, 


Georgia  :  Columbia  and  Franklin,  Tennessee; 
and  l'"(irt  Anderson,  Town  Creek  and  W'il- 
mingtnn.  North  Carolina;  and  was  also  in 
Sanders'  raid  into  east  Tennessee.  He  was 
wounded  at  Resaca,  and  during  the  battle 
of  Franklin  was  thrown  from  a  bridge  and 
almost  killed,  falling  tw-enty-five  feet  and 
striking  on  bed  rock.  He  was  confined  in 
the  hospital  for  six  months  and  then  re- 
turned to  his  regiment  in  Greensboro,  North 
Cartilina.  and  in  June,  1865,  was  mustered' 
out  at  the  same  place  and  in  July  was  hon- 
orably discharged  from  the  service  at  Chi- 
cago. 

During  the  gold  excitement  at  Pikes 
Peak  ]\Ir.  Farnam  went  to  Colorado,  and 
V.  as  engaged  in  prospecting  and  mining  near 
that  place  for  three  years,  returning  home 
with  two  thousand  dollars  in  gold.  He  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  in  1856  and  is 
now  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  men  and' 
measures  of  the  Republican  part}^  At  one 
time  he  was  a  member  of  the  Grangers  As- 
sociation. He  has  filled  the  offices  of  school 
director  and  township  supervisor  in  a  most 
creditable  and  satisfactory  manner,  and  has 
been  prominently  identified  wdth  the  best 
interests  of  his  locality  during  his  entire 
residence  there.  He  settled  there  before 
Cornwall  township  was  organized  and  has 
done  much  to  advance  the  general  w^elfare, 
always  supporting  those  enterprises  wdiich 
he  belie\es  will  prove  of  public  benefit.  He 
was  one  of  the  brave  defenders  of  the  Union 
during  the  Civil  war  and  has  always  been  a 
loyal  and  patriotic  citizen. 


BUENOS  AYRES. 

For  o\-er  forty  years  this  gentleman  was 
closely  identified  with  the  agricultural  and 
business  interests  of  Henrv  countv,  and  was 


l!h'?/iRy 
UNlVtItii,,  Of  ILUNO/S 


#1 


."Ot* 


BUENOS  AYRES. 


MRS.   BUENOS  AYRES. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


673 


acc(jiinte<l  i»ne  of  its  most  wortlij  citizens. 
Uy  iiis  well-directed  efforts  he  acquired  a 
comfortable  competence,  and  was  able  to 
spend'  his  last  years  in  ease  and  retirement 
from  active  labor  at  his  pleasant  home  in 
Geneseo. 

Mr.  Ayres  was  born  in  Hampden  county, 
Massachusetts,  January  17,  18 10,  a  son  of 
.\sa  and  Mary  (White)  Ayres,  who  were 
also  natives  of  the  Bay  state  and  of  English 
descent.  The  family  was  founded  in  this 
country  by  three  brothers  who  came  from 
England  in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth 
century  and  settled  in  ^^lassachusetts.  Our 
subject  traced  his  ancestry  back  to  Captain 
John  Ayres,  who  located  in  Brookfield, 
MassacluLsetts,  in  1648,  and  in  1662  removed 
to  Ipswich,  that  state.  He  lost  his  life  in  a 
struggle  with  the  Indians,  to  which  the 
early  settlers  of  the  east  were  frequenth'  sub- 
jected. He  died  August  3,  1675,  leaving 
two  sons,  of  whom  John,  the  older  of  these, 
died  in  Ipswich,  December  24,  1685.  The 
other,  Samuel  Ayres,  was  successively  a  resi- 
dent of  Xewbury  and  Rowley,  Massachu- 
setts. He  was  married  at  Ipswich,  April  16, 
1677,  to  Abigail,  daughter  of  William  Fel- 
lows, and  to  them  were  born  ten  children. 
Their  son  Joseph  Ayres  made  his  home  in 
Brookfield,  and  was  the  father  of  Samuel 
Ayres.  also  a  resident  of  that  place  and  a 
weaver  by  trade.  The  latter  was  married 
January  21.  1742,  to  Martha  Bell,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  ten  children.  To  this 
family  belonged  Asa  Ayres.  the  father  of  our 
subject.  He  also  had  ten  children,  of  whom 
Buenos  was  the  youngest  and  belonged  to 
the  seventh  generation  of  the  family  in 
America. 

When  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a 
lad  of  ten  years,  he  accompanied  his  parents 
on  their  removal  to  the  western  reserve  of 


Ohio,  where  the  father  purchased'  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  wild  land  and  improved  a  farm 
in  what  is  now  Lake  county.  In  early  life 
Buenos  Ayres  learned  the  carpenter's  and 
millwright's  trade,  and  remained  with  his 
father  until  reaching  manhood. 

On  the  1st  of  September.  1833,  ^Ir.  Ayres 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Os- 
borne, who  was  born  in  O.Kt'ord,  Connecticut, 
September  2,  1816,  and  was  a  representative 
of  an  old  Xew  England  family,  her  parents 
being  Ransom  and  Sarah  (Hurd)  Osborne. 
Soon  after  their  marriage  they  removed  to 
\\'illoughby,  Ohio,  where  their  two  oldest 
children  were  born,  and  in  the  spring  of  1837 
took  up  their  abode  in  Hicksville,  Defiance 
county,  that  state,  where  six  mm-e  children 
were  added  to  the  family.  In  1850  they  re- 
moved to  Fond  tin  Lac,  Wisconsin,  where  as 
a  millwright  Mr.  Ayres  was  engaged  in  bus- 
iness for  one  year,  being  engaged  in  the  con- 
struction of  some  imi^rtant  mills  in  that  lo- 
cality. In  1 85 1  he  brought  his  family  to 
Illinois,  antl  for  two  years  worked  at  his 
trade  in  Bureau  county.  On  coming  to 
Henry  county  in  1853,  he  purchased  a  farm 
in  Mun.son  township  and  turned  his  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  his  farming 
ojjcrations  he  steadily  prospered  and  became 
an  extensive  land  owner.  To  his  original 
purchase  he  added  until  he  had  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  well  improved  and  val- 
uable land  in  his  home  farm,  besides  a  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Cam- 
bridge township  and  real  estate  in  Colorado 
and  Geneseo.  In  1877  he  rented  his  farm 
and'  removed  to  Geneseo,  where  he  lived  re- 
tired until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
9lh  of  Septem1)er,  1895.  He  was  a  skilled 
mechanic  and  successful  farmer,  and  was 
also  a  man  of  excellent  business  and  execu- 
tive abilitv,  being  able  to  carry  forward  to 


674 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


successful  completiou  whatever  he  under- 
took. In  poHtical  sentiment  he  was  a  Repuh- 
Iican.  He  attended  the  Unitarian  Church, 
and  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  honor- 
able dealings,  who  possessed  the  good  opin- 
ion of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  public- 
spirited  and  took  an  active  interest  in  all  that 
pertained  to  the  advancement  of  his  adopted 
county,  and  in  his  death  the  community  real- 
ized that  it  had  lost  a  valued  citizen.  Hi? 
estimable  wife  passed  away  November  i, 
1894. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  were  born  eleven 
children  as  follows :  Sheldon  H.,  bom 
April  2^.  1835.  was  married  January  2 J, 
1857,  to  Louisa  Emery,  who  died  in  Galva, 
March  12,  1864,  and  in  May,  1865  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Frank.  He  went  to  Kansas  during 
the  troublesome  times  in  that  state  prior  to 
the  Civil  war,  and  as  a  free-state  man  took 
an  active  part  in  the  border  warfare.  Orlan- 
do B.,  born  July  26,  1836,  married  Annie  L. 
Stone.  He  died  in  San  Diego,  California, 
March  27,  1900.  George  W'.,  born  Jan- 
uary 6,  1838,  died  on  the  loth  of  the  fol- 
lowing October.  Alary  A.,  born  November 
22,  1840,  died'  three  days  later.  Samuel  P., 
born  !May  16,  1842,  wedded  Alary  Inglefield, 
and  is  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Marshall- 
town  Herald,  Marshalltown,  Iowa.  Esther 
E.,  born  j\Iay  14,  1845,  married  J.  D. 
Hill,  of  Geneseo,  whose  sketch  appears 
on  another  page  of  this  volume.  Roderick 
\V.,  born  April  26,  1848,  is  a  resident  of 
Bussey,  Alarion  county,  Iowa :  marrieil 
Sadie  H.  IngelfiekV,  and  after  her  death  was 
again  married,  December  27,  1876,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Edith  M.  Swain.  Rar,- 
som  O.,  born  in  Bureau  county,  Illinois.  Oc- 
tober 24,  1852,  was  married,  January  26, 
1877,10  Fannie  J.  Reaver,  and  lives  in  Knox- 
ville,  Iowa.    Azoline,  born  in  Munson  town- 


ship, this  county.  August  24.  1854,  died  three 
dayi;  later.  John  C.  F.  is  mentioned  more 
fully  below.  Helen  E..  born  in  Munson 
township,  September  3,  1859,  died  October 
13,  1862. 

John  C.  F.  Ayres  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Alunson  township,  August  26, 
1856,  and'  during  his  boyhood  assisted  his 
father  in  the  labors  of  the  fields.  He  attend- 
ed the  local  schools,  and  also  the  high  school 
of  Geneseo.  On  the  25th  of  December, 
1879,  he  married  Aliss  Sarah  Alice  Martin, 
a  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Dovey  A.  (Hamil- 
ton) Martin,  who  are  also  represented  else- 
where in  this  volume.  By  this  union  were 
born  seven  children,  namely :  Carrie  M.,  Jes- 
sie AI.,  John  D.,  Elsie  M.,  Helen  M.,  Laura 
A.  and  Lois.  Mr.  Ayres  now  owns  the  old 
homestead  farm,  consisting  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty-six  acres  of  well  improved  and 
valuable  land,  which  he  rents,  while  he  re- 
sides in  Geneseo.  In  the  spring  of  1901  he 
embarked  in  the  general  farm  implement  bus- 
iness at  that  place  and  now  carries  a  full  line 
of  wagons,  buggies,  steam  threshers  and  all 
kinds  of  farm  implements.  He  takes  an  ac- 
tive part  in  political  affairs,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  assessor  two  terms,  and'  school  di- 
rector for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Alodern  ^\'oodmen  of  America 
and  the  Home  Forum  Alutual  Insurance 
Company,  and  is  one  of  the  most  highly  es- 
teemed citizens  of  his  communitv. 


XAVER  CLEMEXTZ. 

Among  those  agriculturists  of  Henry 
count}-  whose  places  manifest  to  the  most 
casual  observer  the  energy  and  ability  of 
the  owner  in  his  chosen  calling  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  personal  history.  He  now  owns 
two  hundred  and  eightv  acres  of  well-im- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


6/5 


proved  ami  highly  cultivated  laiul  i>n    sec- 
tion-, 4  and  9,  Yorktown  townsliip. 

Mr.  Clementz  was  lK)rn  in  .Msace-Lo- 
raine,  at  tliat  time  luider  the  French  gov- 
ernment, on  tlie  6tli  of  July,  it^44.  but  was 
only  nine  months  old  when  brought  to  tills 
country,  in  1845,  by  his  parents,  John  and 
Michelina  (Highmiser)  Clementz.  both  of 
whom  were  born  near  Strasburg,  Germany, 
the  former  in  18 13,  the  latter  In  18 — .  The 
family  first  located  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  Xaperville,  in  ]3u  Page  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  the  father  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  uf  land,  partly  covered 
with  timber,  and  to  the  development  and 
cultivation  of  this  farm  he  devotetl  his  time 
and  attention  for  twelve  years.  During 
this  time  our  subject  aided  in  the  work  of 
the  farm  and  learned  very  little  English,  as 
German  was  the  laugu;\ge  spoken  in  the 
home.  He  then  accompanied  the  family  on 
their  removal  to  Loraine  township,  Henry- 
county,  where  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  was  purchased,  and  here  he  at- 
tended the  district  schools  for  a  time,  pur- 
suing his  studies  in  an  old  log  hut  with  log 
seats  standing  on  pegs  driven  into  the  floor. 
There  were  no  desks.  After  seven  years 
spent  at  this  place  the  family  returned  to 
Xaperville.  Xaver  remained  with  his  parents 
two  years  longer  and  then  again  came 
to  Henr)-  county,  this  time  locating  in  York- 
town  township.  Subsequently  the  father 
traded  his  Xaperville  farm  for  land  in  York- 
town  township,  which  our  subject  operated. 
In  1S86  he  purchased  two  hundred  acres 
from  his  father,  and  has  since  bought  eighty 
acres  from  Mr.  Bogardus.  This  he  still  re- 
tains and  has  improved  in  a  creditable  man- 
ner. Xearly  all  of  the  entire  tract  has  been 
broken  by  himself,  and  has  been  converted 
bv  l.im  into  one  of  the  finest  farms  of  York- 


town  township.  In  connection  with  gen- 
eral farming  he  is  also  engaged  in  raising 
cattle  for  market  purposes. 

Xaver  Clementz  is  the  third  in  order 
of  birth  in  a  family  of  five  children,  the 
others  being  Josephine,  wife  of  Conrad 
Seyler,  of  Prophetstown,  Illinois;  Lena, 
wife  of  D.  Smith,  a  farmer  of  Yorktown 
township,  this  county;  August,  who  mar- 
ried Barbara  Creygar,  and  died  in  Xaper- 
ville, in  1889;  and  Kate,  wife  of  George 
Seyler,  of  Yorktown  township. 

Xaver  Clementz  has  been  twice  married. 
In  December,  1869,  in  Loraine  township, 
this  county,  he  married  Miss  Louisa  Gross, 
who  died  Octoljer  20,  1873,  leaving  two 
children,  namely:  Frank,  who  was  Ijorn 
March  11,  1871,  and  resides  with  his  fa- 
ther; and  Dora,  who  was  born  February  7, 
1873,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  August  Seyler, 
of  Yorktown  township.  On  the  20th  of 
June,  1874,  Mr.  Clementz  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Vogel,  a  native 
of  Xaperville,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of 
Anthony  and  ilary  Ann  (Seyler)  \'ogel, 
lifelong  residents  of  Germany.  Her  father 
was  born  near  Strasburg,  her  mother  in 
Alsace-Loraine.  Mrs.  \'ogel  was  the  only 
daughter  in  the  family  of  eight  children,  and 
is  now  the  only  survivor.  Three  of  her 
brothers  came  to  America.  By  his  second 
marriage  ^Ir.  Clementz  has  eight  children : 
Anna,  born  April  5,  1875,  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Bollenbach,  of  Columbus  Junction, 
Iowa;  William,  born  September  15,  1877, 
is  at  home;  Bertha,  born  January  22,  1880, 
is  the  wife  of  Edward  Bollenbach,  of  York- 
town  Corners,  Bureau  county;  and  Martha, 
born  January  28,  1883,  Josephine,  born 
May  12,  1886,  Katie,  born  December  26, 
1890,  Fred,  born  September  19,  1892,  and 
John,    born    February   7,    1894,   are  all  at 


676 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


b.ome.  ]Mr^.  Clementz  passed  away  in  Sep- 
tember, 1893.  The  family  are  communis 
cants  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and 
are  liekl  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know 
them.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Clementz 
has  served  as  school  director,  supporting  the 
Democratic  party,  and  he  gives  his  support  to 
every  worthy  enterprise  for  the  puljlic  gotid. 


JOHX  S.  }>IARTIX. 

The  life  of  this  gentleman  has  been  one 
of  usefulness  and  he  is  now  living  retired  in 
Geneseo,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  former  toil. 
He  was  born  on  the  26th  of  August,  1831, 
near  Livonia,  \\  as'hington  count}-,  Indiana, 
a  son  of  Xathan  and  Sarah  (Trimlile)  Mar- 
tin. On  the  paternal  side  he  is  descendea 
from  I'eter  Martin,  a  nati\'e  nf  the  (3kl  Do- 
minion, who  was  born  Februarx-  8,  1841,  of 
German  ancestry.  His  son,  John  Martin, 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  \\as  born  in 
Martin's  Hundred,  near  Richmond,  \'irginia, 
September  3,  1773,  and  became  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Kentucky,  going  to  that  state 
with  the  celebrated  Daniel  Boone.  For  some 
time  he  lived'  m  a  fort.  Li  1823  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Indiana,  and  in  1849  came 
to  Illinois  with  his  sons,  James  and  John, 
locating  in  Woodford  county,  wdiere  he  died 
October  3,  1855.  ^is  wife,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Martin,  was  also  born  in  Virginia,  January 
24,  1779,  and  died  in  Woodford  count}-,  Illi- 
nois, May  31,  1858.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  namely:  Stephen,  who 
died  in  Washington  county,  Indiana;  Na- 
than, the  father  of  our  subject;  Achsah,  wife 
of  Absalom  Little,  of  Clark  county,  Indiana, 
where  her  death  occurred ;  Lemuel,  who  died 
in  Sharon,  Whiteside  county,  Illinois ;  Moses 


Jeffries,  who  died  in  Greene  county,  Iowa; 
Allen,  who  died  in  Washington  county,  In- 
diana, and  was  buried  on  the  old'  home  farm; 
Enoch  Redding,  who  died  in  Clark  county, 
that  state ;  Asa,  who  died  in  Olivette,  Iowa ; 
James  M.,  who  died  in  Washington  county, 
Kansas ;  John  IMason,  a  resident  of  Chicago ; 
and  Sarah  Elizaljeth,  who  married  .John 
Sherwood  and  died  in  A\'ashingt  >n  county, 
Indiana. 

Xathan  Martin,  our  subject's  father,  was 
burn  in  Shell)}-  cnunty,  Kentucky.  January 
12,  1802,  and  removed  to  Indiana  with  his 
parents  in  1823,  settling  on  Bear  creek,  near 
the  town  of  Martinsburg,  \\'ashington  coun- 
ty. Throughout  life  he  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  a  farmer.  In  1825  he  made  a  trip 
on  horseback  to  Fort  Clarke,  Illinois,  and 
tl-ien  returned  to  Indiana,  where  he  continued 
to  make  his  home  until  1852,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Sharon,  Whiteside  county,  Illinois. 
There  his  wife  died  ]\Iarch  25,  1864,  and 
about  two  years  later  he  went  to  Republic 
county,  Kansas,  where  he  purchased  land, 
residing  there  until  called  to  his  final  rest 
Mfirch  7,  1873.  It  was  in  Orange  county, 
Indiana,  March  18,  1829,  that  he  married 
Miss  Sarah  Trimble,  who  was  born  near 
Paris,  Bourbon  count}-,  Kentucky,  \ugust 
I,  1802.  Her  father,  George  Trimble,  was  a 
native  of  Virginia  and  was  also -a  companion 
of  Daniel  Boone  in  his  early  explorations 
and  settlement  of  the  "Dark  and  Bloody 
Ground."  He  wedded  JMary  Armstrong  and 
ti '  them  Avere  born  seven  children  :  Mary  and 
Tlmmas,  who  both  died  in  Orange  county, 
Indiana ;  Jane,  who  died  in  Kentucky;  Mar- 
garet and  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  Indiana; 
Sarah,  the  mother  of  our  subject;  and 
George,  who  died  in  Indiana. 

John  S.  Martin  is  the  second  in  order  of 
l):rth  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  the  others 


IIR»?ARY 

UNIVtKSllr  Uh  ILLINOIS 

UR6ANA 


JOHN   S.   MARTIN. 


MRS    JOHN   S.   MARTIN. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSllY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


68 1 


being-  as  follows:  (ieorge  T.  died  in  Sharon. 
\\liiteside  county.  Illinois:  luiock  M.  is  a 
resident  of  Colorado;  Sarah  Jane  married 
Walter  Stone  and  died  in  Sharon,  Whiteside 
county;  Achsah  A.  is  the  wife  of  David  W. 
Hamilton,  of  Belleville,  Republic  county, 
Kansas:  Xathan  M.  is  a  resident  of  Chula. 
l-ivingston  cnunly.  .Missouri :  James  A.  died 
in  Atlantic.  Iowa:  Aniazetta  Z.  married 
Benona  Benson,  now  a  resident  of  Rock  Isl- 
land,  and  she  died  in  Shanm,  Whiteside 
county.  Illninois;  .Mar\'  C  is  the  widow  of 
Frank  Hadaw  ay  and  a  resident  of  Prophets- 
town,  Whiteside  county:  Henrietta  C.  died  in 
Sharon  at  tiie  age  of  twenty  years. 

John  S.  Martin  ac(|uired  his  earl}-  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Lixduia,  Indiana,  and 
was  reared' on  the  home  farm.  When  a  young- 
man  he  learned  the  lailnr's  trade  at  that 
place,  where  he  w-orkcd  for  tw-o  years.  With 
the  hope  of  bettering  his  financial  condition 
ill  the  west,  he  went  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  in 
1850,  and  from  there  to  Des  Moines,  which 
at  that  time  was  only  a  fort.  On  his  return 
to  Indiana,  he  took  uj)  cabinet  making,  which 
he  followed  for  a  slmrt  time  in  |)artnership 
■with  D.  R.  Pound  at  MiddletDwn,  X'igo 
ci;Unt\-,  but  in  June,  1S51,  he  snld  out  and 
returned  to  his  father's  place  in  Washington 
county.  Later  in  the  same  year  he  and  his 
brother  George  came  to  Illinois  and'  settled 
in  Sharon.  Whiteside  county.  In  the  spring 
of  1852  he  assisted  his  father  in  moving  with 
an  ox  team  to  this  state.  At  Sharon  he  fol- 
lowed farming  and  also  W(jrketl  at  the  car- 
peiiter  trade,  in  the  meantime  purchasing 
lantl  in  Phenix  townshi]),  llenrv  county.  In 
1856  he  removed  to  Geneseo.  and  located  on 
Center  street  where  he  still  makes  his'  home. 
Here  Mr.  Martin  turned  his  attention  to  car- 
penter work,  and  for  a  third  of  a  century 
was    in    the    employ  of  the  Chicago,  Rock 


Islai-id  &  Pacific  Railroad  as  a  general  car- 
penter. He  was  foreman  most  of  the  time 
and  division  foreman  for  seven  years,  and 
is  now  living  retired. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1855,  Mr. 
Martin  married  Miss  Doxey  Ann  Hamilton, 
of  Pekin,  Washington  county,  Indiana,  who 
was  born  in  Lincolnton,  North  Carolina, 
Xoxeiuber  _'o,  T828,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Ninian  ami  Mary  .Margaret  (  Willfong) 
Hamilton,  also  natixes  of  .\orth  Carolina. 
Her  paternal  grandparents  were  .\rchibakl 
and  Pollv  (  Hawkins)  Hamilton,  natives  of 
Maryland,  and  her  maternal  grandparents 
were  George  and  .Mar\-  i.ShufordI  Will- 
fong. Her  parents  renio\ed  to  I'ekin,  In- 
tliana,  in  1831.  Their  children  were  Mary 
Susann;i.  who  died  in  infancy:  l)o\ev  Ann, 
wife  of  our  subject:  Reuben,  who  died  in 
childhood:  Rebecca,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Xinian  Bell,  who  died  in  Hartsxille,  Indiana; 
David  Willfong,  a  resilient  of  Bellexille,  Re- 
public county,  Kansas:  Candace  Shuford, 
willow  of  Isaac  Martin,  lixing  on  her  fa- 
ther's old  homestead  in  I'ekin.  Indiana:  and 
George  Washington,  who  died  while  serv- 
ing in  the  Fifty-third  Indiana  N'olunteer  In- 
fantr\-  during  the  Li\  il  war. 

.Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Martin,  namely:  (i)  llugii  Hamilton, 
agent  for  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pa- 
cific railroad  at  Blue  Island.  Illinois. •married 
.\da  Hann.'i.  of  l"olon;i.  Henr\-  county,  and 
the\-  ha\e  four  children.  Xellie  P..  Fdiia  L., 
Fugene  P.  ami  Julia  Iv  (  .! )  .'^.  .Mice  is 
the  wife  of  John  C.  V.  .\_\-res.  who  is  rep- 
resented on  another  page  of  this  xohune.  (  3) 
Fmnia  R.  is  teaching  school  in  Chicago.  (4) 
Lillie  May  is  a  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Albany,  Wisconsin.  .She  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Saxton  J.  Morgan.  (  5  )  .M.  I'.lsie  is  a  book- 
keeper of   Boston.    Massachusetts.      (6)    J. 


682 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Morrisnn  died  at  tlie  age  of  twenty-one 
)-ears.  Tlie  mother  of  these  children  depart- 
ed tliis  Hfe  January  30.  1901. 

Mr.  ^Martin  and  his  family  hold  member- 
ship in  the  AIetho<:list  Episcopal  Church,  and 
he  superintended  the  erection  of  the  present 
church  of  that  denomination  built  at  Geneseo. 
He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  since  1865.  He 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  fijr  W'infield 
Scott,  the  A\  hig  candidate,  and  is  now  a  stal- 
wart supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  His 
career  has  ever  been  such  as  to  gain  for  him 
the  confidence  and  good  will  of  his  fellow 
citizens,  and  he  is  held  in  the  highest  re- 
spect and  esteem  by  all  who  know  him. 


FRANK  S.  SEARS. 

This  successful  and  prosperous  farmer 
of  Cornwall  township  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  where  he  now  resides,  October 
15,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  jMary 
(Jewett)  Sears,  both  natives  of  Sharon, 
Litchfield  county,  Connecticut.  The  father 
was  born  on  the  22nd  of  May,  1818,  and  in 
early  life  was  engaged  in  merchandising 
down  the  Mississippi.  In  the  fall  of  1856 
he  came  to  Henr)^  county,  Illinois,  and  pur- 
chasing a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  wild  land  in  Cormvall  township  he 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
Subsequently  he  purchased  a  tract  of  similar 
size  from  his  brother  who  had  come  with 
him  to  this  state,  and  also  bought  another 
eighty  acres,  so  that  he  had  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  at  the  time  of  his  death.  This 
he  placed  under  excellent  cultivation  and 
improved  with  a  good  set  of  farm  buildings. 
He  served  as  township  clerk  for  a  year  or 
more  and  also  filled  the  office  of  school  direc- 
tor.  He  died  in  February,  1897,  and  his  wife 


passed  away  January  6,  1889,  both  being 
laid  to  rest  in  Fairview  cemetery.  They 
were  among  the  most  highly  respected'  and 
honored  citizens  of  their  community.  In 
the  family  of  this  w^orthy  couple  were  seven 
children,  namely:  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Dr.  E. 
J.  Porter,  of  Grand  Island,  Nebraska ; 
Frank  S..  our  subject;  John,  who  wedded 
!Mary  \Miififels  and  lives  in  Annawan  town- 
ship, this  county;  Sarah  A. :  Nellie,  who 
died  May  14,  1884;  William  H..  who  mar- 
ried Naoma  Fick  and  resides  in  Cornwall 
township ;  and  Jessie  L. 

Frank  S.  Sears  obtained  his  elementary 
education  in  the  country  schools  near  his 
boyhood  home,  and  subsequently  attended 
the  high  schol  at  Geneseo  for  two  years. 
He  assisted  his  father  in  the  operation  of 
the  home  farm  until  the  latter"s  death,  and 
th.en  took  charge  of  the  place,  which  he  has 
since  successfully  carried  on.  Like  his  fa- 
ther, he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Republican  part}',  and 
for  two  years  he  most  acceptably  served  as 
township  clerk.  On  the  14th  of  April,  1897, 
he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Amy  A. 
Funk,  a  daughter  of  George  Funk,  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  in  this  work,  and  they  have 
become  the  parents  of  two  children :  George 
y..  who  was  born  March  27,  1898,  and  died 
on  the  29th  of  the  following  April :  and 
Attie  Mildred,  who  was  born  March  4, 
1900.  The  Sears  family  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  families  of  Cornwall  township 
and  wherever  known  is  held  in  high  regard. 


CHRISTIAN  G.  GIERHART. 

In  the  respect  that  is  accorded  U>  men 
who  have  fought  their  way  to  success 
through  unfavorable  environments  we  find 
an  unconscious  recognition  of  the  intrinsic 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


683 


wnrth  of  a  character  which  can  not  only 
■endure  so  rough  a  test  but  gain  new  strength 
through  the  disciphne.  Tlie  following  his- 
tLiry  sets  forth  briefly  the  steps  by  which 
oin-  subject,  now  one  of  the  substantial  ag- 
riculturists of  Henry  county,  overcame  the 
disadvantages  of  his  earl\-  lite,  lie  resitles 
on  section  6.  Atkinson  tnwnship.  and  is 
the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres  in  that  and  Geneseo  townships. 

Mr.  (iierharl  was  Ixii-ii  in  Richland 
county.  Ohio,  on  the  17th  of  .\pril,  i8_'4, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jonas  H.  and  Susan 
(Stough)  (iierhart,  both  natives  of  Mary- 
land, where  their  marriage  was  celebrated. 
The  father  was  born  in  179.;.  and  in  1814 
removed  to  Ashland  c<>uni\'.  (Jhio.  which 
was  then  a  vast  wilderness.  W  ith  his  wife 
and  child  and  one  horse  the  journey  was 
made  to  their  new  home  in  the  Buckeye 
state.  With  his  own  hands  he  built  a  little 
cabin  in  the  midst  of  the  forest,  and  at  once 
began  to  clear  and  improve  a  farm.  In 
later  years,  with  the  assistance  of  his  sons, 
he  made  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
si.Nty  acres.  .Vbout  18^7  he  came  to  Henry 
county.  Illinois,  and  spent  his  last  years 
with  his  children,  dying  here  in  February, 

On  the  old  honicsiead  in  Ohio.  Chris- 
tian G.  Gierhart  grew  to  manhood,  aidin,^ 
his  father  in  carrying  on  the  farm  until  he 
reached  years  ui  maturity.  During  the 
Mexican  war  he  enlisted  in  1846,  in  Com- 
pany K.  Third  Ohio  N'oluuteer  Infantry, 
and  was  first  engaged  in  guarding  trains  for 
about  rt\e  hundred  miles,  later  participat- 
ing in  the  battle  of  Buena  \'ista.  He  was 
ill  in  the  hospital  for  some  time,  and  frcin 
the  effects  of  that  illness  he  has  never  fuliy 
recovered.  At  the  close  of  tiie  war  he  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Xew  Orleans.     By 


way  of  Cincinnati  he  returned  to  his  old 
home  in  Ohio,  and  being  in  poor  health  re- 
mained on  his  father's  farm  about  two 
years. 

In  Xovember,  1849.  Mr.  Gierhart  was 
unitetl  in  marriage  with  Miss  Saral'i  .\. 
(iray.  who  was  born  in  rennsylvania  and 
was  about  six  vears  old  when  she  accom- 
panied her  father,  Joseph  Gray,  on  his  re- 
moval to  Ohio,  the  family  being  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Ashland  couiUy.  For  some 
lime  after  his  marriage  he  worked  at  any- 
thing which  he  could  find  to  do,  and  con- 
tracted to  cut  six  hundred  cords  of  wood, 
most  of  which  he  himself  cut.  In  1853  he 
came  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  engaged 
in  farming  for  Charles  Demming,  who  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-seven  years  is 
now  li\ing  in  (ieneseo.  While  serving  as 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Ohio  Mr.  Denuning 
had  married  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gierhart.  and  he 
swore  Mr.  Gierhart  into  the  service  in  the 
Mexican  war.  He  tilled  the  office  of  state 
senator  in  Ohio,  and  held  other  positions  of 
h.onor  and  trust. 

Our  subject  continued  in  the  employ  of 
Mr.  Demming  at  (ieneseo  for  four  years 
and  during  that  time  opened  up  a  farm.  In 
1856  he  made  his  first  piu'chase  of  land 
consisting  of  eighty  acres  of  raw  prairie  on 
section  ().  Atkinson  township,  where  he  now 
resides,  and  at  once  turned  his  attention  to 
its  improveiuent  and  cidtivation.  He  erect- 
ed thereon  a  small  house,  which  was  his 
home  for  sixteen  years.  an<l  was  then  re- 
l)laced  by  a  more  commodious  and  preten- 
tious dwelling.  Other  buildings  have  alst) 
been  erected,  an  orchard  set  out  and  shade 
trees  planted.  He  added  to  his  original  pur- 
chase from  time  to  time  and  now  has  two 
hinulred  acres  of  valuable  land,  forty  acres 
of  which  is  just  across  the  road   from  iiis 


684 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


home  in  Geneseo  township.  At  one  time  he 
owned  three  hundred  acres,  but  has  since 
disposed  of  a  portion  of  tliis.  Although  he 
started  out  in  hfe  for  himself  in  debt,  he 
has  steadily  overcome  the  obstacles  in.  the 
path  to  prosperity,  and  through  his  dili- 
gence, enterprise  and  good  management  has 
become  quite  well-to-do. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gierhart  were  born 
seven  children,  namely:  ^lartha  Jane,  wife 
of  A.  C.  Rice,  of  Geneseo;  Margaret  Lo- 
venia.  wife  of  Theodore  Miller,  a  farmer  of 
Geneseo  township;  Susan,  who  married  and 
died  in  Kansas,  leaving  three  children,  two 
of  whom  are  now  living:  John  E..  a  farmer 
of  Geneseo  township ;  Ida,  wife  of  ^lyron 
ilcHenry;  and  J.  O.,  an  invalid,  who  is 
married  and  resides  on  the  home  farm; 
and  Olive,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
months. 

In  i86j,  during  the  Civil  war,  Mr.  Gier- 
hart raised  a  company,  which  became  a  part 
\  olunteer  Infantry,  under  command  of 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Illinois 
Couonel  Henderson,  and  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant  by  Governor  Yates,  but 
being  in  ill  health  he  was  advised  by  the 
Colonel  to  resign  after  going  south  and  re- 
turned home  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  Po- 
litically he  was  a  Jefifersonian  Democrat  and 
cast  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  James 
K.  Polk  in  1844.  At  local  elections,  how- 
ever, when  no  issue  is  involvetl  he  votes 
independent  of  party  lines.  For  the  long 
period  of  twenty-eight  years  he  was  an 
efficient  "member  of  the  school  board  and 
also  served  as  president  of  the  district.  He 
filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Atchison  township  for  eight  years;  was 
road  commissioner  twelve  years;  and  has 
been  a  delegate  to  numerous  conventions  of 
his  party.     His  official    duties    have  been 


performed  with  a  fidelity  and  promptness 
ftorthy  of  the  highest  commendation,  and 
he  has  alwa\s  been  found  true  to  every 
trust  reposed  in  him  whether  public  or 
l)rivate.  He  is  an  active  and  prominent 
menilx?r  ni  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
ar  Geneseo,  was  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day school  for  twelve  years,  and  assisted 
in  establishing  one  of  the  first  country  Sun- 
day schools  in  the  countv. 


XOR-MAX  SHEARER. 

The  fine  farm  on  section  18,  Cornwall 
township,  belonging  to  this  gentleman,  in- 
variably attracts  the  eye  of  the  passing 
traveler  as  being  under  the  supervision  of  a 
thorough  and  skillful  agriculturist,  and  a 
man  otherwise  of  good  business  qualifica- 
tions. In  connection  with  his  farming  oper- 
ations he  carries  on  stock  raising  quite  ex- 
tensively, and  in  all  his  undertakings  has 
been  remarkably  successful. 

Mr.  Shearer  was  born  in  Cornwall  town- 
ship, June  13,  1859.  and  is  a  son  of  Lewis 
and  Permelia  (Burget)  Shearer,  whose 
sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  tliis  vol- 
ume. His  early  education  was  acquired  at 
the  district  schools  in  the  immediate  vicin- 
ity of  his  home,  and  by  reading  and  obser- 
^■ation  in  later  years  he  has  greatly  supple- 
mented the  knowledge  "there  acquired.  He 
remained  on  the  home  farm  with  his  parents 
until  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated 
April  5.  1885.  Miss  Mary  •  McCaflferty  be- 
coming his  wife.  She  is  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, and  came  to  this  country  in  1866 
v.ith  her  parents.  Charles  and  Rose  (Diver) 
^IcCafterty.  who  were  also  born  on  the 
Emerald    isle.      Thev  became    residents    of 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


685 


Cornwall  township,  this  county.  Their 
children  were  Sarah,  wife  of  E.  B.  Steb- 
l>ins :  Mary,  wife  of  our  subject;  Bridget, 
wife  of  Terreiice  McCabe:  Pacca,  who  wed- 
ded Mary  Dwyer;  Maggie,  wife  of  D.  H. 
Robins:  Katie;  Fannie,  wife  of  Thomas 
Cole;  and  John.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shearer 
have  two  children:  Blanche,  lx)rn  January 
6.  1886.  and  Edith,  born  July  5.  1887.  both 
attending  school. 

Mr.  Shearer  owns  two  hundred  and  for- 
ty acres  of  land,  which  he  has  placed  un- 
der excellent  cultivation,  and  on  which  he 
has  made  many  useful  and  valuable  im- 
provements which  add  greatly  to  the  at- 
tractive appearance  of  the  place.  He  makes 
a  specialty  of  stock  raising  and  shi])ping. 
and  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
progressive  and  reliable  business  men  of 
his  community. 

As  a  Republican  Mr.  Shearer  takes 
quite  an  active  part  in  local  positions,  and 
he  is  now  acceptably  serving  as  supervisor 
of  Cornwall  township,  having  been  elected 
to  that  responsible  position  in  April,  1900. 
He  has  also  filled  the  office  of  school  di- 
rector for  the  past  few  years.  Socially  he 
ic-  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wo<idmen 
■Camp  at  Atchison,  and  the  Fraternal  Trib- 
tine  at  Geneseo. 


c.\L\i.\'  F.  \vole\"i:r. 

Among  the  young  and  enterprising 
farmers  of  Cornwall  township  thereis  pro- 
bably none  more  energetic  or  thorough- 
going than  the  gentleman  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  sketch.  He  now  owns  a  fine 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven 
acres  on  section  18.     He  was  born  where  he 


now  resides.  June  i<"),  1875.  and  is  a  son  of 
R.  W.  and  Roena  (Foster)  \\'olever.  both 
natives  of  Illinois,  the  former  born  near 
Peoria,  in  1844,  the  latter  near  Geneseo, 
this  county.  The  \\'ole\er  family  was 
originally  from  Xew  Jersey.  The  father 
was  first  married  in  1865,  to  a  Mrs.  Frey, 
who  died  two  years  later,  leaving  one  child. 
In  1867  he  wedded  Roena  Foster,  and  to 
them  were  born  four  children,  one  son  and 
three  daughters,  namely :  Letha.  who  died 
January  13,  1901,  was  the  wife  of  John 
Hughey,  a  teamster  of  Stark  county;  Lot- 
tie, who  died  in  childhood;  Calvin  F..  our 
subject;  and  Lucy  married  Fred  Scbwen- 
eker.  The  parents  now  reside  in  Moline, 
Rock  Island  county.  Illinois.  The  father 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Galva,  where 
his  fatiier  conducted  a  hotel  for  about  eight 
years,  and  after  reaching  manhood  engaged 
in  farming  in  this  county  for  some  years, 
and  took  a  very  active  and  prominent  part 
ii'  public  affairs  of  a  political  nature.  The 
Republican  party  has  always  found  in  him  a 
stanch  supporter  of  its  principles,  and  he 
has  most  acceptably  filled  the  offices  of 
school  director,  assessor  for  twelve  years, 
and  supervisor  for  eight  years.  Fraternally 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wdndmen 
of  America  and  the  Home  Forum. 

Calvin  F.  W'olever  grew  to  manhood 
upon  his  father's  farm,  and  acquired  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  Corn- 
wall and  .\tkinsiin  to\\nshi])s.  He  early  be- 
came familiar  with  the  duties  which  fall  to 
the  lot  of  the  agriculturist,  and  from  his 
father  |)urchased  the  old  homestead  con- 
sisting of  one  hundred  and  si.\ty-five  acres 
of  land  on  section  18,  Cornwall  township, 
ti--  which  he  has  since  added  twenty-two 
acres.  He  now  has  one  of  the  most  highly 
cultivated  and  best  iiupro\ed   farms  in  the 


686 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


locality.  Politically  he  follows  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  father  and  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party.  He  was  married  in  189S 
to  Miss  Maggie  Wolf,  a  native  of  Henry 
county,  and  a  daughter  of  Bernard  and 
Dorothy  (Gravenhurst)  Wolf,  and  they 
now  have  a  little  son.  Robert,  born  Xovem- 
ber   I,   1900. 


FREDERICK  A.  HURLBUTT. 

Henrv  county  has  man}-  prosperous  and 
successful  farmers  who  are  the  architects  of 
their  own  fortunes,  having  through  their 
own  unaided  efforts  gained  a  handsome 
competence.  Among  these  is  the  subject  of 
this  personal  history,  who  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  development  and  upbuilding 
of  the  county  since  1858,  while  his  name  is 
inseparably  connected  with  its  agricultural 
and  financial  interests.  He  makes  his  home 
on  section  6.  Galva  township,  where  he  owns 
a  fine  farm. 

Mr.  Hurlbutt  was  born  in  Xew  Hamp- 
shire. November  9,  1831,  a  son  of  Alba  and 
Laura  (Osgood)  Hurlbutt.  natives  of  the 
same  state.  By  profession  the  father  was  a 
physician  and  was  a  graduate  of  one  of  the 
eastern  schools  of  medicine.  He  was  born 
June  24,  1794.  On  coming  west  in  1840  he 
located  south  of  \'ictoria.  in  Knox  county, 
and  while  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  his  sons  improved  and  operated 
the  farm.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig.  He 
died  upon  his  farm  in  Knox  county,  Octo- 
ber I,  1858,  and  the  death  of  his  wife  oc- 
curred March  14,  1871.  in  Henry  county. 
She  was  born  June  16,  1802. 

Until  this  worthy  couple  were  born  nine 
children,  of  whom  one  died  in  infancy,  the 
others  !)eing  as  follows:  Hubbard,  born  May 


23,  1822,  died  on  the  old  homestead  Xo- 
^ember  23,  1844;  Edmund,  born  May  6, 
1824,  died  in  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  in  the 
fall  of  1898:  Nathaniel,  born  September  22, 
1826.  died  while  prospecting  in  California 
ii.  1849:  Laura,  born  ^larch  2"/.  1829,  mar- 
ried Leander  Taylor  and  died  on  the  old 
homestead  May  21,  1865;  Frederick  A., 
our  subject,  is  next  in  order  of  birth:  Fran- 
cis, born  June  22.  1837.  who  lives  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Knox  county,  was  a  sol- 
dier of  the  Civil  war,  but  soon  after  the  bat- 
tle of  Fort  Donelson  was  taken  ill  and  re- 
turned home  after  ser\ing  one  year:  Susan, 
born  June  22.  1844.  is  the  wife  of  Alexan- 
der A.  Taylor,  a  farmer  of  Nebraska;  and 
Charles,  born  ]\Iarch  10,  1846.  died  in  that 
state,  October  10,  1894.  The  children  were 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Knox 
county. 

During  his  boyhood  Frederick  A.  Hurl- 
butt pursued  his  studies  in  a  primiti\"e  log 
school  house  with  its  slalj  benches  and  other 
crude  furniture.  He  remained  at  home  as- 
sisting in  the  labors  of  the  farm  until  after 
the  deatii  of  his  father  in  1858.  when  he 
came  to  Henry  county  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  unimproved  land  in  Burns  town- 
ship, which  he  at  once  began  to  break  and 
cultivate.  At  first  he  met  with  many  re- 
verses and  was  forced  to  endure  many  hard- 
ships, but  after  the  Civil  war  his  prospects 
becalne  brighter  and  he  steadih'  prospered 
in  his  farming  operations.  As  his  financial 
resources  increased  he  added  to  his  landed 
possessions  from  time  to  time  until  he  now 
owns  one  thousand  acres  of  valuable  land 
in  this  county  divided  into  five  farms  which 
are  located  in  Weller,  Galva  and  Burns- 
townships.  He  is  one  of  the  largest  land 
owners  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county, 
and  having  started  out  in  life  for  liimself 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


687 


witli  no  cai)ital  liis  success  is  due  to  hard 
work  and  good  management.  His  property 
is  all  well  improveil  with  good  buildings, 
and  the  land  is  fully  tiled  and  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  .\t  one  time  Mr.  Hurl- 
butt  was  extensively  engaged  in  raising  cattle 
for  market,  and  has  always  kept  a  good 
grade  of  draft  and  road  horses.  He  has 
not  confined  his  attention  wholly  to  agri- 
cultin"d  jnirsuits,  hut  was  one  of  the  pro- 
moters and  a  large  st<ickliolder  of  the  Farm- 
ers Elevator  of  Ciaha :  also  a  director  and 
vice-president  of  the  stock  company  nf 
same:  a  stockholder  and  director  of  the 
Galva  State  Rank:  and  a  stockholder  of  the 
First  X'ational  Bank  of  that  place. 

On  the  3 I.St  of  October,  i860.  Mr.  Hurl- 
butt  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Caro- 
line Osgood,  who  was  also  bdrn  in  Xew 
Hampshire  in  1839.  but  at  that  time  was 
living  with  her  jiarents  in  Kno.x  county, 
Illinois,  whither  the  family  removed  in 
1 84 1.  Her  father.  Willard  Osgood,  was  of 
English  ancestry.  He  took  up  land  in  Knox 
county  and  there  spent  his  remaining  days. 
In  his  family  were  only  two  children,  the 
older  being  Levi,  a  resident  of  Marshall- 
town.  Iowa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hurlbutt  arc 
the  i)arents  of  nine  children :  (  i  )  Edgar  L., 
liorn  Decemljer  20.  1861,  lives  on  part  of 
his  father's  land.  (2)  Elmer  .\.,  born  May 
14,  i8()3,  is  a  farmer  of  Weller  township. 
He  married  Effie  Michaels  and  they  have 
four  children.  Earl  E.,  Marion,  Edna  and 
Edgar.  (3)  Levi  H..  born  October  5,  1865. 
lives  on  his  father's  land  in  Burns  township.  • 
He  married  Margaret  Sewell.  now  deceased, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Leo  and  Mar- 
guerite. (4)  Minnie  L..  born  October  24, 
1867,  is  the  wife  of  John  Peugh,  of  Ne- 
braska, and  they  have  four  chiklren.  Gladys, 
Lottie.  Zelda  and  Laurice.     (5)  Jennie  M., 


born  July  i  [.  1870.  is  the  wife  of  Frank 
I'enney.  of  I'unis  township.  (6)  Frederick 
X.,  born  January  2.  1873,  lives  in  Burns 
township.  He  married  \\'innie  Hamilton, 
and  they  have  two  children.  Hazel  and  Ray- 
mond. (  7)  Zelda  .A..,  born  August  31,  1875, 
lives  with  her  brother  Levi.  (8)  Charles 
H..  born  December  11.  1878,  ami  (9) 
I'rank.  born  December  tj.  1880,  are  both  at 
home.  All  have  been  educated  in  the  district 
>"chools. 

.\s  a  Rcpulilican  Mr.  Hurlbutt  takes 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  has 
held  several  minor  township  offices,  serving 
;i,'  scho<il  director  many  years,  and  also  as 
trustee,  lie  gi\es  to  the  support  of  church 
work  although  not  a  member  of  any  re- 
ligious denomination,  and  never  withholds 
his  aid  from  an\-  enterprise  which  he  be- 
lieves calculated  to  .-.dvance  the  moral,  edu- 
cational or  material  welfare  of  his  com- 
munity. I'or  sixty  \ears  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  section  of  the  state,  and  has 
borne  an  important  jjart  in  its  upbuilding 
and  advancement.  -\s  a  business  man  he 
ranks  among  the  ablest  of  Galva  township, 
and  his  success  in  life  is  due  to  no  inherited 
fortune,  or  to  any  happy  succession  of  ad- 
vantageous circumstances,  but  to  his  own 
sturdy  will,  steady  application,  studious 
habits,  tireless  industry  and  sterling  in- 
tegritv. 


JOSEPH   BL'RSTOX. 

Josei)h  Burston,  who  is  now  li\'ing  a  re- 
tired life  in  Geneseo,  Illinois,  was  born  in 
Sweden,  on  the  9th  of  December,  1821,  and 
i;  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  ( Swanson) 
Jcjhnston.  lifelong  residents  of  that  countrj-, 
where  the  father  died  in    1836,  aged  sixty 


688. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years,  the  nioihcr  in  i.Sft^.  aged  seventy- 
six.  He  was  tlie  nnly  erne  of  their  seven 
chihh-en  to  come  to  .\nierica.  the  others  all 
remaining  in  Sweden. 

Mr.  Bin-ston  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  land,  and  was  there  married,  in 
184J.  to  Miss  Marv  Johnston,  who  died  in 
1864.  Five  years  later  lie  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  unit  in  being  with  Mary 
Johnston,  also  a  nati\e  of  Sweden.  He 
worked  on  a  farm  in  that  countr\-  until 
shrirth"  after  his  sec" nid  marriage,  when  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  landing  in 
Boston  after  a  voyage  of  sixteen  days.  Im- 
mediately after  his  arri\al  he  proceeded  to 
Geneseo,  Illinois,  and  obtained  work  on  the 
farm  of  D.  Ford.  Fur  eighteen  years  he 
continued  to  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
aritl  then  remi)\-ed  to  Geneseo,  purchasing 
se\'en  acres  of  land  at  the  edge  of  the  city, 
and  building  thereon  a  gootl  home,  where 
he  is  now  living  a  retired  life,  enjoying  a 
v.ell-earned  rest. 

By  his  first  marriage  ^Ir.  Burston  had 
five  children,  all  born  in  Sweden,  namely : 
(I)  Gust,  born  March  14.  1842.  married 
Christina  Johnston,  (jf  Sweden,  and  they 
came  to  America  with  his  father  in  1869. 
locating  in  Geneseo.  where  Gust  worked  in 
a  wagon  factory.  On  the  I4tli  of  February, 
igoo.he  returned  to  his  natixe  land  to  engage 
in  the  same  business.  (2)  Charlotte,  born 
December  13.  1844.  married  John  Larson, 
\xlio  died  in  Sweden  in  1870,  and  she  later 
came  to  America,  and  was  again  married  in 
]\Iciline,  Illinois,  her  second  husband  being 
Swan  Brown,  also  a  native  of  Sweden. 
They  still  reside  in  Moline.  (3)  Charles, 
born  March  13,  1840^.  wedded  Mary 
Johnston,  a  native  of  Sweden,  and  they  also 
make  their  home  in  Moline,  (4)  Lena, 
Ik  mi  December   10,   1851,  is  the  widow  of 


Oscar  Bueling,  who  died  in  1885,  and  she, 
too,  is  a  resident  of  Moline.  (5)  Fred,  born 
March  14,  1863,  married  Addie  Johnston 
and  lives  in  IMoline. 

In  earlv  life  Mr.  Burston  was  a  most 
industrious  man,  was  honorable  and  up- 
right in  all  his  dealings,  and  his  career  has 
e\-er  been  such  as  to  commend  him  to  the  con- 
fulence  and  high  regard  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  been  brought  in  contact.  He  is  an 
active  and  consistent  member  of  the  Swed- 
i-'li  Lutheran  Church  of  Geneseo,  and  is  now 
serving  as  deacon  of  the  same. 


LEWIS  SHEARER. 

r'roniinent  among-  the  successful  farmers 
and  representatix'e  citizens  of  Cornwall 
township  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  article,  his  home  being  on  section 
iS,  where  he  has  a  w^ell  improved  and  highly 
cultivated  farm.  A  native  of  Xew  York,  he 
was  born  in  Wilton,  Saratoga  county,  about 
five  miles  east  of  Saratoga  Springs,  in  1817, 
c.iid  is  a  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (In- 
gersoll )  Shearer.  In  1834  he  removed  with 
the  familv  to  Livingston  county,  in  the  same 
state,  and  settled  on  the  W'adsworth  lands. 
Five  years  later  he  became  a  resident  of  Tip- 
pecanoe county,  Indiana,  wdiere  he  worked 
with  his  father  on  the  farm,  which  was  lo- 
cated about  seven  miles  northeast  of  La 
Fayette.  They  found  a  market  for  their 
'  wheat  at  Michigan  City,  where  it  was  worth 
fifty  cents  a  bushel,  and  in  exchange  re- 
ceived salt,  leather,  cotton  and  the  vari- 
ous articles  needed  in  their  pioneer  home. 
At  that  time  all  shoes  and  boots  were  made 
by  shoemakers  who  went  from  house  to 
house,  and  most  of  the  material  for  clothing 


UNIVERb.      ...    "isNOIS 
URSftXA 


LEWIS  SHEARER. 


MRS.   LEW^IS   SHEARER. 


LiR'?ARY 

UNIVERSIlY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URSANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


69: 


Avas  woven  in  the  Imme.  Our  subject's 
mother  died  on  the  old  homestead  in  Tippe- 
canoe county.  Indiana.  James  Sliearer  was 
Ix)Tn  October  6,  1777,  and  died  in  1863, 
his  remains  being  interred  l)v  the  side  of  his 
wife  near  the  old  Tippecanoe  battle  ground. 

Lewis  Shearer  not  only  aided  in  the 
arduous  task  of  clearing  and  improving  the 
home  farm,  hut  during  his  residence  in  In- 
diana also  taught  school  two  terms.  He 
had  twenty-five  scholars,  from  wlmm  he  re- 
ceived two  dollars  each  for  a  three-months 
term.  On  leaving  home  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing upon  rented  land  in  Warren  county.  In 
diana.  for  one  year. 

Mr.  Shearer  was  married  in  Indiana  in 
1843.  to  Miss  Permelia  Hurget.  who  was 
Ixirn  in  Ohio.  February  16.  1821.  and  died 
June  16.  1899.  She  was  buried  at  Liberty 
Church  cemetery,  where  her  sons  are  also 
interred.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Silas  and 
Sarah  (Henderson)  Burget.  By  this  union 
•were  born  the  following  named  children : 
(i)  Sarah,  born  October  8.  1844,  in  Tip- 
pecanoe county.  Indiana,  married  Xel«on 
\\'aterhouse.  and  they  have  two  children — 
Grace,  who  was  born  .\ugust  25.  1872,  and 
is  now  the  wife  of  J.  Dwyer.  a  niotorman 
of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota:  and  Pearl,  who 
was  1)1  irn  March  26.  1882.  and  is  at  home 
V  ith  her  parents.  (2)  Mary  Ann.  born 
May  31.  1849.  resides  in  Chicago.  (3) 
Albert  James,  born  in  Cornwall  township. 
Henry  county,  Illinois.  Sei)tember  2.  1853, 
died  April  29,  1872.  (4)  Bruce,  born 
March  24,  1856.  was  thrown^  from  a  horse, 
and  from  the  effects  of  the  injuries  received. 
i^'.cil  in  1867.  (5)  Xorman.  born  June  13, 
1859.  married  Mary  McCafferty.  daughter 
•or  Charles  and  Rose  McCafferty.  who  re- 
side in  Sheffield.  Illinois,  and  they  have  two 
children — Blanche,  born   lanuarv   10.   1886, 


and  Edith.  l)orn  July  5.  1887.  both  residing 
at  home.  (6)  Lewis  Ross,  born  ^lay  19, 
1861.  lives  in  Mun.son  township,  this  coun- 
ty. He  married  Amanda  Munson  and  they 
have  four  children — Lilly.  Burget,  .\lbert 
and  Clara,  all  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Shearer  came  to  Henry  county.  Illi- 
nois, in  the  fall  of  1850,  and  spent  the  fol- 
hnving  winter  in  a  rented  house  near  Ke- 
wanee.  In  the  spring  of  1851  he  pur- 
chased sever.ty-tive  and  a  half  acres  of  land, 
])art  of  which  was  timber,  of  James  S.  Ham- 
ilton, and  also  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres 
ol  unbroken  prairie  land  in  Cornwall  town- 
ship, of  Captain  Jack.  Since  that  time  he 
has  been  an  active  factor  in  the  develojjment 
an.d  progress  of  Henry  county,  and  in  his 
farming  operations  has  met  with  unquali- 
fied success,  his  farm,  which  was  developed 
from  a  wild  tract,  being  one  of  the  best  in 
the  townsliij). 

In  early  life  Mr.  Shearer  was  a  Demo- 
crat, but  since  the  formation  of  the  Republi- 
can party  has  been  one  of  its  stanch  ad- 
herents, and  has  ever  taken  a  prominent 
p.irt  in  public  affairs.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  judges  of  election  in  what  is  now  Corn- 
v.all  township,  but  which  was  jjrior  to  the 
formation  of  the  township.  In  1852  he  was 
asked  to  take  the  position  of  road  overseer, 
but  declined  to  serve,  but  the  following 
year  he  was  again  a])i)ointed  to  that  posi- 
tion and  accepted  the  office,  b'nr  a  number 
of  years  he  efficiently  ser\ed  as  school  di- 
rector, and  also  filled  the  office  of  township 
trustee.  In  1857  he  was  first  elected  super- 
visor of  his  township,  and  served  until  1861, 
and  in  1862  was  appointed  to  fill  a  vacancy 
in  that  position,  and"  continued  to  serve  as 
supervisor  for  seventeen  years,  filling  the 
office  with  credit  to  himself  and  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents.    He  has  done 


694 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


r.iuch  to  adxance  the  interests  of  the  com- 
iinmity  in  wliich  lie  hves.  and  is  counted 
one  of  its  most  influential  and  jxipular  citi- 
zens. Religiously  he  has  been  a  meml^er  of 
the  Christian  church  for  several  A-ears. 


WILLIAM  PORTER. 

Among"  the  honored  pioneers  and  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  Henry  county  is  num- 
bered William  Porter,  who  located  here  in 
the  spring  of  1843  and  has  since  been  prom-> 
ir.ently  identified  with  its  growth  and  de- 
velopment. He  is  now  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  sevent}"-three 
acres  on  sections  3  and  4.  Cornwall  town-i 
ship,  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
\-ation  and  well  improved. 

^Ir.  Porter  was  born  in  South  Hunting- 
ton township.  Westmoreland  county.  Penn- 
sylvania, on  the  15th  of  September.  181 5. 
and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Catherine  (Gaff- 
ne\-)  Porter,  the  former  a  native  of  \'ir- 
ginia.  the  latter  of  ^It.  Pleasant  township, 
Westmoreland  county.  Pennsylvania.  In 
1834  the  father  brought  his  family  to  Illi- 
nois, and  after  traveling  all  over  the  state 
took  up  his  residence  in  Decatur  on  the  6th 
of  October,  that  year.  On  account  of  the 
frequency  of  prairie  fires  he  avoided  the 
newer  settlements.  He  spent  the  4th  of 
July  in  Danville,  and  remained  for  about 
four  weeks  in  Bloomington  on  this  trip. 
He  bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  adjoining  Decatur,  which  was  al- 
ready fenced  and  under  cultivation. 

William  Porter  is'the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  eleven  children,  the 
others  being  John,  who  was  drowned  in  the 
Youghiogheny      river      in      Pennsylvania; 


twins,  who  died  in  infancy:  Edward,  who 
died  in  Reno.  Iowa,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years,  leaving  a  large  family  living 
near  that  place;  Isaiah,  who  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1849.  'iiK^l  lived  on  the  Pacific 
coast  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at 
Tacoma,  Washington :  Harriet,  who  mar- 
ried William  White  and  died  in  Stark  coun- 
ty. Illinois:  Lucinda.  wife  of  Daniel  Ging- 
rich of  the  same  county;  Catherine,  who 
married  Samuel  Airhart.  and  also  died  in 
Stark  county.  Both  were  graduates  of 
Knox  College,  of  Galesburg.  Aaron,  a  resi- 
dent of  California:  and  Elizabeth,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois,  and  remained  on  the 
farm  near  Decatur  until  June.  1837,  when 
he  went  to  Stark  county.  There  he  entered 
one  hundred  and  sixt\-  acres  of  unbroken 
land,  to  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of 
which  he  devoted  his  energies  until  coming 
to  Henry  county  in  the  spring  of  1843.  He 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Cornwall 
township,  and  traded  his  Stark  county  farm 
for  a  partially  impro\ed  tract  of  two  hun- 
dred acres.  It  is  now  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  with  good  and  substantial  build- 
ings, all  of  which  have  been  erected  by  Mr. 
Porter.  The  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  of 
the  place  plainly  indicates  his  careful  super- 
vision. 

In  Stark  county,  on  the  5th  of  May, 
1840.  Mr.  Porter  married  Miss  Eleanor 
Hamilton,  who  was  born  on  the  i6th  of 
I'ebruary,  181 8.  in  South  Huntington  town- 
ship, ^\'estmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  died  in  Cornwall  township,  this  coiuity. 
^lay  20.  1885.  She  was  one  of  a  family 
of  six  children  whose  parents  were  Alexan- 
der and  Elizabeth  (  Steele)  Hamilton.  The 
children  born  to  our  subiect  and  his  wife 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


695 


were  as  follows:  Mary  Martlia,  now  tiie 
wife  of  John  T.  Rondema  ,  farmer  of  the 
state  of  Washington ;  Alexander  Hamil- 
ton, who  died  in  infancy;  Jane  Ellen,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years:  ^^'illiam  C. 
deceased,  who  married  Amanda  Turpin  niul 
followed  merchandising  at  Hartwell,  Xe- 
hraska:  Charles,  who  died  in  infancy;  Ella 
and  Daniel,  twins,  the  former  of  whom  first 
married  Horace  G.  Benedict  and.  second. 
Charles  S.  Terpening.  a  farmer  and  school 
teacher,  and  the  latter  married  Sarah  Lloyd 
and  follows  farming:  Epaphroditus  J.,  who 
married  Miss  ^lary  Jewett  Sears  and  is  a 
physician  at  Grand  Island,  Xehraska.  hav- 
ing graduated  from  Rush  Medical  College. 
Chicago,  in  1878:  Josie.  wife  of  AJlison 
Orville  Taylor,  a  merchant  of  Minatare,  Xe- 
l)raska:  \'iola,  wife  of  James  Dysart,  a 
stock  raiser  of  Eagle,  Xehraska,  and 
iSowcn,  who  married  .\merica  Ernst,  and 
died  at  Gold  Hill,  Oregon,  of  which  place 
he  was  a  physician,  being  a  graduate  of  the 
Chicago  Homeopathic  Medical  College:  he 
was  also  a  student  in  the  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege. 

.Mr.  Porter  has  always  taken  an  active 
and  commendable  interest  in  ])ublic  affairs, 
especially  educational  matters,  and  has  effi- 
ciently served  as  school  director.  Political- 
ly lie  is  identified  at  present  with  the  Peo- 
l)les  party,  and  has  always  been  a  warm 
^upportcr  of  the  principles  advocated  by 
.Vbraham  Lincoln,  and  fraternally  is  con- 
nectetl  with  the  Grange.  In  religious  belief 
lit  is  a  Baptist,  and  is  an  earnest  and  con- 
sistent member  of  that  cliurch.  Through 
the  fi fly-eight  years  of  his  residence  here 
Mr.  Porter  has  become  widely  known,  and 
his  many  e.xcellent  traits  of  character  ha\e 
gained  him  the  high  regard  of  a  host  of 
friends. 


In  1849.  in  coinpanx'  with  two  others 
from  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  our  subject 
started  for  the  gold  fields  of  California, 
making  the  trip  with  ox  teams  in  about  four 
months"  time.  On  the  Little  Blue  ri\er  they 
joined  a  wagon  train,  so  that  when  they 
tinally  crossed  the  great  jilains  there  were 
sixt_v-h\e  men  and  one  woman  and  baliy. 
the  wife  of  our  subject's  briJther  Isaiah. 
lie  remained  in  California  two  years,  pros- 
l)ecting  and  mining.  His  trip  did  not  prove 
a  financial  success.  The  return  trip  was 
made  by  water,  via  Xew  Orleans,  and  the 
.Mississippi  river  to  Peoria,  then  by  stage  to 
Henry  county. 

In  iS(n  he  again  went  to  California.  \ia 
.\e\v  \'ork  City  by  boat  to  .Vspinwall.  by 
rail,  ocean  and  the  Isthnuis  to  Panama  and 
then  liy  boat  to  San  Francisco.  He  engaged 
in  milling  in  Xe\ada  and  remained  four 
\ears,  returning  in  i8')3  by  water  to  Xew 
\'ork,  thence  by  rail  to  Henry  county.  He 
crossed  the  isthmus  o\er  the  now  ijroposed 
canal  route  by  stage  and  river  steamers. 
In  1883  he  went  to  the  state  of  Washing- 
ton. \a  the  Xorthern  Pacific,  being  a  jias- 
senger  on  the  first  train  to  crosv  the  moun- 
tains from  St.  Paul. 


JOHX  TAYLOR. 

.More  than  si.xtv-lliree  vears  ago  John 
Taylor  came  to  Henry  C'linty,  Illinois,  and 
for  almost  half  a  century  was  actively  in- 
terested in  its  progress.  His  labors  as  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  county  justly  entitle 
him  to  a  prominent  place  in  its  annals.  He 
was  born  on  the  i(t{]\  of  .\ugust,  i8ji,  in 
.\'ew  Hampshire,  of  which  state  his  parents. 
Andrew  and    Polly    (  I'rown)   Taylor,   were 


^9<5 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


also  nati\'es.  tlie  former  liorn  January  17. 
1789.  the  latter  June  16,  1785.  At  an  early 
day  the  family  removed  to  Xew  York  state, 
where  the  motiier  died,  and  later  went  to 
\'alparaiso,  Indiana,  making  the  journey 
with  ox  teams.  In  1837  they  came  to  Henry 
-county,  Illinois,  and  the  father  took  up  a 
tract  of  government  land  in  Atkinson  town- 
ship, where  he  made  his  home  imtil  his 
death,  which  occurred  October  26.  1843. 
Throughout  his  active  business  life  he  fol- 
lo\\"ed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 

John  Taylor  was  the  third  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  four  children,  the  others 
being  as  follows :  Xathan  \\'oodbury  died 
in  Atkinson,  this  county.  Of  his  seven  chil- 
dren one  was  killed  in  a  coal  bank;  two 
are  living  in  this  county;  two  in  Iowa;  one 
ii!  Kansas;' and  one  in  Stark  cnunty.  Illi- 
nois. James  X.  also  died  in  Atkinson,  and 
two  of  his  six  children  are  deceased,  while 
two  live  in  Bradford,  Stark  county;  one  in 
^Missouri ;  and  one  in  Iowa.  ^Irs.  Mary  E. 
Hamilton  is  a  widow  living  in  Geneseo,  Illi- 
nois. She  is  the  mother  of  seven  children, 
four  of  whom  are  still  li\ing  and  reside  in 
Cedar  Rapids.  Iowa. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  about 
sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  with 
his  father  to  this  county,  and  he  aided  in 
transforming  the  wild  land  into  a  good 
farm.  Prior  to  his  marriage  he  became  the 
owner  of  eighty  acres  of  land,  only  eight 
.acres  of  which  had  been  broken,  but  he  soon 
placed  the  remainder  under  cultivation,  and 
later  purchased  another  eighty-acre  tract  of 
Y,-ild  land.  Arotmd  this  entire  tract  he 
placed  a  hedge  fence  and  upon  the  place 
erected  a  comfortable  residence  and  a  good 
set  of  farm  buildings,  making  it  his  home 
xmtil  his  death,  which  occurred  October  12, 
j88;.     He  was  the  first  collector  of  Corn- 


wall township,  and  also  filled  the  office  of 
school  director.  He  bore  a  very  active  and 
important  part  in  the  early  development  of 
the  county,  and  was  one  of  the  most  hon- 
ored pioneers  and  u.seful  citizens.  At  one 
time  he  was  an  active  member  <if  the 
Cranger  Association,  and  was  ever  identi- 
fied with  those  enterprises  which  he  believed 
would  prove  of  public  benefit. 

On  the  15th  of  Xovember,  1849.  Mr. 
Taylor  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  Ogden,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
\ania,  February  25,  183 1,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  John  H.  and  Remembrance  (Evans) 
Ogden,  natives  of  Xew  Jersey  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, respectively.  The  father  was  Ixsrn 
February  13,  1804,  and  died  October  21, 
1840,  while  the  mother  is  also  deceased,  the 
remains  of  both  being  interred  in  Colberts 
cemetery  on  the  Rock  river.  They,  too,  w"ere 
pioneers  of  this  county.  In  their  family 
were  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely : 
Samuel,  born  ^lay  7,  1827,  died  April  30, 
1854;  Thomas  E.,  born  March  21,  1829, 
died  October  13,  1844;  Mrs.  Taylor  is  next 
ill  order  of  birth;  Mary  Emeline,  born  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1S33,  died  in  Iowa,  April  10,  1887; 
James  E..  born  December  8,  1834,  died 
May  30,  1850;  and  John,  born  Xovember 
12,  1836,  died  January  2,  1887. 

Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Taylor  became  the  parents 
of  eight  children:  (  i)  James  A.,  born  June 
6,  1 85 1,  married  Sarah  Berdue,  a  native  of 
Illinois,  and  they  have  six  children.  James 
Albert,  John  A..  Gertrude  E.,  Ella  M..  May 
-\I.  and  Florence  E.  (2)  Mary  M.,  born 
May  2,  1853,  is  the  wife  of  George  Hill,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  a  farmer  and  teacher 
by  occupation.  Of  their  si.x  children  only 
George  and  Arthur  E.  are  now  living.  Roy, 
Eva,  Ella  E.  and  an  infant  are  deceased. 
(3)  Byron  M.,  born  May  20,  1856,  married 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


697 


Fanny  Welch,  a  native  of  ] Hindis,  and  they 
have  two  daiigfhters,  Libhy  and  i-^lsie.  (  4  ) 
John  Augii.'^tiis,  born  Marcli  15.  185S.  mar- 
ried Rosa  McBude,  of  Davenport.  Iowa, 
and  tliey  iiave  tiiree  chikh-en  Hviny-.  Mads^'c. 
Grace  V..  and  Augusta.  (5)  ( )rin  W.,  Imrn 
Marcli  5,  i860,  and  (6)  Ella.  Imrn  .\lav  i_>, 
1862,  are  both  at  home.  (7)  (lenrge  W.. 
born  December  j;.  1864.  died  .'September 
20,  1867.  (8)  Emeline.  born  .March  _>_>. 
1867,  died  Septemlier  17.  the  same  year. 


ERIC  AXDERSO.X'. 

Among  the  leading  and  pnpular  citizens 
of  A\'eller  township  is  Eric  Anderson,  who 
has  efficiently  .served  as  supervisor  of  that 
township  since  1S90.  He  was  born  in  the 
central  part  of  Sweden,  February  5.  1847,  a 
son  of  Jons  and  Christine  (Olsdu)  Ander- 
son, natives  of  the  same  country,  the  birili 
of  the  former  occurring  Xovember  2,  181 1, 
the  latter  Alav  16,  181 5.  In  1850  the  father 
brought  his  family  to  the  United  States,  ami 
located  at  Bishop  Jlill,  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois. During  the  greater  jiart  of  the  time 
from  1850  until  1861,  he  worked  at  his  trade 
as  a  blacksmith,  but  when  the  cohmv  there 
was  disbanded  in  the  latter  year  he  t(jok  up 
farming  in  Weller  township,  continuing  to 
follow  the  same  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred January  10,  1892.  He  was  a  man 
of  exceptionally  tine  physique,  and  was  high- 
ly respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
him.  His  marriage  to  Christine  Olscju  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  nine  children,  six  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  namely :  Christine, 
deceased  wife  of  Eric  Olson;  Olof,  a  farmer 
of  Weller  tDwnshi]).  who  enlisted  in  1861 
ir.  Ciimpanv   D,   Fiftv-seventh   Illinois  Vol- 


unteer Infantry,  and  ser\ed  until  the  close 
<'f  the  war:  .\ndre\\.  who  was  a  member  "f 
the  same  company  and  was  killed  in  battle 
at  Corinth.  .Mississippi,  October  4,  1862; 
Anna,  widow  of  James  W.  Kennedy  and  a 
resident  of  Ckilva,  Illinois;  Eric,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch;  and  Justus,  a  farmer  of  Wel- 
ler township.  The  UK.ithcr  of  these  children 
died  Xo\ember  10,  l8yi. 

During  his  boyhood  Eric  Anderson  at- 
tended the  district  school  at  Bishop  Hill,  and 
on  completing  his  education  worked  with 
h.is  father  on  the  home  farm  until  twenty 
years  of  age.  During  the  following  tiiree 
years  he  was  employed  as  a  farm  hand  l)y 
others,  and  then  enga.ged  in  farming  t\)r  him- 
self iin  a  tract  of  rented  land  in  Weller  town- 
ship. A  few  }ears  later  he  made  his  lirst 
purchase,  consisting  of  twenty-tive  acres, 
which  he  operated  in  addition  to  rented  land. 
He  has  increased  his  landed  possessions  from 
time  to  time  l)y  the  purchase  of  small  tracts, 
until  he  now  has  one  hundred  and  two  acres 
of  well  im])roved  and  valuable  land. 

In  1870,  Mr.  Anderson  was  united  in 
marriage  with  .Miss  Martha  Peterson,  who 
was  also  born  in  Sweden  and  came  to  .\mer- 
ica  alone  in  iXoO,  her  people  never  emigrat- 
ing to  this  coinitry.  ISy  this  union  was  born 
one  child,  .\ndrew.  who  remains  on  the  iiome 
farm.  'J'he  family  attend  the  ]\Iethodist 
I'-ljiscopal  Clnu'ch.  and  are  people  of  promi- 
nence in  the  connnunity  where  they  reside. 
By  bis  ballot  Mr.  .\nderson  supports  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Republican  part  v.  and 
his  fellow  citizens  recognizing  his  worth  and 
ability  ha\e  called  upon  him  to  serve  as  su- 
pervisor of  Weller  towiiship  since  1890.  He 
has  also  filled  the  ofihce  of  school  director  for 
many  years.  He  is  what  the  world  terms  a 
.self-made  man  as  he  started  out  in  life  fi:r 
himself  with  no  capital,  and  the  prosperity 


698 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


that  lias  come  td  him  is  due  entirely  to  liis 
own  inthistry,  |)cr.se\'erance  and  good  man- 
aeement. 


PROFESSOR  AIARTIX   LUTHER. 

In  this  age  nf  intellectual  activity,  when 
success  in  the  husiness  world  depends  not 
upon  mere  physical  prowess  but  upon  men- 
tal activity,  upon  an  ability  to  master  the 
l)rinciples  and  details  of  any  enterprise,  the 
work  of  the  educator  has  l)ecome  of  even 
greater  im]jortance  than  e\"er  before.  Long 
occuping-  a  jirominent  rank  among  the  edu- 
cators of  Henry  county  is  Professor  Martin 
Luther,  of  Geneseo,  who  is  now  filling  the 
important  position  of  county  superintendent 
of  schools. 

A  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born  in 
\A'aukegan,  Lake  county,  December  27, 
1849.  '1"''  '^  <^  ^''•i  "t  J"li"  J-  'i"*^!  Mary 
Ursilla  ( Fehlnian )  Luther,  the  former  a 
nati\-e  of  New  York,  the  latter  nf  France. 
In  i86j  the  family  removed  to  Hooppole. 
Henry  county,  where  the  father  engaged  in 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
Xo^■emI)er  7,  1900.  He  was  a  member  of 
tlie  Evangelical  Association  and  a  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party.  As  one  of  the 
prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  his 
community  he  was  called  upon  to  ser\-e  as 
supervisor  of  Yorktow<n  township,  and  also 
filled  the  office  of  school  director  for  a  num- 
ber of  vears.  His  widow  still  resides  in 
Hoo]ii)ole. 

Pnifessor  Luther  is  the  third  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  the 
■others  being  John  Jacob,  a  resident  of  (jod- 
dard,  Kansas;  Sarah  S.,  wife  of  (ieorge 
luigel,  also  of  Goddard,  Kansas:  \Villiam 
1)..   who  is  married   and  li\es  in   Glasgow, 


Montana;  Mar)-  A.,  wife  of  Edward  Smith, 
nf  Paton,  Iowa;  Louisa  B.,  wife  of  Abra- 
ham Miller,  of  Hooppole,  Illinois;  Hannah 
M.,  who  clied  in  Hooppole,  in  March,  1897; 
Melen,  a  resident  <.)f  Hooppole;  Daniel  E.. 
who  married  Lucy  Hoffman  and  lives  in 
Adel.  Iowa;  Rosetta  A.,  wife  of  George 
Hoffman,  of  Adel.  Iowa;  Irvin  E.,  who 
married  Bertha  Ott  and  resides  in  Walnut, 
llliniiis:  Clinton  F.,  who  married  Nina  With- 
row  and  makes  his  home  in  Sheffield,  Illi- 
nois: and  Josephine  L.,  a  resident  of  Hoop- 
jiole. 

In  the  district  schools  of  Henry  count}' 
Professor  Luther  ac(|uired  his  elementary 
education,  and  later  attended  the  E\-an- 
gelical  College  at  Xai)er\-ille.  Illinois.  On 
lea\-ing  that  institution  he  commenced  his 
educational  wurk.  and  has  since  taught 
school  in  Boone  and  Greene  counties,  Iowa, 
and  in  Bureau,  Whiteside  and  Henry  coun- 
ties, Illinois,  having  devoted  thirty-two 
}-ears  to  that  profession.  He  is  not  only  a 
well-educated  man,  but  possesses,  so  essen- 
tial to  a  successful  educator,  the  faculty  of 
imparting  to  others  the  knowledge  he  has 
ac(|uired.  In  1893  he  was  appointed  coun- 
t}'  superintendent  of  schools  in  Henry  coun- 
ty, to  fill  a  -^acancv  caused  by  the  resigna- 
tion of  his  predecessor,  and  after  creditably 
filling  that  office  for  fifteen  months  was 
elected  to  the  same  position,  in  which  he  is 
now  serving  his  third  term.  W'ith  a  correct 
appreciation  of  the  responsibilities  that  de- 
\ol\-e  upon  the  teacher  he  is  well  fitted  for 
this  office,  antl  is  making  continual  advance- 
ment along  the  lines  of  educational  progress, 
each  year  witnessing  an  improxement  in  his 
methods  of  instruction. 

Professor  Luther  was  married  December 
jy.  1877,  on  the  twentv'-eighth  anniversary 
of  his  birth,  to  Miss  Augusta  L.  Ringel,  who 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


699 


is  one  of  a  family  of  ei^lit  cliiltlren.  tlieir  ])ar- 
erits  l)eing  John  and  Georgena  Frederika 
Matilda  (\'oigt)  Ringel,  who  were  Imumi  in 
Germany  and  came  to  America  in  iS_jo. 
More  extended  mention  is  made  of  her  fam- 
ily in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  Henry 
I.  Ringel  on  another  I'age  of  this  volume. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Luther  ha\'e  four  children, 
namel}':  ]>ernice  M..  horn  January  5,  1879, 
was  appointed  1)y  the  school  hoard  as  assist- 
ant county  superintendent  in  Septemher. 
1900.  and  is  now  aiding  her  father  in  the 
work  of  the  office:  Jessie  1..  Imrn  .\ugust  31. 
1880.  is  teaching  in  the  district  schools  of 
Henry  county;  l.erci\-  }■...  horn  l^'eliruarv  21. 
1883,  is  a  student  in  the  high  school  of  Gen- 
esee; and  Georgiana  M.,  horn  January  13, 
1887.  is  also  attending  school  in  Genesee. 

As  a  Republican  Professor  Luther  takes 
ai:  active  interest  in  political  affairs.  In  liis 
social  relations  he  is  a  member  of  L'tupia 
Lodge,  No.  310,  K.  P. ;  the  Canip  of  Modern 
Woodmen,  Xe.  40;  and  the  Knights  of  the 
(jlolie.  Xo.  176.  ]Ic  is  a  man  ui  high  in- 
tellectuality, bniad  human  sympathies  and 
tolerance,  and  imbued  with  line  sensibilities 
and  clearly  defined  ]irinci]>les.  Honor  and 
ii.tegrity  are  syimnymous  with  his  name  and 
he  enjoys  the  respect,  contidence  and  high 
regard  of  the  people  of  Henry  countw 


HEXDRicK  \.\srixE  flshi-:r. 

The  ancestors  of  this  ijmminent  citizen, 
u.n  biith  the  maternal  and  paternal  sides, 
were  eminent  in  public  aft'airs  in  colonial 
days,  and  bore  an  active  and  honorable  part 
in  the  l\e\-olutionary  war.  The  family  tree 
lirst  tiii.k  root  in  Ibilland.  and  was  trans- 
l)lanted  by  Hendrick  Fisher,  the  great  grand- 


father of  Colonel  Fisher,  who  came  to  this 
country  in  1703.  This  ancestor  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church 
ill  .\merica.  and  was  the  hrst  president  of 
the  old  Queen's  College,  not  Ruter's.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  Re\-olution  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Xew  Jersey  Assembly,  was 
president  nf  the  historic  primeval  congress 
which  met  in  Xew  \nvk  from  173O  until 
independence  was  declared  in  I77'>.  The 
suuly  of  histnry  of  that  period  will  show 
that  nil  man  was  so  frec|uently  honored  and 
entrusted  with  resjionsible  duties  as  this 
sterling  patrint.  The  parents  nf  Colonel 
I'isher  were.  Caleb  Brokaw  and  Alar\-  \'as- 
•tine  Fisher.  The  father  was  bora  at  Bound 
Brook,  New  Jersey,  and  when  a  xnung  man 
remo\ed  tn  W'ilkesliarre.  l'enns\-l\ania.  and 
fur  many  }'ears  was  jjrdminent  in  hnancial 
and  business  atYairs.  He  was  a  pioneer  in 
anthracite  coal  operations.  He  was  an  ar- 
dent -Abolitionist,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Republican  ])arty  for  its  inceptinn. 

Culonel  Fisher  was  educated  in  the  public 
scln)ol  of  Wilkesbarre,  Pennsyh'ania,  where 
he  resided,  and  at  Wyoming  Seminary,  at 
Kingston,  Pennsylvania.  Upon  starting  in 
life  on  his  own  account,  he  first  secured  a  po- 
sition in  the  office  of  the  F.  &  B.  R.  R..  now 
the  D.  L.  &  W.  In  18O7  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  first  at  Aurora  where  he  lived 
for  about  two  years,  and  then  removed  to 
Genesee  where  he  has  resided  e\er  since. 
He  early  engaged  in  the  general  hardware 
business  and  later  in  the  manufacture  of 
stoves,  and  was  the  brst  president  of  the 
Genesee  Stove  Cempan\-,  and  is  interested  in 
real  estate  and  banking.  His  business  af- 
fairs have  been  both  honorable  and  success- 
ful, ric  married  Miss  Abbie  F.  Steele,  onlv 
child  of  Robert  V.  and  Anna  E.  (Hardy) 
Steele.     They  have  three  children  :  Eliza  K., 


700 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Helen  \'..  and  .\ileen  S.  He  has  always 
been  prominent  in  everything  that  pertains 
to  the  advancement  of  the  financial,  social 
the  religious  prosperity  of  the  city,  and  has 
been  called  to  fill  many  positions  of  honor 
and  trust,  such  as  member  of  the  city  council, 
member  of  the  board  of  education,  trustee 
of  the  Northwestern  Normal  School  and  ed- 
itor of  the  Henr}-  County  News. 

He  has  always  been  an  unflinching  Re- 
publican, and  has  distinguished  himself  in 
the  councils  of  that  part  of  the  state.  He 
was  elected  to  the  legislature  in  1887,  and  al- 
though it  was  his  first  term  he  was  assigned 
to  the  chairmanship  of  the  impprtant  com- 
mittee of  canal  and  river  improvement,  be- 
fore which  came  the  important  question  of 
the  cession'  of  the  property  of  the  Illinois 
and  Michigan  canal  to  the  government  in  the 
construction  of  the  Hennepin  canal.  He 
was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
railroads,  one  of  the  most  important  in  the 
house.  In  both  thirty-fifth  and  thirty- 
sixth  sessions  he  introduced  antl  strongly 
supported  bills  which  had  for  their  object 
the  erection  of  an  insane  hospital  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  state,  but  although 
these  bills  were  at  the  time  defeated,  the 
measure  was  made  successful,  through  his 
efforts,  during  his  first  term  in  the  senate. 
This  hospital  is  located  at  W'atertown,  in  his 
district.  In  1894  his  election  to  the  senate 
occurrel.  The  thirty-third  district  he  rep- 
resented, comprised  the  counties  of  Rock 
Island  and  Henry.  His  majority  was  eight 
thousand  one  hundred  and  seventy-four. 
President  Harrison's  majority  in  that  district 
was  onlv  about  three  thousand  five  hundred. 
He  served  as  president  /to  tempore  of  the 
senate  of  the  fortieth  general  assembly 
being  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  Republi- 
can caucus.       He  presided  with  dignity  and 


im])artiality  and  was  governor  of  the  state 
during  the  absence  of  the  governor  and 
lieutenant  governor.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church  and  a  Knight 
Templar.  He  was  commissioned  colonel 
and  aid-de-camp  to  the  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  Illinois  National  Guard,  in 
which  organization  he  is  very  {popular  and 
which  has  no  better  friend.  No  resident  of 
the  state  stands  higher  in  citizenship  and  no 
Repulilican  more  sincere. 


ERNEST  SALZMANN. 

This  well-known  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion I,  Alba  township,  is  one  of  the  worthy 
citizens  that  Germany  has  ftirnished  to  the 
new  world.  He  was  born  in  Loudefeld, 
Hesse-Cassel,  June  11,  1845,  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Anna  Sabina  Salzmann,  also  natives  of 
Germany,  where  the  father  died  in  1856. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  miller  and  farmer. 
The  mother  came  to  America  in  1880,  and 
now  makes  her  home  with  her  son  Christian 
ii.  Alba  township,  five  miles  from  Annawan. 
He  was  married  at  our  subject's  hottse  to 
[Nlartless  Brandow.  There  is  also  another 
brother  Reinhart,  the  oldest  of  the  three, 
^^■ho  married  Eva  Ott  and  came  to  America 
in  1880.  Those  of  the  family  now  de- 
ceased were  Conrad,  Henrich,  Sabina,  !Mol- 
lie  and  Frederick. 

Ernest  Salzmann  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  his  native  land,  and  by  as- 
sisting in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  he 
acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  crossed  the  ocean,  land- 
ing in  New  York  on  the  loth  of  April,  1869, 
and  proceeded  at  once  to  Ottawa,  Illinois, 
where  he  worked  for  a  Mr.  Ackerman,  now 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


701 


of  Geneseo,  liauling  ice  and  iloing  general 
fanii  work.     I'roni  September  of  tliat  year 
until   tile  last  nt  January,    1870,  lie  was  in 
the  enii)!(iy  nf  llenrv  (luemlwl.  oi  .\nnawan 
IdWiiship.  this  CDuntx'.      He  then  ])urchasc(l 
twii  hundred  and  h\e  acres  nf  land  in  Alba 
ti-)wnsliii).  for  which  he  paid  one  thousand 
dollars,  having  brought  with    him    to    this 
country  twelve  hundred  dollars  in  gold  that 
he    had    received    from    his  father's  estate. 
The  timber  had  been  cut  from  the  land,  but 
it  was  a  great  task  to  remove  the  stumps 
and  place  the  land  under  cultivaliDii.     He 
met  with  many  other  hardships  and  difficul- 
ties in  those  eanly  days.      His  land  was  near 
what  is  now  known  as  the  swamp,  fifteen 
hundred  acres  of  which  are  still  uncultivated. 
At  that  time  it  was  suposed  to  have  no  bot- 
tom and  no  teams  ever  crossed  it.     It  was 
inhabited  by  millions  of  black  birds,   wild 
ducks,  geese,  etc..  which  would  flock  to  ^Ir. 
Salzmann's  fields  and  destrii\-  his  corn,  so 
tliat    he    lost    from  three  to   four  hundred 
bushels  each  vear.       This  was  \-ery  discoiu"- 
aging  but  he  determined  to  remain.     Grad- 
ually a  part  of  the  swamp  was  tiled  and  the 
birds  became   scarce.        To   the  cultivation 
and  improvement  of  his  land  Mr.  Salzmann 
lias  devoted  his  energies  until  he  now  has 
one  of  the  l)est  farms  in  this  section  of  the 
state.      In  his  labors  he  was  ably  assisted  by 
iiis  estimable  wife,  who  in  their  early  strug- 
gles often  helped  him  in  the  tields,  and  was 
to  him  a  true  helpmeet.     In  connection  with 
general  farming  he  raises  cattle  for  market. 
On  the  1st  of  January,  1870,  ^Ir.  Salz- 
mann  was  united   in   marriage   with   Miss 
Martha  Lickhart,  of  Ottawa,  Illinois,  who 
was  born  in  the  same  place  as  her  husband, 
."September   15.   1845,  and  in    i86ij  came  to 
.\merica  with  her  parents.  John  and  Annie 
(Sandrock)   Lickhart,  also  natives  of  Ger- 


many. The  mother  died  in  Bureau  county,' 
Illinois,  in  t88o,  and  the  father,  who  was  a 
mason  Iiy  trade,  passed  away  the  following 
vear.  They  had  four  children,  three  sons 
and  one  daughter,  nanich- :  George,  Casper, 
Conrad  and  Martha.  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Salz- 
mann are  the  parents  of  eight  children :  Sa-- 
bana,  born.  2\Iay  11,  1871,  died  April  18, 
1881;  Christian,  born  April  5,  1874,  died 
August  20,  1874:  George,  born  November  4, 
187(1.  died  August  22,  1878:  Mollie,  born 
June  18.  1878,  died  October  24,  18781 
Henry,  born  October  15.  1879:  Lizzie,  Iiorii 
April  II,  i88j.  rheodorc.  born  September 
18,  1883,  and  Amil,  born  February  18,  1887, 
are  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Salzmann  is  insured  in  the  .\etna  and 
Northwestern  Insurance  Companies.  He 
has  filled  the  office  of  road  commissioner, 
and  also  served  as  school  director  for  two 
years,  proving  a  most  efficient  officer.  Re- 
ligiously he  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  of  llooijpole.  and  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing ;uid  representati\e  citizens  of  his  com- 
ir.unity  he  is  certainly  deserving  of  promi- 
nent mention  in  the  history  of  his  adopted 
count  v. 


llUCill  .VRMSTROXG. 

Xumbercd  among  the  prominent  citizens 
and  successful  agriculturists  of  Cornwall 
township  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review,  his  home  being  on  sec- 
tion 27,  where  he  owns  and  operates  a  val- 
uable farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
He  was  born  in  Cornwall  township.  April 
5.  1859.  His  father.  Hugh  Armstrong.  Sr., 
v/as  a  native  of  Ireland,  Ijorn  in  1816.  In 
■'^/i.i  'it^  came  to  .\merica.  sailing  from  Liv- 
erjjool   to   Xew    ^'ork,   and   first  located   in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Piiiladeljiliia.  Penns_\l\-ania.  where  for  some 
tune  lie  was  employed  in  a  rolling  mill.  There 
he  married  Miss  Mariette  Livingston,  a  na- 
tive of  that  city,  and  in  1855  they  came 
to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  locating  in  Corn- 
wall township,  one-half  mile  west  of  the  pres- 
ent home  of  our  subject.  The  father  first 
purchased  forty  acres  of  unimproved  land,  on 
which  he  erected  a  log  cabin,  and  at  once 
commenced  to  impro\e  his  property,  doing 
his  plowing  with  an  ox  team.  Later  he  sold 
that  place  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  wild 
land,  which  after  placing  under  cultivation  he 
sold.  His  next  place  was  an  improved  farm 
of  one  hundred  acres,  and  on  disposing  of 
that  he  bought  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  which  he  retained  throughout  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  adding  to  it  from  time 
to  time  until  he  had  five  hundred  acres  of 
well  improved  and  valuable  land  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1884.  His 
remains  were  interred  in  Liberty  cemetery. 
His  wife  died  in  1879  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven  years,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  same 
place.  He  was  engaged  in  stock-raising  as 
Avell  as  farming  and  found  that  branch  of 
his  business  quite  profitable.  By  his  ballot 
he  supported  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  always  took  a  com- 
mendable interest  in  public  affairs,  as  every 
true  American  citizen  should. 

The  suljject  of  this  sketch  is  the  second 
iii  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  four  children, 
the  others  being  as  follows:  George,  born 
in  Philadeliihia,  Pennsylvania,  in  1S54,  mar- 
ried ^Matilda  Fronk,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and 
died  August  19.  1900,  leaving  eleven  chil- 
dren. ]^Iartha.  born  in  1861,  died  in  1890, 
and  was  buried  near  her  parents  in  Liberty 
cemetery.  NN'illiam,  born  in  1862,  married 
Ada  Dynes  and  died  in  1897.  leaving  a  wid- 
ow and  one  child  living  in  Atkinson. 


Hugh  Armstrong,  whose  name  stands  at 
the  head  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  upon  his 
father's  farm  and  early  acquired  an  excellent 
knowledge  of  all  the  duties  which  fall  to  the 
lot  of  the  agriculturist,  while  his  literary 
education  was  obtained  in  the  local  schools. 
His  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
is  improved  with  good  and  substantial  build- 
ings, in  fact  everything  about  the  place  tes- 
tifies to  the  industry  and  progressive  spirit 
of  the  owner,  who  is  accounted  one  of  the 
most  thorough  and  skillful  agriculturists  of 
the  community.  Since  attaining  his  major- 
ity he  has  always  identified  himself  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  has  most  creditably 
filled  the  office  of  school  director.  On  the 
1 2th  of  October,  1881,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Anna  Dynes,  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Crosby)  Dynes,  of 
Atkinson.  By  this  union  there  is  one  child, 
^lartha,  born  in  June,  1893. 


HEXRY  J.  RIXGEL. 

Henry  J.  Ringel,  a  successful  farmer 
residing  on  section  35,  Yorktown  township, 
was  born  in  Xew  York  on  the  29th  of  March, 
1852,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Rmgel,  a  na- 
tive of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  who 
came  to  America  in  1848  and  settled  in  X^ew 
York.  In  185 1  he  married  ]Miss  Georgiana 
^  oigt.  a  native  of  Prussia,  Germany,  and  a 
daughter  of  Frederick  \  oigt,  who  became  a 
resident  of  Peoria,  Illinois,  where  he  lived 
retired  until  called  from  this  life  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety  years.  John  Ringel 
also  removed  to  Peoria  county,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  of  broom  making  and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


703 


also  engaged  in  farming  until  1865,  when 
he  came  to  Henry  county  and  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  36.  Yorktown  town- 
ship. He  kept  adding  to  his  proi>erty  until 
he  liad  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres, 
and  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  its  operation.  He  died 
in  1899,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years, 
and  was  buried  in  Hoopjiole  cemetery.  His 
wife  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  with 
our  subject. 

The  nine  children  born  to  this  worthy 
couple  were  as  follows:  Henry  J.,  our  sub- 
ject; Mary,  the  wife  of  John  P>rown.  of 
Yorktown  township;  a  daughter  who  died  in 
infancy;  Augusta,  wife  of  Martin  Luther, 
county  superintendent  of  schools  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Geneseo;  Minnie,  wife  of  Reuben 
Ott,  of  Oklahoma ;  John,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  years;  William,  a  manufacturer 
of  hardware  novelties  at  Peoria ;  Rebecca, 
wife  of  George  Lrban,  of  Yorktown  town- 
ship; and  Emma,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years. 

Henry  J.  Ringel  was  only  six  montlis  old 
when  brought  from  the  state  of  Xew  York 
tc  Illinois  by  his  parents,  and  was  thirteen 
years  of  age  when  the  family  took  up  their 
residence  in  this  county.  He  liegan  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  Peoria  county ; 
later  attended  the  public  schools  of  Henry 
county;  and  subse(|uently  became  a  student 
at  Xaperville  College.  Aher  completing  his 
education  he  worked  with  his  fatiier  on  the 
home  farm  until  he  attained  his  majority. 

On  the  3d  of  February.  1887.  Mr.  Rin- 
gel was  united  in  marriage  w  itli  Miss  Katie 
E.  \'etter,  a  native  of  Henry  county  and  a 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary  (  Haeffer ) 
\'etter.  who  were  married  in  tliis  county. 
The  father  was  born  in  Germany  and  was 
sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  crossed  the  At- 


lantic and  took  up  his  residence  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, coming  to  Henry  county.  Illinois. 
twelve  years  later.  The  mother  is  a  native 
of  the  Keystone  state.  They  are  the  parents 
of  five  children :  Kate  E.,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject; John,  a  farmer  of  Alba  township;  Min- 
nie, a  school  teacher  residing  with  her  par- 
ents; Anna  and  Alfred,  both  at  home.  L'nto 
^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Ringel  were  born  five  children, 
namely :  John,  now  attending  school ;  Clay- 
ton, who  died  at  the  age  of  two  weeks:  \'era 
Standly  and  Gertrude. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Ringel 
was  working  for  his  father  and  he  and  his 
wife  began  their  domestic  life  on  the  old 
homestead.  He  has  since  purchased  the  in- 
terests of  the  other  heirs  in  this  place,  and  in 
its  operation  has  met  with  excellent  suc- 
cess. He  not  only  settled  his  father's  estate, 
but  was  also  appointed  administrator  of  the 
Swanson  estate,  being-  noted  for  his  reliabil- 
ity and  sound  judgment  in  the  management 
of  business  affairs.  Like  his  father  he  is  a 
stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  ])arty, 
and  has  been  a  delegate  to  numerous  county 
and  state  conventions.  He  has  served  as 
school  director  nine  years,  and  has  also  filled 
the  office  of  town  clerk,  ta.x  collector  and 
assessor,  holding  the  last  named  position  at 
the  present  time.  Religiously  both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  L"nited  Evangel- 
ical Church,  and  socially  he  belongs  to  Hoop- 
pole  Camp,  Xo.  126,  il.  \V.  A.,  of  Avhich  he 
has  been  clerk  ten  years.  He  is  one  of  the 
mtist  popular  and  infiuential  citizens  of  his 
c.  nnnunitv. 


GEORGE  ARXETT. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  agri- 
culturists of  Henry  county  is  George  Arnett, 
who  for  over  si.xty  vears  has  been  closely 


7C4 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


identified  with  the  liistury  of  the  county, 
while  his  name  is  inseparalily  connected  witli 
its  farming  interests.  He  is  a  man  of  keen 
discrimination  and  sound  judginent.  and  hi-- 
proonounced  business  ability  and  excellent 
management  have  brought  to  hifti  a  high  de- 
gree of  success,  so  that  he  is  now  one  of  the 
wealthiest  citizens  of  Geneseo,  where  he  is 
now  living  a  retired  life. 

Mr.  Arnett  was  born  in  \\  arren.  W  ar- 
ren  county.  Pennsylvania,  June  6.  1833.  and 
is  a  son  of  Louis  and  Clara  (Schotte)  .Ar- 
nett, natives  of  France  and  German},  re- 
spectively. On  first  coming  to  this  state  the 
fatlier  located  in  Chicago,  at  which  time  it 
was  a  mere  \illage,  and  he  was  offered  a 
liouse  and  lot  near  the  present  post  office  for 
six  months'  work,  but  refused  the  offer.  In 
1837  he  came  to  Henry  county  and  took  up 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  government 
land  in  Loraine  township.  Lpon  the  wild 
unbroken  prairie,  he  built  a  log  house,  and 
commenced  the  cultivation  of  his  land.  La- 
ter he  added  more  land  to  this  farm,  hut  final- 
ly sold  the  place  and  purchased  a  farm  in 
Whiteside  county.  There  his  wife  died  in 
March.  1866,  and  about  four  years  afterward 
he  disposed  of  all  his  farming  interests  and 
went  to  live  with  his  son-in-law.  David  Hel- 
ler. Being  unable  to  speak  a  word  of  Eng- 
lish on  coming  to  America,  he  met  with  many 
hindrances  in  business  transactions,  but  he 
finally  ac(|uired  a  knowledge  of  the  language 
through  his  own  unaided  efforts,  and  could 
converse  very  fluently,  thus  showing  what 
can  be  accomplished  if  one  has  persever- 
ance and  a  determination  to  succeed.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church, 
and  in  politics  was  first  a  \\  hig  and  later  a 
Republican.  He  died  in  January,  1868. 
honoreil  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
'     George   Arnett,   of   this   review,    is   the 


eleventh  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  were  born 
in  Germany,  the  others  in  Warren,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  the  parents  located  on  their 
emigration  to  America.  The  children  were 
Louis,  who  died  in  Warren,  Pennsylvania; 
Jacob,  who  died  in  Geneseo,  Illinois,  in  1899; 
-Mar\.  will)  wedded  Samuel  Cogswell,  and 
ixjth  died  in  the  Keystone  state ;  .\nthony,  a 
resident  of  Colorado ;  Catherine,  who  mar- 
ried David  Heller,  and  lived  for  some  years 
in  Loraine  township,  this  county,  but  was  a 
resident  of  Geneseo  at  the  time  of  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  1900;  Joseph,  whose 
hcime  adjoins  that  of  our  subject  in  Geneseo; 
John,  who  died  in  this  county  in  1898;  Phil- 
lip, who  died  in  California  in  1850;  Susan, 
w  ho  married  Simeon  Heller,  a  brother  of 
David,  and  both  died  in  Henr\-  cnunt}';  \\  ill- 
iam,  who  died  in  Loraine  township  in 
1898,  while  his  widow  is  now  a  resident  of 
Geneseo;  George,  our  subject;  and  Samuel, 
also  a  resident  of  Geneseo. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  George 
Arnett  had  scarcely  any  educational  advan- 
tages, and  the  knowledge  he  has  acquired 
has  been  obtained  in  the  practical  school  of 
experience.  He  remained  on  the  home  farm 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  when  on  the 
28th  of  March,  18-53,  '^^  started  for  Cali- 
fornia with  fifty  dollars  in  his  pocket,  this 
being  the  capital  with  which  he  began  life 
for  himself.  He  crossed  the  plains  and  over 
the  mountains  in  a  large  covered  wagon. 
known  as  a  ])rairie  schooner,  drawn  by  se\-- 
eral  teams  of  horses.  .\s  there  were  no 
liridges  the  rivers  had  to  be  forded,  and  to 
keep  the  wagons  from  running  over 
tlie  horses  in  going  down  the  moun- 
tains, trees  had  to  be  chained  to  them, 
and  trailed  behind  tops  foremost.  The 
comi)any     with     which     Mr.     Arnett    tra\- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


705 


(?'e(l  liad  several  fights  with  the  Iiuhans. 
and  their  liorses  were  stnlcn  1)\-  the  red 
men  a  nunil)er  of  limes,  l)iU  were  atterward 
recaptured.  In  1854  during  his  residence  in 
CaHfi)rnia,  lie  participated  in  one  of  the 
IntHan  wars.  On'  his  way  to  that  state  he 
stopped  in  Oregon  where  lie  was  employed 
as  a  farm  lahorer  a  short  time.  Here  he 
contracted  fever  and  ague,  from  which  he 
suffered  fnr  two  weeks.  He  hought  an  In- 
dian pony  nn  which  he  traveled  o\er  Cnt.' 
Inmdred  miles  through  a  trackless  wilder- 
ness, carrying  his  provisions  with  him.  He 
had  nails  driven  into  the  heels  of  his  hoots 
for  spurs.  On  his  arrival  at  the  (iolden  (iate 
Mr.  Arnett  found  employment  with  his 
brother  at  seventy-five  dollars  per  month, 
liaving  charge  of  his  pack  train  up  in  the 
mountains  for  six  months.  He  then  pur- 
chased the  train  and  outfit  from  his  brother, 
and  engaged  in  the  same  business  on  his  o\\  n 
account  with  good  success.  He  can  relate 
many  thrilling  and  interesting  experiences 
of  his  life  in  the  far  west. 

After  about  four  years  spent  in  Califor- 
nia, Mr.  .-\rnett  returned  to  Henry  county, 
Illinois,  arri\ing  home  just  before  Christmas 
of  1856,  and  took  charge  of  the  farm.  His 
first  purchase  of  land  consisted  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Lorainc  ti  i\\  nsliip, 
which  he  bought  of  his  father.  Duriu'^'  the 
war  he  had  the  misfortune  to  have  his  house 
destroyed  1;_\'  fire.  In  the  smumer  of  18C14  it 
was  impossible  to  find  men  willing  to  work 
ui)on  the  farm,  and  his  wife  dro\-e  the  horses 
to  the  reaper,  while  he  and  his  hired  man 
bound  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of 
grain.  As  wheat  advanced  in  price  to  three 
dollars  per  bushel,  he  was  enabled  to  get  a 
good  start  in  life.  From  time  to  time  he 
added  to  his  landed  possessions  until  he  now 
f>w  ns  thirteen  hundred  acres  of  good  land  in 


Henry  county,  and  also  has  twenty-four  hun- 
dred anil  eiglity  acres  of  land  under  cultiva- 
tion in  Minnesota.  In  connection  with  farm- 
ing he  has  engaged  in  stock-raising,  his 
specialty  being  fine  Durham  cattle,  and  he 
has  been  most  successful  in  this  as  well  as 
other  business  transactions. 

(3n  the  15th  of  November,  1857,  Mr.  Ar- 
nett married  Miss  Margaret  Sieben,  who 
was  born  N'ovember  _',  1841,  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  .\pollonia  (  ( iabel  )  Sieben,  of 
whom  extended  mention  is  made  in  the 
sketch  of  Leonard  .Sieben,  on  another  page 
of  this  volume.  Six  children  ble-s  this  union, 
namely:  (i)  Harriet  M.,  born  September 
IJ,  1858,  in  Loraine  township,  is  now  the 
wife  of  William  Hudnell,  a  druggist  of 
Helena.  Montana,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter. Inez.  I  J)  Julia,  horn  January  8.  1862, 
is  the  wife  of  Alnmnt  A.  Row.  of  Washing- 
ton, Iowa.  an<l  thev  ha\e  four  children,  Will- 
ma,  .\rnett,  Marguerite  and  Catherine.  (3) 
Frank,  born  .\ugust  8.  18^)5,  was  married 
June  (),  1900.  to  Dr.  Flma  Brockman.  who  is 
a  graduate  of  the  Western  Dental  College 
of  Kansas  City.  Misst)uri.  He  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  cattle  business  in  Culbertson, 
I\Iontana.  (4)  Alberta,  born  February  2, 
1870.  is  the  wife  of  P.  W.  Kempster,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  hardware  and  inijilement 
business  in  I'rophetstow  n,  lllir.ois.  and  they 
have  three  children  :  C.  C.  .\riK'tt  and  Oliver. 
(  5  )  I'crry  F...  liorn  February  J,  1874.  is  now 
a  successful  farmer  of  I'Jock  count)-,  Minne- 
sota. His  father  gave  him  a  farm  of  three 
Inmdred  and  twenty  acres,  and  to  this  he  has 
since  added  a  tract  of  similiar  size.  (6) 
Fk)yd  H.,  born  March  31,  1881.  makes  his 
home  with  his  parents,  and  is  iinw  studying 
pharmacy  at  the  Xorthwestern  Uni\ersit\  of 
Chicago. 

By   his   ballot    .Mr.    .\rnett   supports   the 


7o6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  taken  quite  an  active  interest  in 
local  politics.  He  served  as  school  director 
in  Phenix  townsliip  for  twenty  years,  where 
he  also  served  as  supervisor  eight  years. 
Commencing  life  in  limited  circumstances, 
he  has  made  his  own  way  to  the  front  rank 
ill  business  affairs,  having  the  ability  to  plan 
wisely  and  execute  with  energy,  which  char- 
acteristics never  fail  to  bring  success.  After 
a  useful  and  honorable  career  he  can  now 
well  afford  to  lay  aside  business  cares  and 
enjoys  the  fruits  of  former  toil.  Mrs.  Arnett 
is  a  member  of  tiie  ^lethodist  Episcopal 
Church. 


JOHX  J.  WEAVER. 

Prominent  among  the  business  men  of 
Geneseo  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review.  As  a  dealer  in  poultry 
and  fine  horses  he  is  now  doing  a  success- 
ful and  profitable  business.  He  is  a  man  of 
superior  executive  ability  and  soimd  judg- 
ment, and  occupies  an  enviable  position  in  the 
business  world. 

^Ir.  Weaver  was  born  at  Hampton,  Rock 
Island  county,  Illinois,  on  the  26th  of  July. 
1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Wei- 
gand)  Weaver,  both  natives  of  Germany. 
The  father  was  1)orn  September  22,  1829, 
and  was  only  h\e  years  old  when  he  came 
w  ith  his  parents  to  the  new  world,  the  voyage 
lasting  nine  weeks.  In  1838  the  family  lo- 
cated in  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  taking 
up  their  residence  in  Moline  when  it  con- 
tained only  four  or  five  houses,  while  most  of 
the  country  round  about  was  still  in  its  prim- 
itive condition.  There  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  John  Weaver,  died  in  1840.  His 
widow  subsequently  married  a  ^Ir.  Yost. 
^vho    purchased    land    on    Hampton    Bluff's 


and  in  the  midst  of  the  heavy  timber  de- 
^■eloped  a  farm.  John  Weaver  lived  with  his 
mother  and  step-father  until  twenty-one 
vears  of  age,  and  then  entered  the  employ 
of  ^I.  W.  Wright,  who  conducted  a  store  and 
packing  house  in  Hapton.  Mr.  Weaver  was 
subsequently  engaged  in  the  pork  packing 
business  for  many  years,  and  in  1869  he  came 
to  Henry  county,  becoming  one  of  the  exten- 
sive and  successful  farmers  here.  In  1891 
he  retired  from  active  labor,  and  has  since 
made  his  home  with  our  subject  in  Geneseo, 
where  he  is  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  In 
two  different  townships  he  served  as  road 
commissioner  for  many  years.  He  was  reared 
ii;  the  Catholic  Church  and  still  adheres  to 
that  faith.  His  estimable  wife  held  mem- 
bership in  the  Lutheran  Church.  She  was 
born  January  31,  1830,  in  Germany,  and 
came  to  America  with  her  parents  in  1847. 
Her  death  occurred  on  the  20th  of  February, 
1896.  She  was  a  devoted  wife,  an  excellent 
mother,  and  obliging  neighbor,  who  was 
liighly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  her.  In  the  family  were  only  two  chil- 
dren, of  whom  our  subject  is  the  younger. 
His  sister  ^laggie  C.  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
Giossenburg,  who  holds  an  excellent  position 
in  the  cutlery  works  at  Fremont,  Ohio, 
and  thev  have  two  childre.i,  Elmer  J.  and 
Delia  ^i. 

From  the  age  'of  eleven  years  John  J. 
\\'ea\er  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  and  his 
education  was  obtained  in  the  schools  of 
Hampton  and  Geneseo.  When  his  school 
davs  were  over,  he  turned  his  attention  to- 
agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  successfiilly 
carried  on  until  1894,  when  he  sold  his  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres  and  invested  his  cap- 
ital in  his  present  business,  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  Farber  &  Weaver,  of  Geneseo.  Later 
lie  -old  his  interest  to  his  partner,  and  has 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


707 


since  carried  on  operatioi.s    in    connection 

with  L.  F.  (ilawe.    They  deal  in  poultry  and 

es'ss  and  also  handle  track  horses.    Although 

*  •  ... 

they  ha\-e  met  with  much  opposition   trom 

similar  tirms  in  the  county,  they  ha\-e  al- 
ready built  up  .an  excellent  trade,  and  their 
business  proves  quite  profitable. 

In  1891  Mr.  Weaver  married  Miss  Laura 
.\.  Way,  a  native  of  Geneseo  and  a  daughter 
of  E.  M.  and  M.  E.  ^^'ay,  of  this  city.  By 
this  uni(5n  were  born  twin  daughters,  Mary 
L.  and  Minerva  C.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  June  ly.  1894.  at  the  age  of  thirty-two 
vears.  She  was  a  \erv  devout  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  sang  in  the 
choir  and  took  an  active  part  in  all  church 
work.  Prior  to  her  marriage  she  success- 
fully engaged  in  teaching  for  several  years, 
two  years  of  this  time  being  a  teacher  in  the 
city  schools  of  Geneseo.  She  was  an  excel- 
lent Wdinan.  and  was  beloved  liy  all  who 
knew  her.  On  the  7th  of  June,  1896,  Mr. 
Weaver  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Addie  M.  Cooper,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Geneseo  and  a  daughter  of  the  late 
J.  II.  Cooper,  of  this  county.  Our  subject 
and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  he  is  also  con- 
nected with  Stewart  Lodge,  No.  92,  F.  &  A. 
M.  Me  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  ])o- 
htical  affairs,  and  has  always  cast  his  ballot' 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  man 
whose  genial  temperament,  sound  judgment 
and  well-iJni\ed  integrity  ha\e  brought  him 
the  esteem  and  friendship  of  a  host  of 
friends  far  and  near. 


WILLIAM  J.  LEWIS. 

William  J.  Lewis,  decea.sed,  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  most  substantial  and 
pnispenins  agriculturists  of  Cornwall  tmvn- 


ship,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most  highly  es- 
teemed citizens.  He  was  born  in  Ohio, 
on  the  i8th  of  June,  1849,  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  Elizabeth  (Cozad)  Lewis.  In  185J 
he  came  to  this  state  with  his  father  and  took 
up  his  residence  in  Cornwall  township,  Hen- 
ry county,  where  he  continued  to  make  his 
home  until  called  to  his  final  rest  September 
().  1896. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  near  his  boyhood  home,  and  upon 
his  father's  farm  early  ac(|uired  an  excel- 
lent kmiwledge  of  agricultural  pursuits, 
'riiniughont  his  business  career  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  met  with 
marked  success  in  his  labors,  having  accum- 
ulated at  the  time  of  his  deatli  four  hundred 
and  ten  acres  of  land,  all  under  excellent  cul- 
tivation and  well  im]!ro\ed.  and  some  real 
estate  in  Geneseo. 

On  the  r)th  of  March.  1869,  Mr.  Lewis 
v'.'is  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Cia_\-pocl,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  they  be- 
came the  ])arents  of  four  children,  namely: 
Juhvard  \\'..  born  b'ebrnary  7.  1870.  is  the 
executor  of  his  father's  estate,  and  is  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  farming  and  stock-rai.s- 
ing  in  section  6,  Cornwall  township.  He 
has  filled  the  offices  of  tax  collector  and  road 
commissioner  and  is  one  of  the  leading 
young  farmers  of  his  coninmnity.  On  the 
f.th  of  .March.  1805,  he  married  Mary  E. 
\\'oo<I,  a  d,-iughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
rilowlman)  Wood  of  Rock  Island.  James 
Frederick,  born  September  4,  1S71,  married 
Fanny  C.  Wonderly,  a  native  of  this  county, 
and  is  now  living  in  Geneseo  township, 
w  here  he  has  a  fine  farm  of  one  Inmdred  aiul 
forty  acres  besides  eight}'  ;icres  of  well  cul- 
tivated land  in  Cornwall  township.  Perry 
Theodore,  born  June  1'').  1874,  married  Hil- 
da l!ork<'ren.  a  iialiw  of  this  st;ne.  and  rhev 


708 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


live  in  Cnrnwall  Inwnslii]).  David  Harry, 
])i>rn  October  i().  1S77,  married  Vir_<jinia  C. 
\\'o()d,  a  sister  of  his  brother's  wife.  For 
his  second  wife  !Mr.  Lewis  married  ]Miss 
E\-eline  Doyle,  a  nati\e  of  Penns\-l\ania, 
^vho  still  sur\i\es  him  and  makes  her  home 
in  Genesee. 

]\Ir.  Lewis  gave  his  jKjlitical  sup])ort  to 
the  men  and  measures  of  Democracv.  and 
took  quite  an  active  interest  in  local  politics. 
He  capably  and  satisfactorily  filled  a  number 
of  township  offices  of  honor  and  trust,  and 
was  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  represen- 
tative citizens  of  his  community. 


JACOB  JACOBSOX. 

Among  \\'eller  township's  prominent  and 
influential  citizens  none  stand  higher  in  pub- 
lic esteem  than  the  gentleman  whose  name 
introduces  this  sketch.  He  was  born  on  the 
J4th  of  May,  1859,  in  the  Bishop  Hill  colony, 
of  which  his  father.  Jacob  Jacob.son,  Sr..  was 
one  of  the  founders,  ha\ing  liicated  here  in 
1847.  The  liirth  of  the  father  occurred  in 
Sweden,  March  18.  1817,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1846  he  came  with  the  colony  to  America. 
He  left  Sweden  in  charge  of  a  company  of 
the  colonists  in  the  latter  part  of  the  summer 
of  1846,  sailing  from  Stockholm  on  a  small 
sailing  vessel.  \Mien  within  a  day's  voyage 
of  land  they  were  caught  in  a  terrific  storm 
which  completely  disabled  the  vessel  and  car- 
ried away  the  rudder,  rendering  them  entire- 
ly helpless.  The  captain  and  crew  gave  the 
;>hip  up  as  lost,  but  fi\'e  of  the  company,  in- 
cluding Mr.  Jacnbson,  went  down  in  the  hold 
and  hunted  up  iron  .and  material  with  which 
they  set  to  work  and  repaired  the  rudder. 
The  vessel  arrived  in  New  York  shorth'  be- 
fore Clu-istmas.  four  weeks  after  the  break- 


ing of  the  rudder,  and  after  having  been  on 
the  ocean  over  thirteen  weeks.  The  major 
portion  of  the  company  was  left  in  Brooklyn 
until  spring,  while  Mr.  Jacobson,  with  a 
party  of  thirty  of  the  strongest  and  most 
robust  of  the  men  left  Xew  York  shortly 
after  New  Years,  and  set  out  for  their  des- 
tination. Bishop  Hill.  From  Xew  York  to 
Albany  they  traveled  fiy  fioat,  after  which 
they  traveled  mostly  by  rail  and  stage  until 
they  reached-  Toledo,  Ohio,  the  remainder 
of  the  journey  being  made  on  foot,  reach- 
ing BishoiJ  Hill  in  the  middle  of  February. 
1847.  They  were  accompanied  bv  one 
woman,  Sohia  Shon.  who  did  the  cooking 
for  them. 

Mr.  Jacobson  was  one  of  the  seven  trus- 
tees of  the  colonx'  and  had  charge  of  their 
horses  and  oxen,  each  of  the  company  be- 
ing assigned  some  special  work  as  best  suited 
their  abilities.  After  the  breaking  up  of  the 
colon}-  in  i860,  he  embarked  in  general  mer- 
chandising, in  partnership  with  Swan  Swan- 
son,  who  still  survives,  and  carried  on  the 
business  until  1872,  when  owing  to  the  ill 
health  of  Mr.  Jacobson  the  partnership  was 
dissohed.  At  the  time  the  colony  broke  up 
he  came  into  possession  of  considerable  land 
in  \\'eller  township,  which  he  later  added  to 
by  purchase,  and  which  was  successfully  op- 
erated imder  his  personal  supervision^  and 
was  con\-erted  into  one  of  the  most  highlv 
cultivated  tracts  in  the  locality.  He  made  a 
soecialty  of  raising  stock  and  broom  corn, 
and  met  with  marked  success  in  the  latter 
\enture.  Having  had  to  work  hard  from 
early  boyhood  he  was  self-educated,  but  was 
well  informed  on  the  leading  questions  and 
issues  of  the  day.  He  was  pufilic-spirited 
and  prog'ressix'e.  and  took  quite  an  acti\e  and 
prominent  part  in  public  affairs.  He  was 
t)ne  of  the  original  trustees  of  the  Bishop 
Hill  colony,  and  after  the  breaking  up  of  the 


JACOB  JACOBSON. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

URBANA 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


711 


cnlnnv  was  supervisor  of  W'eller  townsliip 
twii  terms  and  constable  of  the  townsliip. 
He  was  one  of  tlie  directors  who  superin- 
tended the  erection  of  tlie  scliool  building  at 
that  place,  and  was  prominently  identified 
with  all  enterprises  for  the  good  of  the  com- 
munity. In  1873  he  united  with  the  Meth- 
odist Ejiiscopal  Church  and  was  an  acti\e 
worker  and  supporter  of  the  same  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  December  15,  18S3. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Plelena  Peterson,  was  born  Januar_\-  25, 
i8ji,  and  died  September  8,  1888.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  but  our 
subject  is  now  the  only  survivor,  the  three 
daughters  having  died  in  infancy.  Two  of 
the  father's  brothers  also  came  to  .America 
with  the  Bishop  Hill  colony,  these  being 
Olof.  who  died  of  cholera  in  1852  ;  and  Swan 
Bjorklund.  who  died  in  this  count\-  in  1880. 
During  his  boyhood  and  youth  .Mr. 
Jacoljson.  of  this  review,  jjursued  liis  studies 
in  the  jjublic  schools  of  Bishop  Hill.  As 
soon  as  large  enough  to  be  of  ?ny  assistance 
he  commenced  to  aid  in  the  farm  work,  and 
for  four  years  he  engaged  in  clerking,  first 
in  the  stores  of  Bishop  Hill  and  later  in 
Galva,  though  always  making  his  home  in 
the  former  place,  .\fter  the  death  of  his 
father  he  operated  the  farm  for  two  \ears. 
and  then  rented  it  and  embarked  in  the  lum- 
ber business,  which  lie  carried  on  for  three 
years.  Since  then  he  has  ])ractically  lived 
retired  though  he  continues  to  personallv 
manage  his  busine.'^s  affairs.  He  has  made 
a  number  of  valuable  and  useful  imjirove- 
meiits  upon  the  old  homestead  and  has  a 
very  comfortable  home.  He  is  one  of  the 
stockholders  and  directors  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Gaha,  and  has  been  called 
u])on  t:>  administer  several  estates,  his  fel- 
low citizens  having  the  utmost  confidence  in 
him. 


On  the  2nd  of  September.  1886,  Mr. 
Jacohson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Hannah  \'.  W'igren,  who  was  born  near  At- 
tica, Indiana,  March  11.  1859.  Her  father. 
Rev.  John  Wigren,  was  a  prominent  minister 
of  the  Swedish  Methodist  Epi.scopal  Church 
and  one  of  the  ])ioneers  of  Fountain  countv, 
Indiana,  but  i.--  now  li\ii'g  reliretl  in  Chica- 
go with  his  wife  and  one  son.  He  reared 
a  large  family,  of  whom  three  sons  were 
Methodist  Episcopal  ministers,  while  an- 
other is  connected  with  the  bank  at  Galva. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacohson  have  three  children: 
Helena  C.  Margaret  E.  and  Robert  E.,  wdio 
are  being  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
Bishop  Hill. 

.Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Jacob- 
son  has  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  several  times  been  a  delegate  to 
county  and  congressional  conventions,  while 
in  i<)00  he  w^as  a  delegate  to  the  state  con- 
vention at  Peoria.  His  father  also  served 
as  a  delegate  to  the  conxentions  of  his  party. 
( )ur  subject  has  been  honored  with  a  number 
of  local  offices,  which  he  has  most  capably 
and  satisfactorily  filled.  In  March,  1889, 
lie  was  appointed  school  treasurer,  and  has 
been  re-apix)inted  to  that  position  every  two 
vears  since.  He  was  census  enumerator  of 
W'eller  townslii])  in  1900.  and  was  for  nine 
\ear>  commissioner  of  highways  and  treas- 
urer of  the  same.  Mr.  Jac(il)snn  is  now  an 
acti\e  ;ind  intlucntial  member  o(  the  village 
board  i>t  r.ishop  Hill,  and  at  various  times 
has  served  as  trustee  and  clerk,  having  al- 
ways been  prominently  identified  with  the  in- 
terests of  the  community.  He  is  president 
of  the  Swedish-American  Republican 
League  of  Henry  county;  and  is  recorder  of 
Se\a  Legion  Xo.  6.  Select  Knights  of 
.\merica.  of  Hisho])  Hill.  He  is  also  a 
Master  Mason.  Ijelonging  to  the  lodge  at 
Galva.      His  wife  holds  mcmljerslii])  in  the 


712 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Methodist  Epi.sco])al  Church,  uf  which  lie  is 
a  Hberal  siip])i)rter,  and  while  the  church  was 
being-  rehuilt  in  1900  he  servetl  as  a  member 
of  the  buikling-  ctimniittee  and  treasurer.  He 
is  of  a  \ery  genial  and  social  nature,  and  is 
held  in  high  regard  b_\-  all  who  know  him. 


\\"lLLIAi\[  LAMB. 

Many  years  ag'o  there  came  to  Henry 
count}'  William  Lamb  and  family  whose 
early  home  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  .\t- 
lantic.  He  was  born  in  Selkirk.  Scotland, 
on  the  3(1  of  November,  iSio.  and  there  he 
g;rew  to  manhood.  .Vt  Edinburg,  he  was 
married  July  i,  1834.  his  wife,  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet M.  I-^amli,  being  a  native  of  that  cit}', 
born  January  26,  1816.  In  1849  they 
crossed  the  ocean  to  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
and  six  years  later  came  to  Henry  count}-, 
Illinois,  locating-  at  .\unawan,  where  Mr. 
Lamb  was  serving  as  agent  for  the  Rock 
Island  Railroad  at  the  tin-ie  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  November  22.  1856.  In 
1866  his  wife  was  appointed  postmistress  of 
that  place,  and  continued  to  fill  the  office  un- 
til she  was  called  to  her  final  resting  place 
July  18.  1900,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  were  liorn  nine 
children,  namely :  Catherine,  born  in  Sel- 
kirk, Scotland,  May  21,  1835,  is  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Stevens,  of  Annawan;  ^\'illian1,  bi^rn 
in  Selkirk,  June  14.  1837.  died  in  Annawan, 
October  9,  1854;  Mary  R.,  born  in  Selkirk, 
March  29,  1839,  was  married,  January  29, 
1863,  to  Theron  Smith,  and  died  July  18. 
1876;  Margaret  B.,  born  in  Galashiels.  Scot- 
land, July  15,  1841,  was  married  October  4, 
1862,  to  John  L.  Dow,  a  prominent  hard- 


u-are  n-ierchant  of  Annawan;  Isabella,  born 
in  ("lalashicls.  .\ugust  i,  1843,  ^^'^s  married 
January  12,  1873.  to  Caleb  Swayze  (if  Anna- 
wan; Johanna,  born  in  Edinburg,  Scotland, 
Alay  18,  1847,  succeeded  her  niother  as  post- 
mistress of  .\nnawan  in  1900,  and  is  now 
rilling-  that  position  ;  Rojiert  H.,  born  in  Bos- 
ton, November  14.  1849,  niarried  ^lay 
Cronan,  October  21;,  1889,  and  resides  in 
Kewanee.  Illinois:  Jesse,  born  in  Belle  Isle. 
Massachusetts,  No\emher  3.  1851,  died 
.\o\ember  15,  185 1;  and  Ellen,  born  in 
Tvlorris.  Illinois,  No\en-iber  20,  1854.  was 
rnarrietl,  August  30,  1881.  to  D.  .\.  Jones 
and  resides  in  Moline.  Illinois.  The  fam- 
ily is  one  of  the  highest  respectability,  and 
its  members  are  held  in  the  highest  esteem 
wherever  known. 


JAMES  McRELL. 

Burns  township  has  n(_)  more  jjopular  i^r 
intlnential  citizen  than  James  McRell,  who 
has  been  honored  with  a  number  of  local  offi- 
ces, and  has  al\\a\s  lieen  found  true  to  e\ery 
trust  reposetl  in  him.  He  was  born  in  Ire- 
land in  1838.  and  was  a  son  of  Robert  Mc- 
Rell. \\  hen  (|uite  \oung  he  emigrated  with 
the  famil\-  to  America  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  riiiladelphia.  On  leaving  that  city 
he  removed  to  W'iscoj-isin,  and  in  1856  came 
to  Henr\-  county,  Illinois.  Subsequenll}  hi^ 
parents  also  came  to  this  county,  where  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  the  death 
of  both  occurring  here. 

On  coming  to  Henry  county  Jan-ies  Mc- 
Rell located  upon  his  present  farm  in  Burns 
township,  where  he  owns  two  hundred  and 
eighty-t\\-o  acres  of  \-alnable  land,  ^^■hicl-l  he 
has  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


anil  imi)ro\e(l  witli  g-ond  l)uil(linos.  In  liis 
jjolitical  affiliations  he  is  a  stalwart  Demo- 
crat, and  on  his  party  ticket  was  elected  sup- 
ervisor of  his  township,  which  office  he  cred- 
italily  and  satisfactorily  filled  for  six  years. 
He  has  also  served  as  commissioner  of  hig^h- 
ways  and  school  director  for  several  years, 
and  his  official  duties  have  always  been  niMsi 
conscientiously  and  faithfully  iierfornied. 


WILBUR  F.  STOWELL. 

Wilbur  F.  Stowell.  one  of  the  leading 
and  representative  citizens  of  Yorktown 
township,  was  born  there  on  the  i6th  of  Au- 
gust. 1853.  and  belongs  to  one  of  the  hon- 
ored pioneer  families  of  Henry  county.  His 
father.  Lyman  Stowell.  was  liorn  in  Coles- 
\illc.  Broome  county.  Xew  York,  F'ebruary 
ly.  1 8 10,  and  was  the  oldest  son  of  Aaron 
and  Elizabeth  (Pratt)  Stowell,  the  former 
a  native  of  \'ermont,  the  latter  of  Broome 
county,  Xew  York.  When  twelve  years  of 
age  L}man  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  removal  to  Chenango  county,  Xew 
^'ork.  where  he  grew  to  manhood  upon  a 
farm,  his  education  being  actpiired  in  the 
subscription  schools  then  in  vogue  in  that 
section.  When  twenty-two  years  of  age  he 
went  to  Steuben  county,  the  same  state,  for 
the  purpose  of  learning  the  millwright's 
trade,  having  a  natural  aotitude  fur  the  use 
of  tools.  His  brother  Allanson  was  a  crafts- 
man of  the  same  kind.  In  1836  they  came 
to  Illinois,  floating  down  the  Ohio  river  on 
a  raft  to  Louisville.  Kentucky,  whence  they 
jjroceeded  on  horseback  to  Ouincy,  this 
state,  a  distance  of  four  hundred  miles. 
There  they  s|)ent  two  months  in  building  a 
mill,  but  on  account  of  malaria  left  that 
place  and   went  to   I'L'asant    X'alley.   Iowa, 


that  state  lieing  then  a  territory.  There  sev- 
eral months  were  passed  m  the  conslructi;i! 
of  mills,  but  they  returned  to  Quincy  in  the 
fall  of  1836.  The  following  spring  they 
again  went  to  Pleasant  \'alle3-  and  resumed 
work  at  their  trade.  In  the  fall  of  1837 
they  went  to  Prophetstown,  Whitesitle  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  and  erected  a  sawmill  on  Coon 
creek,  and  also  built  the  first  frame  house  in 
that  town.  In  1838  the\-  came  to  licnry 
county  fiir  the  first  time  and  built  a  mill  on 
Si)ring  creek  in   Atkinson   township. 

Lyman  Stowell  then  discontinued  work 
at  his  trade  and  turned  his  attention  to  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  In  1844  h;  rented  a 
farm  at  Wo,  ul wards  Bluff,  six  miles  from 
Proi^hetstown,  and  was  its  occupant  and 
manager  until  1848.  when  he  removed  to 
Henry  coiuity.  becoming  the  first  settler  of 
Yorktown  township,  which  was  then  known 
as  township  18.  range  5.  He  made  a  claim 
on  sectiiin  9.  and  built  thereon  a  log  hmise. 
which  he  ci'vcred  with  shingles,  which  he 
manufactured  out  of  burr  oak  from  his  own 
timber.  Six  years  later  he  entered  the  land 
and  secured  the  title  to  the  same.  He  placed 
it  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  later 
bought  additional  tracts,  having  at  the  time 
of  his  death  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven 
acres,  which  is  now  the  ])ropertv  of  our  sub- 
ject. It  is  line  of  the  best  improved  places 
of  the  locality,  being  supplied  with  c\ery- 
thing  fountl  upon  a  model  farm  of  the  pres- 
ent day.  including  an  elc.gant  home.  The 
lo.g  house  which  he  first  erected  was  locat- 
ed sixt\'  rods  west  <>f  our  sul)ject's  present 
residence.  The  Stowell  school,  located  upon 
this  farm,  was  the  first  in  the  townsh'p.  and 
was  built  a  short  time  after  L}nian  Stowell's 
arrival  here  and  mainly  through-  his  indi- 
vidual efforts.  There  his  childre.i  all  re- 
cei\ed  good  common-school  educations.  He 
also  assisted  in  lavin^^  out  the  first  road  be- 


7'4 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tween  Annawan  and  Vorktown.  Among  the 
must  important  mills  constructed  by  Mr. 
Stowell  was  the  Camden  mill  on  the  Missis- 
sippi river  south  of  Rock  Island  and  op- 
posite where  Milan  now  stands.  At  that 
time  it  was  the  leading  mill  in  this  part  of 
the  country.  During  the  early  years  of  his 
residence  in  this  state  he  formed  the  ac- 
cpiaintance  of  many  celebrated  Indians,  in- 
cluding Wa-bo-kie,  chief  of  the  ^^'inneba- 
goes  and  commonly  known  as  the  Prophet, 
after  whom  Prophetstown  was  named;  and 
he  also  knew  Keokuk,  chief  of  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes.  In  his  youth  he  was  a  schoolmate 
of  Joseph  Smith,  the  ^lormon  Prophet,  who 
was  killed  at  Carthage.  Illinois,  in  1844, 
and  both  boarded  with  the  former's  uncle, 
Josiah  Stowell.  It  was  there  that  he  over- 
heartl  the  planning  of  tlie  Mormon  bible 
after  the  discovery  of  the  Uram  and 
Thumim,  the  glasses  and  engraved  tablets, 
and  he  used  to  relate  many  interesting  stories 
of  Smith  and  his  followers.  One  day  he 
found  the  prophet  in  the  wood  house  search- 
ing earnestly.  Smith  explaining  that  he  had 
lost  one  of  the  magic  glasses,  which  he  al- 
leged enabled  the  wearer  to  discover  hcUlen 
treasures,  as  well  as  to  translate  the  tablets 
of  the  bcok  of  Mormon.  Mr.  Stowell  want- 
ed to  know  why  he  did  not  take  the  other 
glass  and  find  the  one  that  was  lost,  but  re- 
ceived no  satisfactory  reply.  Smith  used  to 
take  his  adherents  out  at  night  and  search 
for  hidden  treasures,  one  of  the  essentials 
being  that  no  word  was  to  be  spoken  during 
the  search.  Often  Mr.  Stowell  and  his  com- 
rades who  were  not  under  the  prophet's  in- 
fluence, would  follijw  them  and  watch  their 
endeavors,  but  the  charm  would  always  be 
broken  l;y  some  incautious  exclamation  on 
the  part  of  the  searchers  or  by  interference 
of  tlie  lioys.  As  he  overheard  the  planning 
of  the  MiirnK.in  bible,   Mr.   Stowell  in  later 


years  often  wondered  how  Smith  gained  so 
many  followers.  He  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  William  Henry  Harrison, 
and  on  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  became  one  of  its  stanch  supporters. 
His  fellow  citizens,  recognizing  his  worth 
and  ability,  often  called  liim  to  office.  He 
was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  Yorktown 
township  and  held  that  position  a  numljer 
of  A-ears.  He  also  served  as  township  col- 
lector and  school  director,  taking  a  great 
interest  in  educational  matters.  Prior  to 
his  marriage  he  engaged  in  teaching  school 
for  a  numlier  of  years.  On  account  of  a 
crippled  foot  he  could  never  enter  the  mili- 
tary service  of  his  country,  but  was  always 
a  loyal  and  patriotic  citizen,  and  took  a  deep 
and  commendable  interest  in  public  affairs. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
being  converted  under  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
Barton  Cartwright  in  1855.  He  died  De- 
cember 31.  1899.  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him. 

In  Prophetstown.  Illinois.  Lyman  Stow- 
ell was  married,  in  1843.  to  Miss  Sarah 
Leach,  a  native  of  Johnsburg,  ^^'arren  coun- 
ty. Xew  York,  who  died  February  22.  1901. 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  By  this 
unton  were  born  four  chlildren :  Caroline, 
born  February  2.  1848,  married  S.  L.  Swee- 
ney, and  both  are  now  deceased,  while  their 
family  li\es  in  Arkansas;  Emma  Jane,  born 
June  30.  1S50.  is  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Sweeney, 
of  Jewell  Junction.  Iowa ;  Wilbur  F.  is  next 
in  order  of  birth;  and  Sarah  A.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 26.  1857.  is  the  wife  of  C.  R.  Bur- 
rows, of  Leon.  Illinois. 

Mr.  Stowell,  of  this  review,  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm  and  throughout  his  active 
business  life  has  engaged  in  its  operation. 
He  is  a  thorough  and  skillful  agriculturist 
and  has  met  witli  excellent  success  in  his 
labors.     Besides  the  old  homestead  he  owns 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  (luarter-section  of  land  in  Oklahoma.  On 
the  jotli  (if  October,  1874,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Lyd'a  A.  C  Luther, 
and  til  them  lia\e  been  hum  two  children, 
naniel}' :  Harrietta  I.,  liorn  July  _'4.  1X75.  is 
the  wife  of  S.  S.  Swanson,  who  resides  with 
^Ir.  Stowell.  and  thcv  ha\e  one  child. 
Roland  Xolile.  horn  March  (>.  kjoo  :  and 
Florence  \i..  born  February  i.  1881.  was 
married.  June  14,  1899.  to  G.  F.  Day.  of 
Xew  Carlisle.  Ohio.  They  also  have  an 
adopted  son,  Harold  E..  born  May  21.  1897. 
Jacob  Luther,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Stowell, 
was  horn  (in  the  river  Rhine  in  Weinberg. 
Germany,  in  1815.  and  about  i8j_^  came 
to  America  with  his  parents.  Jacob  and 
I.ouisa  Luther,  locating  in  Livingston  coun- 
tv,  Xew  York.  About  1828  they  removed 
to  Pennsylvania,  and  ten  years  later  came 
to  Illinois,  arriving  in  Chicago  in  the  fall 
of  1838.  They  spent  the  winter  in  that  city. 
in  the  heart  of  which  mud  was  then  knee 
deep,  and  town  lots  could  be  had  for  a  day's 
work.  The  following  spring  the  family 
went  to  Lake  county,  and  Jacob  Luther,  Sr., 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  twenty-two 
miles  northwest  of  Chicago,  which  was  en- 
tirely unimproved.  They  were  among  the 
tirsl  settlers  of  that  locality.  Later  they 
came  to  Genese(i.  Ilenrx-  count}',  where  Mrs. 
Stowell's  grandfather  died.  Her  grand- 
UKjther  died  at  Desplaines.  Illinois.  Their 
children  were  Jacob;  Emeline.  who  Ijecame 
the  w'ife  of  Jacob  Ott,  of  Yorktown  town- 
ship, and  both  are  now  deceased;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Jesse  W'ilmot,  of  Missouri;  George, 
deceased,  who  married  Sallie  Schock,  both 
ilcceased ;  Peter,  deceased,  w  ho  wedded 
Mary  Miller.  They  formerly  lived  in  York- 
town  township,  though  his  widow  ncnv  re- 
sides in  Iowa:  John,  deceased,  who  married 
Marv  I'chlman.  a  resident  of  Hoopjiole; 
William,  who  died  in  California  unmarried; 


Da\i(l.  who  lirst  married  Caroline  Erslinger 
and  second  Caroline  Reig  and  lives  in  Gen- 
eseo:  and  Mar\-  Ann.  who  became  the  wife 
I'i  I'.enhart  Wolf  and  both  ;ire  imw  deceased. 
Jacob  Luther,  Jr..  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Stowell.  was  the  second  settler  in  ^'ork- 
tow  n  township,  and  in  those  early  days  was 
a  gre;i>t  luniter.  being  considered  one  of  the 
best  sh(!ts  in  this  ])art  of  the  country.  He 
often  hunted  deer  with  the  Indians.  He  was 
a  millwright  by  trade  and  invented  one  of 
the  lirst  turbine  wheels  in  the  L'nited  States. 
During  bis  residence  in  Yorktown  lown- 
shij).  he  li\ed  on  section  31.  in  what  is  known 
a.>  Hooppole.  In  1856  he  remox-ed  to  Gen- 
seo.  where  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  for  a  year,  and  then  went  to  Rome. 
Jones  county.  Iowa,  where  he  made  his 
home  nine  year.s.  then  nioxed  to  Ananiosa. 
Jones  countw  Iowa,  though  he  died  while 
working  at  his  trade  in  Milwaukee.  Wis- 
ci  nsin.  in  187O.  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years.  His  wife,  who  liore  the  maiden 
name  of  Emeline  M.  Hawert,  was  born  in 
1 81 2.  and  died  in  M;irch.  1881.  They  were 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  namely:  Mary 
Magdalene,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
vears:  Elizabeth,  deceased  wife  of  William 
A.  Anderson,  of  Trinidad,  Colorado:  Mary, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years;  Louisa, 
wife  of  Eli  Walker,  of  Bosworth,  Missouri; 
Jonathan,  who  was  a  meml^er  of  Company 
I'..  .Xiiith  low.'i  X'olnnteer  Infantry  in  the 
Civil  war  and  died  in  .Vndersonville  pris(.)n ; 
-Mfred.  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years; 
Aaron,  a  physician  of  Clay  county,  Kansas, 
who  married  .\da  I'.rown :  Lydia  A.  C,  wife 
It  our  subject:  Henrietta,  deceased  wife  of 
James  Randall,  of  Sigourney,  Iowa;  and 
Sarah  1.,  wife  of  C.  L.  Shaw,  of  Oklahoma. 
The  Ke])ublican  part}'  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  Stowell  a  stanch  supporter  of  its 
principles,  and  he  has  taken  quite  an  influ- 


7i6 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ential  part  in  local  pulitics.  He  has  served 
his  fellow  citizens  as  school  director  nine 
}ears :  constable  six  years  and  highway  com- 
missioner nine  years,  and  his  official  duties 
have  been  performed  with  a  promptness  and 
tidelity  worthy  of  the  highest  commenda- 
tion. He  and  his  wife  are  both  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
\\hii:h  he  is  a  trustee,  while  she  is  a  member 
of  the  official  board.  They  are  worthy  rep- 
resentatives of  two  of  the  oldest  and  most 
honored  families  of  Yorktown  township, 
and  well  merit  the  high  regard  in  which 
the\-  are  heUl. 


STARKS  X.  BARKER. 

The  subject  of  this  revie\\'  is  one  of  the 
representative  business  men  and  prominent 
citizens  of  Annawan,  Illinois,  dating  his  resi- 
dence here  from  1859.  He  is  a  native  of 
the  Empire  state,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  the  town  of  Albion,  Oswego  county,  Xew 
York,  January  i,  1835.  The  first  of  the 
Barker  family  to  come  to  America  was  a 
native  of  Wales  and  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Boston,  Alassachusetts,  and  from  him 
the  several  branches  of  the  family  now  scat- 
tered throughout  tlie  country  are  descended. 

Ebenezer  Barker,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Bridgew'ater,  New  York, 
X'ovemljer  17,  1800,  a  son  of  Ebenezer  and 
Polly  (Buellong)  Barker,  who  reared  a 
family  of  twelve  sons.  Our  subject's  father 
an<l  grandfather  were  blacksmiths  by  trade, 
and  the  former  followed  that  occupation 
near  W'atertown,  New  York,  for  some  years. 
About  twenty  years  before  his  death  he  re- 
moved to  Baraboo,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
passed  away  January  2,  1881.  He  was  mar- 
ried June  22.  1823,  to  Miss  Clarissa  M. 
Starks,  who  was    born    in    IMassachusetts. 


IMarch  12.  1805,  and  departed  this  life  Sep- 
tember 15.  1879.  Tbey  were  the  parents  of 
tliirteen  children,  namely:  Polly  B.,  bonv 
May  2^.  1824.  married  S.  W.  Finster,  and 
they  spent  most  of  their  lives  in  New  York, 
but  died  in  Madison,  Wisconsin,  their  re- 
mains being  interred  at  Pulaski,  New  York: 
Clarissa  AI.,  born  September  25,  1825,  is  the 
wife  of  Daniel  \'an  Sice,  of  Englewood.Illi- 
nois :  Susan.  b<3rn  .\ugust  21,  1827.  is  the 
widow  of  Benjamin  Bart  and  a  resident  of 
Behille,  New  York;  Mary  A.,  born  Febru- 
ary 1.  1829.  died  in  infancy:  Electa  J.,  born 
January  31,  1830.  married  Henry  Brewster, 
of  New  ^'ork,  aiul  is  noAV  deceased;  Eliza 
C,  Ixirn  July  22,  1832,  is  also  deceased; 
Starks  N.  is  next  in  order  of  birth ;  Sarah  A.,  , 
born  Ma}-  2.  1837.  is  the  widow  of  Osman 
Jones  and  a  resident  of  New  York  state: 
John.  l)orn  Alarch  29,  1839,  died  in  Bara- 
boo, \\'isconsin ;  Harriet  A.,  born  January 
II.  1842.  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Barton,  of 
Fairfield.  \\'isconsin ;  Francis  N.,  1x)rn 
Januar\-  21.  1844.  died  in  Idaho;  G.  Scott, 
born  October  30.  1846,  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years;  William  L.,  born  September  14, 
1850,  is  a  resident  of  Denver,  Colorado. 

In  early  life  Starks  N.  Barker  learned 
the  lilacksmith's  trade  with  his  father,  and 
remained  with  his  parents  until  1858,  when, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  he  went 
to  Table  Grove.  Fulton  ctmnty,  Illinois, 
where  he  spent  six  months.  He  then  spent 
a  short  time  in  Missouri,  and  on  his  return 
to  Illinois  stopped  at  Kewanee  and  Anna- 
wan.  In  the  fall  of  1858  and  the  follow- 
ing winter  he  taught  school  in  district  No. 
I,  about  three  miles  south  of  Annawan, 
having  previously  followed  that  occupation 
in  New  York  for  a  time.  From  March. 
1859,  until  February,  1866,  he  conducted  a 
blacksmith  shop  in  Annawan.  and  then  op- 
ened a  general  store  at  the  i)lace  where  he 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


717 


still  carries  on  business,  tinnigh  lie  lias  since 
enlarged  the  building  by  an  addition  in  the 
rear.  He  carries  a  large  and  well-selected 
stock  of  general  merchandise  and  enjoys  a 
liberal  share  of  the  public  patronage. 

^Ir.  Barker  was  married,  January  i, 
1862,  to  }kliss  Helen  J-  Hartley,  who  was 
born  in  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  November 
27,  1840,  a  daughter  of  James  B.  and  Sarah 
(Fritchey)  Hartley.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania.  Decemljer  25,  1818,  and 
jjcr  mother  April  17,  1819.  They  were  the 
parents  of  thirteen  children.  ^Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Barker  have  three  children  living,  namely : 
Frank  S.,  born  December  5.  1864;  Duke 
F.,  March  17,  1868:  and  Sada  A.,  August 
9,  1875.  -^'1  "^^^  ^^  home,  and  Duke  F.  is 
Avith  his  father  in  the  store. 

As  a  Republican  Mr.  Barker  has  ever 
taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  local 
politics,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  most 
of  the  county  conventions  of  his  party.  He 
cast  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  John  C. 
Fremont.  He  has  capably  and  satisfac- 
torily filled  the  offices  of  town  clerk,  school 
treasurer  and  justice  of  the  peace;  and  for 
eight  years  he  ably  represented  his  township 
in  the  board  of  supervisors.  For  a  quarter  of 
a  century  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Free  & 
Accepted  Order  of  ^lasons,  and  in  his  life 
has  faithfully  followed  the  teachings  of  thai; 
benevolent  order. 


JAMES  PARKER. 

Among  the  old  and  honored  residents  of 
Henry  county  was  the  late  James  Parker, 
vhose  home  was  on  section  i,  Cornwall 
township.  A  native  of  England,  he  was 
born    in    Boothtown,   near  Halifa.x,  York- 


shire. Xo\ember  2S>.  1816.  and  was  a  son  of 
George  and  Mary  (Scott)  Parker,  who  spent 
their  entire  lives  in  that  country.  In  his 
native  land  he  fullnwcd  the  occupation  of  an 
engineer. 

In  1855  Mr.  Parker  took  passage  on  a 
ves.sel  at  Liverpool,  and  after  a  voyage  of 
three  weeks  landed  in  Xew  York.  A  week 
later  he  reached  Sheffield,  Illinois,  and  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  in  this  state 
throughout  life.  Before  leaving  England  he 
had  purchased'^eighty  acres  of  unbroken 
land  on  section  i,  Cornwall  township,  this 
county,  through  his  brother-in-law,  and  soon 
after  his  arrival  here  he  took  up  his  residence 
thereon.  To  it  he  added  until  at  one  time  he 
liad  three  hundred  and  forty-eight  acres  all 
under  cultivation  with  the  exception  of  twen- 
ty-eight acres  of  tiniberland.  He  never  had 
occasion  to  regret  his  immigration  to  Amer- 
ica, for  here  he  ])rospered,  becoming  one  of 
the  well-to-do  and  substantial  men  of  his 
community,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  highly 
esteemed  citizens.  He  cast  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  and  continued 
to  affiliate  with  the  Republican  party 
tliroughout  life,  supporting  William  McKin- 
ley  in  1896.  He  capably  filled  the  offices  of 
road  commissioner  and  school  director,  but 
never  cared  for  political  honors,  preferring 
to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness interests. 

Mr.  Parker  was  married  in  England 
prior  to  coming  to  the  new  world,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Sarah  Prince,  a  na- 
tive of  that  country  and  a  daughter  of 
Getirge  and  Rebecca  Prince,  who  were  also 
born  there.  Thirteen  children  blessed  this 
union,  namely:  Eliza,  born  May  5.  1836, 
is  the  wife  of  Thcjmas  Crosby,  Kewanee, 
Illinois;  George,  born  March  21,  1838.  died 
May  6,  1839:  Fanny,  born  .\pril   16,  1839, 


7iS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


(lied  ill  infancy:  Fergus,  horn  ^^lay  3.  :84i. 
served  tiiree  years  as  a  member  of  Company 
G.  Xintli  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  lost  his  health 
in  the  army,  dying  October  5.  1866.  leaving 
a  wife  and  one  daughter,  ^lary  E..  mar- 
ried and  living  at  Denver.  Colorado;  George 
P..  born  March  i.  1843,  married  Alice 
Plenry  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Shenan- 
doah, Iowa;  Priscilla.  born  May  5,  1845, 
is  the  wife  of  John  Bowen,  of  Kewanee.  Illi- 
nois; Lucy,  born  June  12,  1.S47,  ^i^d  Octo- 
ber 21,  1855;  Rose  A.,  born  August  16, 
1849.  is  the  wife  of  Francis  E.  Morey,  of 
Kewanee  township,  this  county;  Robert, 
born  December  2.  185 1.  married  Ella  Work- 
man and  lives  in  Atkinson ;  Mary  E.,  born 
August  31,  1853,  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  ^I. 
Kerr,  of  W'alunt,  Iowa;  Alice  M.,  born  Sep- 
tember 4,  1856,  is  the  wife  of  John  Galvin, 
of  \\'alnut,  Iowa :  James,  born  July  22,  1859, 
i.-  mentioned  below;  and  John  T.,  born  Au- 
gust 31,  1863,  died  January  12,  1866.  On 
the  3d  of  January.  1901,  the  father  of  these 
children  passed  away  after  a  lingering  illness 
of  three  months,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Fair- 
view  cemetery  b}-  the  side  of  his  wife,  who 
died  March  16,  1892.  They  stood  high  in 
the  community  where  they  so  long  made 
their  home,  and  those  who  knew  them  best 
were  numbered  among  their  warmest  friends. 
James  Parker,  Jr.,  son  of  our  subject, 
was  born  on  the.  old  homestead  in  Corn- 
wall township  where  he  still  resides,  and 
was  educated  in  the  local  schools.  As  soon 
as  old  enough  to  be  of  any  assistance  he 
commenced  to  aid  in  the  work  of  the  farm, 
and  on  attaining  his  majority  rented  a  por- 
tion of  the  place.  Later  he  purchased  land 
from  his  father  and  now  owns  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres.  He  was  married,  De- 
cember 9.  1880,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Arkland, 
who  was  born  in  Canada.  September  7,  1859, 


and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  four 
children;  Babel  G.,  born  December  18,  1881, 
is  now  attending  the  high  school  of  Ke- 
v.anee:  and  Chester  L..  born  Xovember  14, 
1883,  Dessie  L.,  born  April  24.  1885.  and 
John  W'.,  Ixirn  August  18.  1886,  are  all  at- 
tending the  home  school.  John  and  Sarah 
(  Ellis)  Arkland,  the  parents  of  ^Irs.  Parker, 
were  natives  of  Canada,  from  which  coun- 
try they  came  to  the  L'nited  States  in  1864, 
locating  in  Annawan,  this  county.  The 
father,  who  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  died 
ill  1879.  and  was  buried  in  Fairview  cem- 
etery, but  the  mother  is  still  living  and 
makes  her  home  in  Atkinson.  They  had 
five  children-  of  whom  Mrs.  Parker  is  the 
oldest,  the  others  being  as  follows:  Sarah 
3ilinerva,  born  October  30,  i860,  lives  with 
her  mother  in  Atkinson;  Richard  D.,  born 
February  24,  1865.  wedded  Mary  E.  Kel- 
sey,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Cal- 
houn county,  Iowa ;  John  Ouincy  died  in 
Nebraska :  Samuel,  born  September  6,  1874, 
married  Sarah  Stagner  and  follows  farm- 
ing in  Cornwall  township,  this  county. 

Politically  James  Parker,  Jr.,  is  also 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  his 
fellow  citizens,  recognizing  his  worth  and 
ability  for  office,  have  called  upon  him  to 
serve  as  school  director,  supervisor  and  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  Fraternally  he  is  an  hon- 
ored member  of  the  ]Modern  Woodmen 
Camp,  Xo.  118.  of  Atkinson,  and  the  Royal 
Xeighlxjrs  of  America,  of  which  latter  order 
Mrs.  Parker  is  also  a  member. 


AXDREW  S:^IITH. 

This  well-known  farmer,  who  is  now  ef- 
ficiently serving  as  supervisor  of  Loraine 
township,  was  born  in  Rhine  Baden.  Ger- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


719 


many,-  July  JO,  [842,  a  son  (-.1  Andrew  and 
-Margaret  (Worth)  Smith,  Ijoth  uf  ulioni 
were  natives  of  tlie  same  province.  Tlirongli- 
oiit  tlie  greater  part  of  his  hfc  tiie  father 
engaged  in  mining  iron  ore,  and  died  in 
1X56,  at  tlie  age  of  iifty-two  }"ears.  His 
\>  ife  passed  away  six  montlis  i)re\ious  at  the 
same  age.  Of  tiieir  li\e  ehilih^en  three 
reached  maturity,  namely :  Margaret,  a  res- 
ident of  Loraine  township,  this  county,  and 
widow  of  Joseph  Trinkle,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  this  locality;  Andrew,  our  suh- 
ject ;  and  Mathias,  who  married  Lena  Lane 
and  lives  in  Johnson,  Nebraska. 

Mr.  Smith  of  this  re\'iew  was  reared  .and 
educated  in  his  native  Land,  where  he  contin- 
ued to  make  his  home  until  the  fall  of  1S60, 
V.  hen  he  sailed  from  lla\  re,  France,  for  Xew 
^  ork,  in  company  with  his  younger  brother, 
Mathias.  The  voyage  lasted  thirty-six  days, 
during  which  they  encountered  three  storms, 
l)ut  our  subject  was  never  sea-sick.  On 
landing  in  this  country  he  was  unable  to 
speak  a  word  of  English.  He  remained  in 
Xew  York  city  from  I'riday  until  the  follow- 
ing Monday,  and  then  started  for  Chicago 
hy  railroad,  hut  it  then  required  a  week  to 
n-..ike  the  trip.  He  spent  one  week  in  the 
l.-'.tter  city,  during  which  tiine  he  carried  a 
ton  of  coal  up  four  (lights  of  stairs  for  sev- 
enty-five cents,  but  foinid  no  other  eiuploy- 
ment. 

Mr.  Smith  then  came  to  Henry  county, 
where  his  mother's  sister  was  living,  and  re- 
mained with  her  and  her  husband  until  the 
fnliowing  April,  when  he  comtuenced  work 
lor  Jaciil)  ISarnhart  at  sexen  dollars  per 
month,  l)ut  at  the  end  of  the  first  inonth 
his  wages  were  raised  to  eight  dollars.  He 
remained  with  that  gentleiuan  for  nine 
luonths,  and  then  attended  school  for  a 
month  and  a  half,  after  which  he  wijrked 


for  Cieorge  Ivster  one  summer  for  thirteen 
dollars  per  month.  During  the  folKnving 
five  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Joseph 
.\rnett  and  then  rented  a  farm  in  Loraine 
township  one  year. 

On  the  _'d  of  M.arch,  iSdS,  Mr.  Smith 
was  united  in  marriage  with  ]\liss  Mary  Ar- 
nett,  who  was  horn  in  Whiteside  county, 
Illinois.  Her  i)areiUs,  Jacob  and  Charlotte 
(  Summers)  .\rnett,  were  natives  oi  Lo- 
raine, France,  and  Montheim,  (ierman)-,  re- 
sjjectively,  and  were  young  when  they  came 
with  their  parents  to  this  country,  locating 
in  I'ennsjlvania,  where  their  marriage  was 
celebratetl.  They  continued  to  make  their 
home  there  for  a  few  years,  and  in  1833  went 
to  Chicago  by  way  of  the  (ireat  J.akes. 
There  -Mr.  .\rnett  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land  in  what  is  umw  the  heart  of  the  city. 
Later  he  \valkc(l  to  Whiteside  county  and 
took  up  a  tract  of  government  land  near 
Portland,  on  which  he  and  his  family  subse- 
quently hxated.  Their  first  home  was  a 
log  cabin  of  one  room,  and  for  some  time 
Mr.  Arnett  hauled  all  his  grain  either  to 
Chicago  or  Galena  with  o.xen.  He  was  one 
of  the  men  who  went  to  Califorifia  during 
the  gold  exciteiuent  in  1849  <i"<^l  there  en- 
gaged in  teaming  for  about  two  years  with 
good  success.  The  trip  to  the  Pacific  coast 
was  made  with  ox  teams  and  consumed  six. 
months,  but  after  disposing  of  his  business 
there,  he  returned  to  Illinois  by  the  Panama 
roiue  til  Xew  York.  F"or  twenty  years 
thereafter  he  engaged  in  farming,  but  his 
last  days  were  spent  in  retirement  from  ac- 
li\e  labor  at  (ieneseo,  where  he  died  May 
I  r,  1899,  <'t  the  age  of  eighty- four  years. 
His  wife  died  August  27,  i88r,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-si.x.  He  was  ojie  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful and  enterprising  farmers  of  White- 
side county,  and  ownctl  over  t)ne  thousand 


720 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


acres  of  \aliiable  laiul.  In  liis  family  were 
the  following  named  children :  Louis,  a  res- 
ident of  Portland  township,  Whiteside  coun- 
ty; Samuel,  a  retired  citizen  of  Geneseo; 
Philip,  also  a  resident  of  \\hiteside  county; 
^lary,  wife  of  our  subject :  Albert,  a  farmer 
of  North  Platte.  Nebraska;  Clara,  wife  of 
Abraham  Rapp,  of  Loraine  township.  Henry 
county;  and  Otilla,  wife  of  Charles  Alber. 
of  Kansas  City,  Kansas. 

Unto  ^Ir.  and  ]^lrs.  Smith  have  been 
born  eight  children :  ( i )  Albert  A.,  a  farmer 
of  South  Dakota,  married  Lola  Crommett 
of  Lodi,  that  state,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, ililo  and  Arnett.  (2)  Otilla  R.,  is 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Oberle,  Jr.,  of  Loraine 
township,  this  county,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Floyd  and  Lottie.  (.3)  Lotta  S. 
is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Roos,  a  farmer  of  Lo- 
raine township.  (4)  Frank  \\".  married 
Millie  Urick  and  now  holds  the  position  of 
receiving  clerk  in  the  penitentiary  at  Joliet, 
Illinois.  (5)  Flora  B.  is  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Heller,  of  Loraine  township,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Alva  and  Pearl.  (6) 
Bernice  I.  is  the  wife  of  Vader  Lansford,  of 
Loraine  township,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Marie  and  Leslie.  (7)  Alden  A.  aids 
his  father  in  the  operation  of  tlie  home  farm. 
(8)  Matt  Henry  is  taking  a  literary  course 
•  in  the  Geneseo  Seminary. 

After  his  marriage  ^Ir.  Smith  renteil 
the  Joseph  Arnett  farm  for  two  years  more, 
and  then  bought  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres 
of  land  on  section  21,  Loraine  township,  on 
which  had  previously  been  built  a  one  room 
cottage  and  a  log  stable.  He  has  since  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  on  section  16  and  forty 
acres  on  section  3,  so  that  he  now  owns  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  rich  and  arable 
land,  which  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.     In  connection  with  general 


farming  he  is  successfully  engaged  in  rais- 
ing and  feeding  stock  for  market. 

^Ir.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church  at  Hooppole,  Yorktown  township, 
and  fraternally  is  connected  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  while  his  wife  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Home  Forum.  In 
p(-)litical  sentiment  he  is  a  stanch  Republi- 
can, and  has  creditably  and  acceptably  filled 
sexeral  local  offices.  He  has  served  as 
school  director  several  years;  as  school 
treasurer  about  ten  years:  as  road  commis- 
sioner six  years;  and  since  1888  has  been 
supervisor  of  Loraine  township.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  equalization  committee 
'some  time,  and  is  now  chairman  of  the  edu- 
cational committee.  He  is  now  serving  as 
ditch  commissioner,  and  is  treasurer  of  the 
big  slough  drainage  district. 


PETER  A.  PETERSON. 

This  thrift}-  and  enterprising  farmer  re- 
siding on  section  26,  Western  township,  has 
made  his  home  in  Henry  county  since  1852. 
He  was  born  in  Sweden,  on  the  30th  of  De- 
cember, 1844,  and  is  a  son  of  C.  J.  and  Anna 
Louise  (Rosenmiller)  Peterson,  also  na- 
tives of  that  country.  The  father  was  born 
in  1815.  and  in  early  life  followed  farming 
in  Sweden,  where  he  continued  to  make  his 
home  until  after  the  birth  of  three  of  his 
children,  namely :  Christine,  a  widow  living 
in  Missouri:  Ann  Matilda,  who  is  keeping 
liouse  for  our  subject;  and  Peter  A.,  of  this 
review.  Two  other  children  were  added  to 
the  family  after  coming  to  this  country, 
these  being  Lotta.  wife  of  A.  G.  Samuelson, 
of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  by  whom  she  has  five 
sons,  Ernest,  Weaker,  Sherman,  Edwin  and 
Elmer  G. ;  and  G.  H.,  who  after  his  mar- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


721 


riaijc  ciwiK'd  lUid  upcrated  the  old  lii>niestcad, 
wlicrc  lie  died  in  iS<)_'.  Of  his  fnur  children 
Carl  Henry  dieil  at  the  aj;c  of  two  years, 
while  Arthur  A.,  C'nra  and  Xellie  are  still 
livintj.  It  was  in  iS4()  that  the  father 
brought  his  faniilv  to  the  new  world.  ;.nd 
after  spending"  alumt  three  years  in  'A  arren 
county,  I'ennsyKani.'i.  he  came  tn  llenr_\' 
ciiunty.  Illinois,  niakin;;-  the  jdurnev  liy 
team,  lie  located  on  section  .^5.  Western 
township,  where  he  opened  up  and  improxed 
a  farm  of  cis;hty  acres,  makinj^  it  his  home 
until  called  to  his  tinal  lest  in  iS<)7-  His  wife 
died  Janu;u\v  i,  1880,  antl  the  remains  of 
both  were  interred  in  Andover  cemetery, 

Peter  .\.  Peterson  was  only  fiv2  y -ars 
old  when  hrous;ht  b\'  his  parents  to  this 
country,  and  in  1852  he  came  with  them  to 
Henr_\-  county,  where  he  g^rew  to  manho  id  nn 
the  home  farm,  his  education  being  obtained 
in  the  local  schools.  He  remained  w-.th  hi.s 
father  until  he  attained  his  majority,  ,uid 
then  started  out  in  life  for  himself  as  a  far- 
mer upon  a  tract  of  forty  acres,  which  he 
broke,  fenced  and  im])roved.  erecting  there- 
on a  small  house,  which  he  has  since  remod- 
eled and  enl.'irged.  lie  has  ;iIso  hnili  a  nice 
large  barn  with  a  basement,  has  erected 
outbuildings  and  set  out  fruit  and  forest  trees 
which  add  greatly  to  the  attractive  appear- 
ance of  the  place.  He  has  purchased  more 
land  from  time  to  time  and  now  has  a  \al- 
uable  farm  of  one  hundrefl  and  lifty-sc\en 
acres,  which  he  has  ])laced  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  raises  and  fattens  cattle  for  the 
market,  .ship])ing  one  car  load  each  year,  be- 
sides a  large  number  of  hogs.  To  his  in- 
dustry, enterprise  and  good  management 
n'.ay  be  attributed  his  success  in  life,  and  he 
is  now  numbered  among  the  substantial  citi- 
zens of  his  community. 


Politically  Mr.  rctersoii  has  been  a  life- 
long Republican,  casting  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  .Xbraham  Lincoln  in  1864,  but 
he  has  ne\'er  cared  for  ofificial  honors.  .\s 
an  advocate  of  .good  schools  and  competent 
teachers,  he  eflicientl)-  served  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board  for  a  number  of  Ncars, 
and  was  also  district  clerk  for  snnie  years. 
Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church, 


C.\RL  GUTSCHLAG. 

Carl  Gutschlag.  residing  at  Xo.  3,^1 
South  b^lliolt  street,  is  a  well  known  Ijrick 
layer  of  Kewanee  and  is  now  efficiently  serv- 
ing as  alderman  from  the  fifth  ward.  He 
was  born  near  Brandenburg,  (ierniany,  .\u- 
gust  5,  1858,  a  son  of  Carl  and  Louisa 
(lUtschlag.  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in 
that  country.  The  father,  who  was  a  laborer 
by  occu])ation.  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-si.x 
years,  the  mother  at  the  age  of  thirty-si.x. 
In  their  family  were  seven  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  childhood,  the  others  being 
('arl,  our  subject:  l.onisa.  wife  of  Herman 
Cleich.  of  Kewanee:  William,  a  resident  of 
(iermanx' :  and  .\ugust  and  (iustax'.  both  of 
Kewanee. 

Carl  (hitschlag  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  land,  and  was  twenty-four  years 
of  age  when  he  emigrated  to  America  in  com- 
pany with  his  cousin.  Christian  Crumstoff, 
he  being  the  lirst  of  the  family  to  cross  the 
.\tlantic.  On  landing  in  Xew  \'ork.  he 
])roceeded  at  once  to  Kewanee,  Illinois.  In 
early  life  he  had  learned  the  brick  layer's 
tr.ide  in  Germany,  completing  his  ajjpren- 
.ticeship  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and 
after  working  as  ;i  journeyman  for  a  time, 
he  began  taking  contracts.     For    the    past 


722 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


seven  years  he  has  engaged  in  business  on  his 
own  account  and  has  erected  se\cral  of  the 
large  buildings  in  Kewanee  and  the  sur- 
rounding countr}'. 

On  the  24th  of  February,  1887.  Islr.  Gut- 
schlag  was  united  in  marriage  with  ]\Ii'ss 
jMary  Deutschland,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1863,  but  was  only  a  year  old  when 
brought  to  the  United  States  by  her  parents. 
William  and  Caroline  (Keuter)  Deutsch- 
land. The  family  located  in  Kewanee  town- 
ship, this  county,  where  the  mother  is  still 
living  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  j'ears,  but 
the  father  died  December  4,  1893,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two.  They  had  six  children, 
namely :  \^'il.liam,  a  farmer  of  Kewanee 
township;  Minnie  and  Louisa,  who  both  died 
in  infancy:  Amelia,  a  resident  of  Kewanee; 
Mar}-,  wife  of  our  subject;  and  Albert,  who 
died  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  years. 
The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gut- 
schlag  were  Lenora  M.,  A\'illiam  F.  C,  Louis 
T.  and  Margaret  C,  all  living;  and  Paul 
R.,  who  died  in  April,  1899,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  months. 

yiy.  and  INIrs.  Gutschlag  are  both  mem^ 
hers  of  the  German  Exangelical  Church  and 
he  is  a  stanch  sup])orter  i.if  the  Democratic 
party  and  its  principles.  In  April.  1899.  he 
was  elected  alderman  frtim  his  ward  for  a 
term  of  two  years,  and  has  filled  that  posi- 
tion in  a  most  creditable  and  satisfactory 
manner. 


XELS  F.  ANDERSON. 

This  well-known  and  prominent  lawyer 
of  Galva,  Illinois,  was  born  in  the  southern 
part  of  Sweden,  February  ii,  1858,  a  son  of 
Nels  and  Maria  (Kolokowski)  Anderson, 
who  were  also  born  in  Sweden,  though  the 


latter's  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  well-edu- 
cated man  and  a  lumber  merchant  of  his  na- 
tive land.  In  1871  he  brought  his  family  to 
America  and  settled  in  Greene,  Iowa,  where 
he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  and  devoted  the  remainder  of  his 
life  to  agricultural  pursuits.  On  coming  to 
this  country  he  was  well  situated  financial- 
Iv.  and  throughijut  his  business  career  met 
with  excellent  success.  Religiously  he  was  an 
acti\e  member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church,  and  gave  liberally  to  its  support. 
He  died  in  1881,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
in  1894. 

Untu  tliis  worthy  couple  were  Ijorn  eight 
cliildren,  all  of  whom  are  still  living,  name- 
ly :  Nelson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch :  Chris- 
tine, a  graduate  of  Ann  Arbor  Uni\ersity 
and  now  a  physician  of  Detroit,  Michigan : 
Andrew  \\'.,  who  was  educated  at  Knox 
College,  Galesburg.  and  is  now  station  agent 
for  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad 
Company  at  Lake  Elmo,  Minnesota;  F.  E., 
a  graduate  of  Ann  Arbor  University  and  an 
attorney  of  Tacoma,  Washington;  Otto,  also 
a  graduate  of  Ann  Arbor  University  and  a 
dentist  of  Stillwater,  Minnesota;  Theodore, 
a  graduate  of  the  Iowa  University,  and  a 
resident  of  Tacoma,  Washington :  Hannah. 
an  artist  of  Chicago,  who  pursued  a  literary 
course  at  the  Chicago  University,  and  was 
graduated  from  that  institution ;  and  Cor- 
nelius, who  was  graduated  from  Knox 
College,  Galesl)urg,  and  is  now  studying 
medicine  at  the  Northwestern  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Chicago. 

The  eai'ly  education  of  Nels  F.  .\nderson 
was  obtained  in  a  Latin  school  in  Sweden. 
He  ■accomj)anied  his  parents  on  their  emi- 
gration to  the  new  world  and  remained  witli 
them  until  he  had  completed  his  education. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


723 


In  1S77  he  entered  Knox  College,  where  lie 
pursued  a  literary  course  and  was  graduatetl 
in  iS8j.  He  took  a  ])reparatory  course  at 
the  law  schodl  n\  the  L'nicm  Cullege  of  Law 
in  C'hicagii,  where  he  was  a  sttulent  fur  one 
year,  and  for  eighteen  nii>nths  thereafter  he 
read  law  with  Thomas  1'^.  Milchrist,  now 
state  senator.  After  his  admission  to  the 
bar  in  1886  he  remained  in  Chicago  until  the 
following  year,  and  then  went  to  Salina. Kan- 
ass,  where  he  ojjened  an  office  and  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  for  three 
years.  In  1890  he  came  to  Galva,  and  has 
since  had  his  office  at  his  present  location. 
He  has  accumulated  a  very  complete  and 
valuable  law  library,  and  has  liuilt  u])  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice  which  is  constantly 
increasing-. 

In  1889  Mr.  Anderson  was  uniteil  in 
marriage  with  Miss  May  Winn  Williams. 
who  was  born  in  Henry.  Illinois,  in  1863.  a 
daughter  of  William  Potter  and  Petronella 
(  Hoagland )  Williams.  Her  mother  died  in 
1894.  and  her  father,  who  was  by  occupa- 
tion a  f.irmer,  is  now  living  in  Henry.  They 
had  five  children,  namely:  Kate  Esmond, 
a  resident  of  XewburgW  Xew  York;  Archie, 
a  farmer  of  Henry,  Illinois;  Bessie,  at  home; 
.\netta  Wiley,  of  I'tica,  Illinois:  and 
May  \\  inn.  wife  of  our  subject.  Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  Ander.son  have  four  children:  Leland 
1 1.,  born  in  1891;  Sumner  B..  1895:  Richard 
."Stanley,  \X()j:  and  Nelson  Paul,  1899.  ''1^' 
f.uuily  own  a  pleasant  home  in  Galva. 

Since  1890  Mr.  Ander.son  has  been  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  party,  and  has 
most  creditably  and  acceptably  served  as 
village  attorney  for  eight  years.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  school  board  during  the 
erection  of  the  new  school  building  in  Galv;i, 
and  served  on  the  building  committee,  lie 
has  alwa\s  bee'n  a  strong  advocate  of  those 


enterprises  which  he  Ijelieved  would  beneht 
his  adopted  town  and  county,  ami  is  recog- 
nized as  a  valuable  citizen  of  the  community. 
As  a  successful  attorney  he  ha<l  made  for 
himself  an  einiablc  reputation,  and  in  1897 
he  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  cir- 
cuit judge.  His  name  has  also  appeared  on 
his  party  ticket  for  other  county  offices.  So- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  the  Indepen<lent 
Order  of  Odd  I'^ellows  and  the  Masonic 
fraternit\'.  both  of  CJalva,  while  religiously 
his  wife  holds  membership  in  the  Congrega- 
tional L'hurch,  and  he  is  a  supporter  of  the 
s;.me. 


GEORGE  II.  JOII.XSOX. 

Among  the  representatise  citizens  and 
])roniinent  farmers  of  .Viulover  township  is 
George  H.  Johnson,  whose  home  is  on  sec- 
tion 31.  He  was  bom  in  that  township  on 
the  22nd  of  Februar}-,  i84(j.  and  is  a  son 
of  ( Justus  and  Caroline  (  Swanson  )  Johnson, 
both  natives  of  Sweden,  the  former  born 
(October  24.  1824,  the  latter  in  1819.  ( )in- 
subject's  paternal  grandfather,  who  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  s])ent  his  entire  life 
in  that  country,  but  the  maternal  grandfa- 
ther crossed  the  .\tlantic,  and  located  in 
Henry  county.  Illinois,  where  the  last  seven 
\ears  of  his  life  were  passed.  He  followed 
f.arming  after  the  iirimitive  metliocis  with  ;i 
-Swedish  grul)  hoe.  The  mother  of  <iur  sub- 
ject was  the  only  one  of  his  family  to  come 
to  .America,  but  Gnstns  Johnson  hatl  two 
sisters  and  one  brother  who  emigrated  to 
America,  these  being  Jonas  Peter,  who  is 
still  living  in  X'ebra^ka  at  the  age  of  eightx- 
two  years;  Christine,  who  married  Carl 
Carlson  and  botli  died  of  cholera  in  1852; 
and  Mar_\',  who  wedded  S.  .Stephenson  and 


724 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


(lied  in  Andersnii  tdwiislii]).  in  i8Sj.  while 
lier  Iuisl)anil  is  nnw  ]i\in<;'  in  the  \illrij;e 
c.f  And.iver. 

(Justus  Johnson,  tlie  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, followed  farniino;  in  liis  nati\e  land  un- 
til after  his  marriage  and  then  came  to  the 
new  world  in  1848.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
ti;  locate  on  the  ])rairie  in  Ando\-er  town- 
ship. Henry  county.  Illinois.  His  first  pur- 
chase consisted  of  only  ten  acres,  to  which  he 
later  added  thirty  acres,  making  forty  acres 
in  the  home  jjlace.  where  our  suliject  now 
i-esides.  He  erected  theron  a  log'  cahin. 
which  is  nciw  crumbling  away.  As  he  suc- 
ceeded in  his  farming  operations  he  kept  add- 
ing to  his  land  until  he  owned  four  hundred 
and  eightv  acres  in  this  countv  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Kansas.  This 
property  he  di\'ided  among  his  children  be- 
fore his  death.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  engaged  in  raising  cattle,  horses 
anfl  hogs,  and  met  with  success  in  that  en- 
ter])rise.  The  Republican  party  always  found 
in  him  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  principles, 
but  he  would  never  accept  office.  He  always 
took  an  active  interest  in  church  work,  and 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  with  which  he  held  mem- 
bership until  after  the  completion  of  their 
house  of  wiirship  in  .\ndover.  when  he  with- 
drew and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  which  he  also  assisted  in  building 
up.  He  died  on  the  old  homestead  A])ril 
_'4.  iSi)5.  and  the  mother  of  onr  sulijccl 
passed  away  there  in  1873. 

Of  the  ten  children  born  to  this  worthy 
couple  three  died  in  infancy.  Those  who 
reached  years  of  maturity  were  George  H., 
of  this  review;  Mary  Ellen,  wife  of  Gust 
Anderson,  who  li\cs  on  the  Ando\cr  roaik 
Louisa,  who  married  E.  Anderson  and  died 
in.   Kansas  in     i8yy:    Emily,    who    died  in 


1879,  nnm;irricd:  Andrew,  a  resident  of  .\n-. 
dover  t<i\\nshii):  ]\Irs.  Laura  .\.  Moore,  of 
San  Diego,  California:  Airs.  Celia  Moscn- 
fcldt.  a  widow  living  in  that  state:  and  Ju- 
lia, wife  of  John  Lee,  also  of  California. 
The  children  were  all  born,  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  this  county,  but  since  their  mar- 
riage they  have  become  widely  scattered. 

During  his  boyhood  George  H.  Johnson 
attended  the  district  schools  of  Andover 
township,  but  his  educational  privileges 
were  rather  limited,  as  he  was  required  to 
assist  his  father  in  the  support  of  the  family, 
being  the  eldest  of  the  childrai.  The  knowl- 
edge he  obtained  in  school,  however,  has 
been  greatly  supplemented  by  reading  good 
literature  in  later  years.  He  remained  at 
diome  until  he  attained  his  majority  and  then 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer, 
meeting  with  success  from  the  beginning. 

1871  Mr.  Johnson  married  Miss  Eng- 
strom.  who  was  born  in  Sweden  in  1851,  a 
daughter  of  Swan  and  Li^uisa  { Sunberg) 
Engstrom.  Her  father  died  in  Sweden,  and 
in  1856  her  widowed  mother  came  to  Amer- 
ica, bringing  with  her  their  five  children, 
namely  :  Eric,  who  died  in  Minnesota ;  Eliza- 
beth,wife  of  Alex  Isaacson,  of  Boone  county, 
Iowa:  Christine,  w^ife  of  Charles  Johnson, 
of  L_\-nn  township :  Ellen,  deceased :  and 
Annie,  wife  of  our  subject.  The  children 
were  educated  in  the  district  schools  but 
had  little  opportunity  to  avail  themselves  of 
it,>  pri\ileges.  The  mother  made  her  home 
with  them  until  her  death,  which  occurred 
in  Linn  township. 

Unto  Air.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  been 
born  eight  children,  as  folows :  Dora  is  the 
wife  of  Crilbert  Samuelson,  of  Osco  town- 
ship, and  they  have  two  children,  Grace  and 
Herbert.  Delia  is  the  wife  of  William  Sam- 
uelson, of  Antlo\er  township,'  and  they  ha\c 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


725 


Iwi)  chililreii,  Lester  and  (iladys.  AIukui 
assists  liis  father  in  tlie  work  uf  tlie  lK>nie 
farm.  Mal)el  is  the  wife  of  X'ettleton  Burg- 
son,  who  lives  in  Lynn  township,  near  Lynn 
Center.  Wallace.  George  Harrison,  Inez 
and  Ruth  are  all  at  home.  They  ha\c  all 
received  good  common  school  educations, 
and  the  oldest  son  took  a  collegiate  cour.se 
at  Moline. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Johnson  l<icated 
on  section  25,  Lynn  townslrip.  where  he 
owned  three  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of  land, 
and  as  a  stock  raiser  and  farmer  he  has  had 
a  very  successful  career.  He  continued  his 
residence  in  Lynn  township  until  1897,  when 
he  returned  to  the  old  homestead  on  section 
31.  .\ndover  township,  consisting  of  two 
hundred  acres.  He  purchased  the  interests 
of  the  other  heirs  in  this  place,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  keeping  it  in  the  family.  He  makes 
a  specialty  of  raising  Poland  China  hogs, 
short  horn  cattle  and  shire  and  Xorman 
horses,  and  has  always  carried  off  several 
premiums  at  the  county  fairs  where  he  has 
e.\hil)ited  his  stock.     In  1900  he  received  the 


lianner  for  draft  horses.  He  is  also  inter- 
ested in  sheep  raising.  He  still  owns  three 
hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of  land  on  sections 
25  and  26,  Lynn  town.ship,  besides  the  old 
homestead  of  two  hundred  acres  on  sections 
31  and  32  .\ndover' township,  and  has  been 
wondcrfullv  successful  in  business  affairs. 
He  has  made  man\-  useful  and  valual)le  ini- 
])rovenicnts  upon  these  places. 

In  his  i)olitical  affiliations  Mr.  Johnson 
i>  an  ardent  Republican,  and  has  taken  quite 
an  active  and  prominent  part  in  public  af- 
fairs. He  is  president  of  the  township 
central  committee;  was  supervisor  of  Lynn 
township  live  years ;  and  was  school  direc- 
tor during  his  entire  residence  there,  and 
since  his  return  to  Andover  township  has  fill- 
ed that  office  here.  He  is  one  of  the  direc- 
ts rs  of  the  State  Bank  of  Orion,  and  is  very 
p'rominent  and  influential  both  in  business 
and  political  circles.  He  is  one  of  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Odtl  Fellows  lodge  of 
Woodhull. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 
920  077338B52  coOl 

BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD  OF  HENRY  COUNTY  ILL 


3  0112  025345965 


